Registration is Now Open for HEI's Annual Conference 2026

Registration is now open for HEI's Annual Conference Sunday, April 26 - Tuesday, April 28, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Register Now!

Air Pollution

This page has a list of publications and news articles related to Air Pollution. Find more information about our research on Air Pollution.

New HEI report examines pollutant effects on lung cells

July 28, 2020

HEI has published Research Report 201, Understanding the Functional Impact of VOC–Ozone Mixtures on the Chemistry of RNA in Epithelial Lung Cells, led by Dr. Lydia Contreras at the University of Texas, Austin.

HEI seeks quality assurance consultants

July 23, 2020

HEI is seeking qualified contractors to provide quality assurance services for 13 research studies on air pollution and health.

New results from U.S. Medicare study of low-level exposure to air pollution and health

June 26, 2020

A new article published June 26 in the journal Science Advances —  “Evaluating the impact of long-term exposure to fine particulate matter on mortality among the elderly” by Wu and colleagues — reports on results from an HEI-funded study of the health effects of low levels of air pollution in some 68 million Medicare recipients (led by Francesca Dominici of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).

HEI comments on proposed EPA transparency rule

May 26, 2020

HEI has formally submitted a response to a rule proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science,” that could prevent EPA decisions based on studies where the data are not made available to the public and to other scientists for confirmation.

HEI issues RFA to study air pollution, COVID-19, and health

May 19, 2020

HEI has issued RFA 20-1B, Air Pollution, COVID-19, and Human Health, to study the intersection of air pollution and the coronavirus pandemic. The deadline for Letters of Intent is June 8.

HEI's next webinar May 20: Inequalities of Air Pollution Exposures & Associated Health Effects in the U.S.

April 14, 2020

HEI is pleased to conclude its series of five webinars this spring with a session on May 20 from 12 noon to 2 PM EDT: Webinar 5: Inequalities of Air Pollution Exposures & Associated Health Effects in the U.S.
​​

Second part of major ozone study published

March 30, 2020

HEI has published the Multicenter Ozone Study in oldEr Subjects (MOSES): Part 2. Effects of Personal and Ambient Concentrations of Ozone and Other Pollutants on Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Function. This second part of Research Report 192 was led by Drs. David Rich and Mark Frampton of the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York.

HEI kicks off Webinar series on April 7: Big Data and Accountability

March 27, 2020

HEI is pleased to announce a series of five webinars to be held between April 7th and May 20th. We will kick off the series on April 7th from 10 am - 12 pm EDT with the first webinar: The Big Deal About Big Data, Causal Inference, and Accountability Research. [Read More]

Transforming the 2020 Annual Conference into new interactive Webinars

March 13, 2020

HEI has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Annual Conference. Instead, we are taking this as an opportunity to transform the well-planned conference sessions into active webinars starting in early April. Stay tuned for more information. 

Five new studies aim to improve exposure assessment

February 6, 2020

There are many challenges in conducting epidemiological studies of long-term exposure to air pollutants because concentrations vary widely over space and time. Read how HEI investigators will soon begin five new studies, using novel strategies to address these challenges.

Annual Report for 2019 now available

February 3, 2020

The 2019 Annual Report, A Window to Trusted Science, describes how HEI provides high quality, impartial, and relevant science informing public policy on air quality and public health, and continues its longstanding commitment to transparency.

HEI issues RFA 20-1 Health Effects of Air Pollution

January 16, 2020

HEI has issued Request for Applications 20-1, Health Effects of Air Polution, to invite applications on novel and important aspects of the health effects of air pollutants. HEI is particularly interested in applications on the following topics: accountability or effectiveness of air quality regulations; strengthening causal interpretation of evidence from existing cohorts; and contributions of wildland and agricultural burning to air quality and health. Read more..

New HEI accountability studies underway soon

January 14, 2020

HEI is embarking on a third wave of studies under its accountability research program to assess whether actions to improve air quality have been effective in improving public health. Read about 4 new studies that will start in 2020. 

Yangtze River Delta study analyzes impacts of shipping on air quality and health

December 18, 2019

Special Report 22 describes a study led by a team of investigators from Fudan and Tsinghua Universities, other Chinese research institutions, and HEI scientists Allison Patton and Katherine Walker, as part of HEI’s Global Health Program. The report provides an analysis of emissions from shipping and related activities and their impacts on air quality and health in the Yangtze River Delta and Shanghai.