Air pollution is now classified as a mild carcinogen and exposure of populations to increased particulate matter concentrations are linked to increased rates of cardiovascular diseases, acute respiratory disorders, mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress. A direct mechanism linking particulate matter (PM) exposure to health outcomes is however not yet well established and the level of exposure of populations sensitive to these particles are still poorly understood.
LAPI conducts studies to link particulate matter concentration and composition to biological endpoints like oxidative stress, which is one of the leading hypotheses regarding the reason for observed cardiopulmonary health effects. A complementary line of research within the lab is to analyze trends in pollutant concentrations in long-term monitoring networks that relate human exposure and how they have changed over time and space to changes in regulatory measures, emissions, and atmospheric chemistry.
