9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe unsafe air. Besides, WHO estimates that around 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air that penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections, including pneumonia.
World Health Day is the biggest annual event for positive health awareness and takes place every April 7. On this special day, IDAEA organized a Twitter chat last Tuesday, in order to discuss the role that air quality plays for human health. The one-hour online discussion started at 4pm CET and had as subject experts:
- María Cruz Minguillón – her research is focused on air quality, impact of mitigation measures, carbonaceous aerosol, secondary organic aerosol, indoor air quality, new technologies, and source apportionment.
- Jesús Yus – his doctoral research focuses on the physical and optical properties of the aerosol particles and its variabilities in the North East of the Iberian peninsula.
- Cristina Carnerero – with a background on atmospheric modelling and forecasting of daily ozone levels, her current research focuses on high tropospheric ozone and ultrafine particles episodes.
Check out the wrap up of the Twitter chat below:
#WHD_IDAEA – Talking about the impact of air pollution on human health