RELATING WHAT'S ON THE GROUND TO WHAT'S IN THE AIR: AIR POLLUTION AND HEALTH EFFECTS

Particulate matter (PM) air pollution levels vary widely across the United States, and peak levels are associated with increases in mortality and morbidity (e.g., asthma and other respiratory diseases). While fossil fuel combustion is a major source of particulate pollution, inputs from soil and dust, the effect of climate and human behavior are also major drivers of airborne levels and actual human exposure. Health-based standards have been developed to address the burden of disease associated with exposure to the PM2.5 and PM10 particle size fractions, but uncertainties persist about the magnitude of health effects associated with these metrics and the mechanisms by which PM health effects exhibit themselves in sensitive populations. This talk discusses current research needs related to PM exposure science, with a focus on areas where interdisciplinary work by environmental health and geoscience professionals could address important scientific uncertainties.