Open AccessProtecting Human Health From Air Pollution
Author(s) -
Francesca Dominici,
Roger D. Peng,
Christopher D. Barr,
Michelle L. Bell
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1531-5487
pISSN - 1044-3983
DOI - 10.1097/ede.0b013e3181cc86e8
Subject(s) - pollutant , air pollution , air pollutants , air quality index , environmental science , criteria air contaminants , environmental health , human health , pollution , public health , environmental planning , environmental protection , meteorology , geography , medicine , biology , ecology , nursing
To date, the assessment of public health consequences of air pollution has largely focused on a single-pollutant approach aimed at estimating the increased risk of adverse health outcomes associated with the exposure to a single air pollutant, adjusted for the exposure to other air pollutants. However, air masses always contain many pollutants in differing amounts, depending on the types of emission sources and atmospheric conditions. Because humans are simultaneously exposed to a complex mixture of air pollutants, many organizations have encouraged moving towards "a multipollutant approach to air quality." Although there is general agreement that multipollutant approaches are desirable, the challenges of implementing them are vast.