Air Pollution and Public Health: A Guidance Document for Risk Managers

Abstract

This guidance document is a reference for air quality policymakers and managers providing state-of-the-art, evidence-based information on key determinants of air quality management decisions. The document reflects the findings of five annual meetings of the NERAM (Network for Environmental Risk Assessment and Management) International Colloquium Series on Air Quality Management (2001–2006), as well as the results of supporting international research. The topics covered in the guidance document reflect critical science and policy aspects of air quality risk management including i) health effects, ii) air quality emissions, measurement and modeling, iii) air quality management interventions, and iv) clean air policy challenges and opportunities.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This Guidance Document is dedicated to the memory of Kong Ha. Kong was an inspiration to air quality management in Asia and his untimely passing was a tragedy.

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Michael Brauer of the School of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Department of Medicine, and Atmospheric Science Programme at the University of British Columbia in providing insightful review comments on a draft version of this article.

In addition, the following individuals contributed to the preparation of the section titled “Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in the Development of Clean Air Policy Strategies”: Andre Zuber and Terry Keating by providing material on hemispheric air pollution, Juergen Schneider by providing material on the Exposure Reduction Target approach of the European Commission, and Geoff Granville by contributing to the development of the scope and direction of the section.

The authors are grateful for the diligent efforts by Dr. Nagarajkumar Yenugadhati of the McLaughlin Centre for Population Health Risk Assessment and Sophia Mitchell of the Institute for Risk Research in formatting the article for this publication.

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