Air Pollution

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

Greenbaum honored for clean air leadership at HEI

July 21, 2017

HEI President Dan Greenbaum has received a 2016 Haagen-Smit Clean Air Leadership Award from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). This honor is conferred annually on “extraordinary individuals to recognize significant career accomplishments in at least one of these air quality categories: research, environmental policy, science and technology, public education and community service.”

Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Awards announced

July 21, 2017

HEI is pleased to announce recipients of the 2017 Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Awards. Although the HEI Research Committee normally selects one recipient, the large number of quality applications this year led them to select two excellent awardees.

Examining heart and lung effects from low ozone exposures in healthy older adults

June 29, 2017

HEI Research Report 192 describes a multicenter study by John Balmes at the University of California–San Francisco, Philip Bromberg at the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, and Mark Frampton at the University of Rochester, New York. The study was designed to test whether ozone has short-term cardiovascular effects at present-day ambient levels. It evaluated respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes in 87 healthy participants (60 years old on average) who were exposed to 0, 70, or 120 ppb ozone for 3 hours while exercising moderately.

HEI issues open call for preliminary applications

April 25, 2017

HEI has issued Request for Applications (RFA) 17-2, Health Effects of Air Pollution, which solicits small research projects on air pollution and health. The RFA provides an application mechanism for investigators whose area of interest falls outside the topics targeted in the current major research requests. RFA 17-2 requests preliminary applications for small, innovative studies on air pollution and health in general that are relevant to HEI’s current priorities. Please refer to Funding Opportunities on how to apply.

Lancet reports Global Burden of Disease 2015 PM2.5 results

April 13, 2017

The April 10 issue of the Lancet reports that exposure to ambient particulate matter was the fifth-ranking mortality risk factor in 2015, causing 4.2 million deaths and loss of 103.1 million disability-adjusted life-years worldwide.

Ozone study tests hypothesis on protective role of eosinophils

March 22, 2017

Research Report 191 describes a study by Allison Fryer and colleagues that addressed how exposure to ozone affects the immune and physiological responses in guinea pigs. In her study, Dr. Fryer focused on eosinophils, white blood cells that play an important role in inflammation, allergies, and allergic asthma, and can modify the airway response to ozone inhalation. This study tested a novel hypothesis: that allergic guinea pigs react differently to ozone than normal animals because of newly formed eosinophils that migrate from bone marrow to the lungs.

Winter 2017 Update now available

February 15, 2017

In the Winter 2017 Update, read about HEI’s new “State of Global Air” annual report and website and our upcoming Annual Conference in Alexandria, Virginia. The newsletter also covers the recipient of the 2016 Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award; the appointment of a new member to HEI’s Board of Directors; and HEI “Communicating the Science” at meetings in the U.S. and abroad.

HEI launches State of Global Air report and website

February 13, 2017

HEI has launched State of Global Air 2017 — a concise, accessible report and interactive website providing “one-stop shopping” for the latest trends in air quality and its impact on human health around the world. The report and website will be updated each year, highlighting the extent to which air pollution affects public health as well as tracking progress toward cleaner air.

Mònica Guxens selected for 2016 Rosenblith Award

February 6, 2017

Mònica Guxens, assistant research professor at Barcelona Institute for Global Health (formerly CREAL) in Barcelona, Spain, has received HEI’s 2016 Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award for her proposal “Air Pollution, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Brain Imaging Amongst Children in Europe — the APACHE Project.”

Annual Report for 2016 now available

January 31, 2017

The 2016 Annual Report, Trusted Science for Decisions, describes HEI’s partnership with scientists, government, industry, and the environmental community to provide high-quality, impartial, and relevant science to inform public policy decisions about air quality and public health.

Study suggests better air quality led to improved lung function in California children

January 23, 2017

Research Report 190 describes a study by Frank Gilliland and colleagues that was funded under HEI's Accountability research program. The investigators collected air quality data and lung function and respiratory symptom measures in three cohorts of children who participated in the Children’s Health Study in Southern California. During the 20-year study period, nearly 20 major policy actions were implemented to reduce pollution from transportation and other sources. Gilliland and colleagues evaluated whether the improved air quality was associated with improved lung function and respiratory symptoms in these children.

HEI Issues RFA 17-1 for Traffic and Health studies

January 13, 2017

HEI has issued RFA 17-1, Assessing Adverse Health Effects of Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution, Noise, and Their Interactions With Socio-Economic Status. HEI is seeking to fund health studies to assess adverse health effects of short and/or long term exposure to traffic-related air pollution.

Workshop on effects of fuel composition on particles

December 22, 2016

HEI held a workshop on December 8, 2016, to provide an overview of research on the effects of fuel composition on particulate matter (PM). Introductory presentations included overviews of regulatory issues, of engine/vehicle parameters, and of fuel formulation, as well as tail-pipe emissions versus ambient levels of PM. Other presentations discussed the impact of gasoline composition (including ethanol level and aromatics) and engine technology (including gasoline direct injection) on PM emissions. The workshop page includes presentation slides. A summary is forthcoming.

HEI Issues RFA 16-1, Rosenblith Award

December 5, 2016

HEI has issued RFA 16-1, Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award. The purpose of this award is to bring new, creative investigators into active research on the health effects of air pollution. It provides three years of funding for a small project relevant to HEI’s research interests to a new investigator with outstanding promise at the Assistant Professor or equivalent level. Please refer to Funding Opportunities on how to apply.

Whitby Award for HEI Rosenblith Investigator Sally Ng

November 8, 2016

Nga Lee (Sally) Ng, a recipient of HEI’s 2013 Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award, has won the 2016 Kenneth T. Whitby Award from the American Association for Aerosol Research. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to aerosol science and technology by a young scientist.

Fall 2016 Update now available

October 19, 2016

The Fall 2016 Update reports on a new study that explored the impact of Southern California air quality regulations on children’s health. Also read about new HEI Review Committee member Jennifer Peel, upcoming requests for applications, and the sharing of HEI science at major Asian and European conferences.