Particulate Matter

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Newsletter
Health Effects Institute
2022

In this issue of HEI Update, read about new experts on HEI's scientific committees; a key global health study assessing the burden of disease from major air pollution sources; research funding opportunities, a New Investigator study examining air pollution and brain development in children; and more!

New low-level air pollution exposure report examines risk of mortality in older Americans

January 19, 2022

A major new HEI report presents a study examining the risk of mortality associated with exposure to low ambient air pollution concentrations in a cohort of 68.5 million older Americans. 

New HEI report examines major sources of PM and impacts on global health

December 13, 2021

A new report published by HEI brings together for the first time comprehensive global estimates of the most common sources of fine particulate matter (PM) air pollution and its impacts on global health. Key findings in the report, Global Burden of Disease from Major Air Pollution Sources (GBD MAPS), show that PM exposure from the burning of fossil fuels contributed to more than one million deaths globally in 2017, with more than half of those coming from coal combustion. The burning of solid biofuels, such as wood for indoor heating and cooking, accounts for an additional 740,000 deaths.

Research Report 210
Erin McDuffie
Randall V Martin
Hao Yin
Michael Brauer
2021

Research Report 210 presents a study conducted by Dr. Erin McDuffie and Dr. Randall Martin of Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Michael Brauer at The University of British Columbia in Canada, and colleagues. The investigators produced the first comprehensive global estimates of contributions from the most common sources of air pollution to people’s exposure to fine particles and to the world’s burden of disease from various causes.

September 2021 Update now available

September 24, 2021

In this issue of Update, read about a major HEI study in Europe that found evidence of health effects at low levels of air pollution; a new Board Chair; our first-ever Director of Science Communications; steps HEI is taking toward diversity, equity, and inclusion; the launch of new studies on wildfires and the effectiveness of air quality policies, and more. 

In this issue of Update, read about a major HEI study in Europe that found evidence of health effects at low levels of air pollution; a new Board Chair; our first-ever Director of Science Communications; steps HEI is taking toward diversity, equity, and inclusion; the launch of new studies on wildfires and the effectiveness of air quality policies, and more.

HEI study in Europe finds evidence of health effects at lower levels of air pollution

September 15, 2021

A major new HEI report presents a study examining associations between exposures to relatively low levels of air pollution and several health outcomes among participants in 22 European cohorts. 

Research Report 208
Bert Brunekreef
Maciej Strak
Jie Chen
Zorana J Andersen
Richard Atkinson
Mariska Bauwelinck
et al
2021

Research Report 208 presents a study by Bert Brunekreef at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, and colleagues examining associations between exposures to relatively low levels of air pollution below the current EU standards and several health outcomes among participants in 22 European cohorts. 
 

HEI launches three new studies on wildfires and effectiveness of air quality policies

August 3, 2021

The HEI Board of Directors recently approved funding for three new studies: one to be conducted as part of HEI’s Accountability program to test whether air quality actions achieve cleaner air and better health, and two on the air and health impacts of wildfires.

Study examines role of social stressors in air pollution–disease links

July 30, 2021

HEI has published Research Report 206, Social Susceptibility to Multiple Air Pollutants in Cardiovascular Disease, which presents a study led by Dr. Jane Clougherty at Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University. Clougherty and colleagues examined whether associations between community- and individual-level cardiovascular disease events and ambient air pollutants vary by social stressors.