Airborne Particulate Matter: Impact on Human Health and Environment

Particulate matter (PM) in the ambient air is a key indicator of air pollution. It can be suspended over long time and travel over a long distance in the atmosphere. It can cause a wide range of diseases that lead to a significant reduction of human life. Because of the potent role of PM and its associated pollutants, detailed knowledge of their effects on the environment in general, and human health in particular, is of primary importance.

This book provides an in-depth overview of monitoring of airborne particulates and their sources and transport. The dynamics of nutrients, intake pathways of particulates by human body and other components of environment, and their possible health hazards and effects at different levels and at various organs are discussed. With contributions from well-known experts from diverse research fields, including medical and public health science professions, this book provides an exhaustive information on the health risks of air pollution and explores its control and mitigation strategies.

In addition to providing a scientific basis for particulate air pollution, this book will also help readers, researchers and public health professionals to appreciate the environmental determinants of public health and apply research evidence for improving the quality of life. This will also delineate future research initiatives and policy actions needed with more stringent strategies for protecting the environment in general and human health in particular from PM at local, regional, and global levels.

Pratap Kumar Padhy, Professor and Head at the Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan, India is working on various aspects of Air Pollution and Health and has research experience of more than 30 years. He has published many research papers in internationally refereed journals, published three edited books, and several chapters in books. Prof. Padhy has also undertaken several research projects, including one international collaborative project. He was awarded the President of India Gold Medal for General Proficiency from JNU, New Delhi during 1995-1996. Soumya Niyogi, Professor of Biology and Toxicology at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada is also an adjunct professor of Biology at the York University, Toronto, Canada. He is an Environmental Toxicologist with over 25 years of research experience specializing in the toxicology of metals/metalloids and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). He has undertaken many government and industry funded research projects and supervised many Ph.D. and M.Sc. students. He is on the editorial board of two reputed Toxicology journals. Pulak Kumar Patra is an Associate Professor at the Department of Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan. He has over 22 years of teaching and research experience in Environmental Science. His research interests include environmental geoscience, hydrogeochemistry and medical geology. He has published more than 50 research papers in journals and edited books. He has also authored three books and edited four books. Markus Hecker is a Professor and Canada Research Chair at School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan. He is also a member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada, and a visiting/guest professor at the Peking Union Medical College and Xiamen University, China. His research interest includes Ecotoxicology, Endocrine disruption and Environmental DNA. He is serving on the editorial board of many reputed journals. Markus has authored or co-authored over 170 peer-reviewed papers, review articles, editorials and book chapters. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Society of Toxicology and Chemistry (North America)