Category Archives: SOCAAR Seminar Series

CAREBEIJING progresses air pollution control measures in Beijing

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Beijing as seen through the recent smog episode. (Photo credit Flickr user: Infinite Jeff)

Beijing as seen through the recent smog episode. (Photo credit Flickr user: Infinite Jeff)

The severe air pollution in China’s capital, Beijing, has made the news around the world these past two months, with many wondering what was causing the smog. Professor Tong Zhu, of Peking University’s College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering in Beijing, delivered a special SOCAAR Seminar addressing the recent air pollution episode. He also highlighted steps that could be taken to improve the air quality in Beijing and the surrounding North China Plain. Continue reading →

The migration of halogenated flame retardants from the indoor to outdoor environment

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flickr user mhaithaca

Image source: Flickr/mhaithaca

Halogenated flame retardants are chemical compounds containing chlorine or bromine in its chemical structure. The most commonly used flame retardants in consumer products such as electronic goods or sofas belong to the group of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

The value of PBDEs in preventing fires has been questioned due to potential health concerns in humans or wildlife. Of the three forms of PBDEs used in commercial mixtures, penta and octa have already been regulated and phased out of manufacturing in North America and Europe. Currently, alternatives are being investigated to replace the deca form of PBDEs. Continue reading →

Human exposure studies investigate response pathways to air pollution

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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 →

Dr. Chow and Dr. Matsuda discuss the relationship between pollution and airway inflammation

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SOCAAR Seminar Dec. 5, 2012–Air pollution from traffic can trigger or worsen diseases like asthma and chronic rejection following lung transplantation which usually manifest as bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Common problems to both diseases are airflow obstruction and airway scarring, likely caused by airway inflammation and abnormal tissue repair from pollution exposure. Continue reading →

Improved air pollution monitoring techniques may lead to sustainable development

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Much science, policy, and practice in the air-pollution community revolves around human health. However, if we look to University of Waterloo Environment and Resource Studies Professor Robert Gibson’s principles of sustainable development, we can see that focusing almost exclusively on health leaves many dimensions of sustainable development under serviced.

Our latest paper, published online on Oct. 3, 2012 in the Science of the Total Environment, discusses how new technologies are making air pollution monitoring a more effective tool in assessing the sustainability of development. Continue reading →

Rob McWhinney delivers 2nd SOCAAR seminar

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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

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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 →