Urban Air Quality
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able to understand the air quality data that is presented, they can also better
understand the implications of that data.
In a democratic society, citizens vote on issues to make their collective
voices heard. We all provide input on which policies should (or should not) be
enacted and which representatives are elected to serve us. Informed citizens
are necessary for effective, participatory democracy. When communities are
considering actions to take on improving air quality, there are many factors
to consider: Sources and quantities of emissions, pollutant concentrations,
spatial distribution, exposure to the public, and vulnerability of at- risk individuals (Cartier et al., 2015; Erickson et al., 2017). It is a complex topic, and
that means that our efforts in public education need to be purposive, extensive, and ongoing.
References
Abhijith, K.V., Kumar, P., Gallagher, J. et al. (2017). Air pollution abatement
performances of green infrastructure in open road and built- up street canyon
environments. Atmospheric Environment 162: 71– 86.
Baklanov, A., Molina, L.T., and Gauss, M. (2016). Megacities, air quality and climate.
Atmospheric Environment 126: 235– 249.
Block, M., Elder, A., Auten, R.L. et al., (2012). The outdoor air pollution and brain
health workshop. NeuroToxicology 33: 972– 984.
Bowe, B., Xie, Y., Li, T. et al. (2018). The 2016 global and national burden of diabetes
mellitus attributable to PM2.5 air pollution. Lancet Planet Health 2: e301– e312.
CARB (2017). California’s Advanced Clean Cars Midterm Review. California Air Resources
Board Report; www.arb.ca.gov
Cartier, Y., Benmarhnia, T., and Brouselle, A. (2015). Tool for assessing health and
equity impacts of interventions modifying air quality in urban environments.
Evaluation and Program Planning 53: 1– 9.
Cheng, Z., Luo, L., Wang, S. et al. (2016). Status and characteristics of ambient PM2.5
pollution in global megacities. Environment International 89– 90: 212– 221.
EC (2017). Air Quality Standards. European Commission of the European Union;
http:// ec.europa.eu/
EEA (2018). European Union Emission Inventory Report 1990– 2016. United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe, European Environment Agency, 2018.
Erickson, L.E. and Jennings, M. (2017). Energy, transportation, air quality, climate
change, health nexus: Sustainable energy is good for our health. Aims Public
Health 4: 47– 61.
Erickson, L.E., Griswold, W., Maghirang, R.G., and Urbaszewski, B.P. (2017). Air
quality, health, and community action. Journal of Environmental Protection
8: 1057– 1074.
Feigin, V.L., Roth., G.A., Naghavi, M. et al. (2016). Global burden of stroke and risk
factors in 188 countries during 1990– 2013: A systematic analysis for the global
burden of disease study 2013. The Lancet Neurology 15: 913– 924.
35
35
able to understand the air quality data that is presented, they can also better
understand the implications of that data.
In a democratic society, citizens vote on issues to make their collective
voices heard. We all provide input on which policies should (or should not) be
enacted and which representatives are elected to serve us. Informed citizens
are necessary for effective, participatory democracy. When communities are
considering actions to take on improving air quality, there are many factors
to consider: Sources and quantities of emissions, pollutant concentrations,
spatial distribution, exposure to the public, and vulnerability of at- risk individuals (Cartier et al., 2015; Erickson et al., 2017). It is a complex topic, and
that means that our efforts in public education need to be purposive, extensive, and ongoing.
References
Abhijith, K.V., Kumar, P., Gallagher, J. et al. (2017). Air pollution abatement
performances of green infrastructure in open road and built- up street canyon
environments. Atmospheric Environment 162: 71– 86.
Baklanov, A., Molina, L.T., and Gauss, M. (2016). Megacities, air quality and climate.
Atmospheric Environment 126: 235– 249.
Block, M., Elder, A., Auten, R.L. et al., (2012). The outdoor air pollution and brain
health workshop. NeuroToxicology 33: 972– 984.
Bowe, B., Xie, Y., Li, T. et al. (2018). The 2016 global and national burden of diabetes
mellitus attributable to PM2.5 air pollution. Lancet Planet Health 2: e301– e312.
CARB (2017). California’s Advanced Clean Cars Midterm Review. California Air Resources
Board Report; www.arb.ca.gov
Cartier, Y., Benmarhnia, T., and Brouselle, A. (2015). Tool for assessing health and
equity impacts of interventions modifying air quality in urban environments.
Evaluation and Program Planning 53: 1– 9.
Cheng, Z., Luo, L., Wang, S. et al. (2016). Status and characteristics of ambient PM2.5
pollution in global megacities. Environment International 89– 90: 212– 221.
EC (2017). Air Quality Standards. European Commission of the European Union;
http:// ec.europa.eu/
EEA (2018). European Union Emission Inventory Report 1990– 2016. United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe, European Environment Agency, 2018.
Erickson, L.E. and Jennings, M. (2017). Energy, transportation, air quality, climate
change, health nexus: Sustainable energy is good for our health. Aims Public
Health 4: 47– 61.
Erickson, L.E., Griswold, W., Maghirang, R.G., and Urbaszewski, B.P. (2017). Air
quality, health, and community action. Journal of Environmental Protection
8: 1057– 1074.
Feigin, V.L., Roth., G.A., Naghavi, M. et al. (2016). Global burden of stroke and risk
factors in 188 countries during 1990– 2013: A systematic analysis for the global
burden of disease study 2013. The Lancet Neurology 15: 913– 924.