Air Pollution
Description
Air pollution is a mixture of natural and man-made substances in the air we breathe such as fine particles produced by the burning of fossil fuels, ground-level ozone, which is a reactive form of oxygen that is a primary component of urban smog, and noxious gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and chemical vapors. The health effects of air pollution have been reported in research studies over the past 30 years. These effects include respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases, changes in lung function, and death. There is mounting evidence that exposure to air pollution has long-term effects on lung development in children.
Health Studies & Clinical Trials
What NIEHS is Doing on Air Pollution
- Air pollution pinpointed as major global health problem (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/2/science-air/index.htm)
- Climate impacts of kerosene lamps used in developing countries (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/1/science-kerosene/index.htm)
- Workshop addresses the millions who die yearly from household air pollution (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/spotlight-workshophousehold/index.htm)
- Household contaminants associated with childhood respiratory problems (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/science-householdcontaminants/index.htm)
- NIEHS energizes researchers and community in Boston (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/5/spotlight-boston/index.htm)
- New Studies Offer Insight into Effects of Air Pollution on Children (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/5/science-airpollution/index.htm)
- Addressing New Challenges in Children’s Environmental Health (314KB)
- Applying 21st Century Toxicology to Green Chemical and Material Design - Workshop Presentations from the National Academies Standing Committee on Use of Emerging Science for Environmental Health Decisions
- Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease in Women
- Air Pollution and Lung Development in Children
- Black Carbon Air Pollution May Lower IQ
- Breathing Polluted Air Raises Blood Pressure
- Carbon Monoxide and Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly
- Cardiac & Respiratory Effects of Fine Particulate Air Pollution on the Elderly
- Child Development and Environmental Toxins (633KB)
- Clean Air Extends Life Expectancy
- Diabetics Have Higher Risk of Adverse Cardiovascular Effects from Particulate Air Pollution
- Diesel Exhaust Linked to Cancer Development Through Blood Vessel Growth
- Drastic reduction in air pollution may decrease CVD risk (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/6/science-cvd/index.htm)
- Economic Benefits of Air Pollution Reduction for Children
- Environmental Public Health: The Power of Partnerships (2MB)
- Exposure to Particulate Matter and other Air Pollutants Decrease Cardiac Autonomic Control
- Exposure to Traffic and Lung Development
- Report on Carcinogens - 12th Edition, The (243KB)
- Formaldehyde (373KB)
- Fine Particulate Matter Associated with Increase in Hospital Admissions for Cardiovascular Diseases
- Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
- Gulf Oil Spill Response Efforts
- Hardening of the Arteries Linked to Air Pollution
- Have Particulate Air Pollution Regulations Affected Mortality Risks
- A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change (Full Report) (4MB)
- In Small Doses: Arsenic - a 10 min. video about the risks of arsenic exposure in private well water
- Inflammation and Alzheimer's-Like Damage Caused by Severe Air Pollution
- Is Exposure to Air Pollution a Risk Factor for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Diseases?
- Link Discovered Between Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Sleep-Disordered Breathing
- Living Near a Major Roadway Linked with Atherosclerosis
- Long-term Exposure to Particulate Matter and Risk of Death from Heart Disease
- Low-Level Ozone and Particulate Matter Pollution is Associated with Respiratory Symptoms in Children with Asthma
- Lung Cancer and Cardiopulmonary Mortality in Response to Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter
- Maternal Exposure to Air Pollution Lower's Children's IQ
- Mother's Exposure to Urban Air Pollutants Affects Children's Cognitive Abilities
- New Research Shows Air Pollution Can Reduce Children's Lung Function
- New Treatment Found for Ozone-Caused Wheezing
- North Carolina Now Asthma Segment
- Particulate Air Pollution and a High Fat Diet: A Potentially Deadly Combination
- Particulate Air Pollution Can Alter the Electrical Functioning in the Heart
- Programs and Initiatives: Climate Change and Human Health
- Public Health Impacts of Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Research Finds New Cause of Ozone Wheezing and Potential Treatments (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/march/ozone-wheezing.cfm)
- Risks of Coarse Particulate Air Pollution
- Safety and Training of Oil Spill Response Workers
- Study Finds Traffic Pollution Leading to Asthma Has Huge Economic Costs (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/3/science-traffic-pollution/index.htm)
- Study Links Maternal Exhaust Exposure to Childhood Asthma (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2009/april/study-links.cfm)
- Styrene (248KB)
- Sustainability Report (6MB)
- Unexplained Atrial Fibrillation is Associated with High Ambient Ozone
- Volunteers Translate Niehs Cookstove Research in Guatemala (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/1/spotlight-guatemala/index.htm)
- Wood Stove Intervention Can Reduce Childhood Pneumonia (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/december/science-woodstove/index.cfm)
- World Trade Center Cough: Lessons Learned
- World Trade Center: Modeling Exposure Based on Perceived Air Pollution
General Information
- Environmental Health Perspectives, Environews by Topic: Air Pollution
- Indoor Air Pollution - A compilation of links to government and non-government websites covering specific environmental, biological, and chemical agents that cause indoor air pollution.
- Outdoor Air Pollution (http://sis.nlm.nih.gov/enviro/outdoorairpollution.html) - A compilation of links to government and non-government websites covering specific environmental, biological, and chemical agents that cause outdoor air pollution.
- Second Hand Smoke
- The Interagency Working Group on Climate Change and Health (1MB)
For Educators
- ''A Breath of Air...'' New Video Available on Children and Air Pollution (124KB)
- Asthma and the Air You Breathe (275KB)
- Community Action and the Environment - Can You Help Save the Environment? (611KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: A Whiff of Danger (523KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Bans, Bans, Good for the Heart (117KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Cleaner Air and Water on the Fly (141KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Coco Locomotion (246KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Cross Out Secondhand Smoke (135KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Death by Particles (169KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Investigating PAHs: Your Own Mini-Epi Study (85KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Mapping the Air in Your School (169KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Mobility 2030: Can We Meet the Goals? (218KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Particles: Size Makes All the Difference (179KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: The Kyoto Protocol: What Should We Do? (363KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Using a Spoon to Clean the Air (300KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: What's in a Picture? (236KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: What's Your Hypothesis? (643KB)
- EHP Student Edition Lesson: Wildlife Study Comparison (139KB)
- Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Air (358KB)
- Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Air (Spanish) (301KB)
- Healthy Homes = Healthy Kids: Indoor Air (Arabic) (361KB)
- Indoor Air Quality - Is it a Problem at Your Child's School? (English) (81KB)
- Indoor Air Quality - Is it a Problem at Your Child's School? (Spanish) (80KB)
