Air Pollution
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
- A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change (Full Report) (4MB)
- Addressing New Challenges in Children’s Environmental Health (396KB)
- Air pollution pinpointed as major global health problem (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/2/science-air/index.htm)
- 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
- Balancing economic development with air pollution curbs (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/4/spotlight-goods/index.htm)
- Climate impacts of kerosene lamps used in developing countries (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/1/science-kerosene/index.htm)
- Child Development and Environmental Toxins (738KB)
- Drastic reduction in air pollution may decrease CVD risk (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/6/science-cvd/index.htm)
- Formaldehyde (373KB)
- Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
- Gulf Oil Spill Response Efforts
- Household contaminants associated with childhood respiratory problems (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/science-householdcontaminants/index.htm)
- In Small Doses: Arsenic - a 10 min. video about the risks of arsenic exposure in private well water
- New Studies Offer Insight into Effects of Air Pollution on Children (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/5/science-airpollution/index.htm)
- NIEHS energizes researchers and community in Boston (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/5/spotlight-boston/index.htm)
- North Carolina Now Asthma Segment
- Partnerships for Environmental Public Health (PEPH) (750KB)
- Programs and Initiatives: Climate Change and Human Health
- Report on Carcinogens - 12th Edition, The (243KB)
- Safety and Training of Oil Spill Response Workers
- Smartphone technology makes exposure assessment more personal (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/6/science-smartphone/index.htm)
- 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)
- Styrene (248KB)
- 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)
- Workshop addresses the millions who die yearly from household air pollution (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/spotlight-workshophousehold/index.htm)
General Information
- 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.
- Mold (1MB)
- 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: The Kyoto Protocol: What Should We Do? (363KB)
- 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)
