Human exposure studies investigate response pathways to air pollution

Air pollution is often linked to adverse effects on respiratory health but it can have even stronger ties to cardiovascular health issues. In the first SOCAAR Seminar of 2013, Drs. Krystal Godri Pollitt and Bruce Urch discuss their findings from a number of recent human exposure studies looking at the effects of particulate matter (PM) exposure on cardiovascular health.

A number of studies over the last 10-20 years have found pollutant exposure has led to increases in cardiovascular related illness or death. But the mechanisms of the body’s response to exposure is still unclear. The research presented aims to improve the understanding of the response pathways to PM exposure, information which could ultimately be used to improve the air quality policies that are implemented. Continue reading

Rob McWhinney delivers 2nd SOCAAR seminar

Particulate matter (PM) is a toxic component of air pollution that has been linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Current environmental regulations limit the concentration of PM allowed in the air. But such regulations treat all PM to be created equally and is problematic because PM is chemically complex in reality. PM contains a variety of chemicals from organic compounds to transition metals. Furthermore, the composition of PM changes over time as particles age in the atmosphere. Continue reading

Dr. Robert Healy kicks off the new SOCAAR seminar series

Aerosol particles are in the air all around us. In fact, you will inhale 5 to 20 million particles in your next breath.

Dr. Robert Healy, a Marie-Curie Research Fellow at the University of Toronto, delivered SOCAAR’s inaugural seminar on October 3rd. He discussed how an Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (ATOFMS) can be used to answer two important questions about aerosol particles: Where do these particles come from? What is their chemical composition?

Continue reading