EPA awards $32 million for research on impacts of air pollution on people’s health
by Environmental Protection Agency
March 8, 2011
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $32 million to fund four new Clean Air Research Centers at universities conducting cutting edge air pollution research. The research will focus on the impacts of air pollution mixtures on people’s health. It is important to understand the health risks associated with exposure to multiple air pollutants because people are exposed to more than one pollutant at a time.
"These centers are critical to understanding how to improve air quality and protect Americans’ health from complex mixtures of air pollutants," said Dr. Paul Anastas, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. "The centers will focus on important scientific questions remaining in air research."
Each center will receive approximately $8 million over five years. They are located at:
• Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.
• Harvard University, Boston, Mass.
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.
• University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.
The research centers will explore the health impacts on children and older citizens to determine which health effects occur at different life stages. The centers will also study those most susceptible to air pollution, including people with pre-existing conditions and people living in communities where there are greater health risks associated with air pollution. A myriad of health effects ranging from cardiovascular and pulmonary problems to neurological and inflammation outcomes will also be examined.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/clarcs
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Editor’s Note: The EPA FY 2011 budget requests $10.020 billion in discretionary budget authority to address clean air and water, climate change, communities and ecosystems, and to strengthen EPA’s scientific and enforcement capabilities.
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