Effects of air pollution on cardiopulmonary disease in urban and peri-urban residents in Beijing
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: School of Public Health
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Planned Impact
We will develop three specific impact activities within the project.
1. Support Chinese collaborators in their role as influencers of policy and practice in Beijing and China
2. Public understanding of the science and impacts of urban air pollution.
3. Translation of AIRLESS science to other megacities in Asia.
1. Supporting impact pathways for Chinese collaborators
With the top Chinese officials showing a strong political will and suggesting it is the time to win the war against air pollution. (Premier Keqiang Li declared a war against air pollution in early 2014) the playing field is set for strong science to play a leading role in this challenge. Within the modest resources available and constraints of the project our focus on impact will be through engagement with decision makers. Our role as an influencer and by extension our route to impact is via our Chinese collaborators at Peking University. We will use our considerable experiences of working with agencies in the UK, Defra, EA, and GLA to help guide our input.. A policymakers project summary document and presentation will be produced in collaboration with Chinese partners, and delivered to key decision makers at the end of the project at a dedicated meeting hosted by Chinese collaborators.
Costs: - Policymakers summary, materials and joint meeting in Beijing (£1540 UK Travel and £1,000 contribution to meeting costs).
2. Public understanding of science
The public profile of air pollution is currently high, both in China and the UK. Hardly a week passes without articles in the media mentioning the 'haze;' in China or the NO2 problem in the UK. Such high profile media attention provides opportunities for potential engagement with the public on the underlying science, and also potentially with a range of NGOs. Our experience in operating the London Air Quality Network (LAQN) has shown us that the best approach is to provide the public with a clear message and to make all underlying data freely available to instil confidence.
All the UK PI's are already active players in science dissemination with media appearances, talks at high profile science events as well as school visits and production of outreach materials. This work is ongoing and enduring and we identify that the most effective role for AIRLESS is to provide new data to illustrate the challenges facing those living and working in developing Megacities. All supporting materials produced will be open access, scientifically robust, but neutral on policy, they have the potential to be used effectively by others engaged in similar activities in the UK, China and elsewhere.
Key outputs - new visual and demonstration materials for use in existing outreach programmes (no staff cost, £1,000 for production of materials).
3. Translating AIRLESS science to other megacities
The PI's of this project have a track record of successful engagement in the UK and at a European level. This project focusing on air quality and health in China's capital city, Beijing, provides some special opportunities in terms of scale of impact. Any science that leads to a change in policy or practice that results in cleaner air in China has the potential to have a vast health and economic benefit.
Whilst no two cities are identical, many of the underlying causes of air pollution in Beijing can be found in other developing cities, and much of the science and capability developed may have applicability in other locations. We will work with the other themes to host a (London) event targeted at overseas development agencies such as DfID and key aid and policy organisations highlighting the state of the science, and how this may be used to help countries identify their particular air quality challenges and most effective interventions for their subjects.
Key Outputs: - End of project event targeting development and overseas aid organisations (£1,000 meeting costs, but with expected contributions from other projects
1. Support Chinese collaborators in their role as influencers of policy and practice in Beijing and China
2. Public understanding of the science and impacts of urban air pollution.
3. Translation of AIRLESS science to other megacities in Asia.
1. Supporting impact pathways for Chinese collaborators
With the top Chinese officials showing a strong political will and suggesting it is the time to win the war against air pollution. (Premier Keqiang Li declared a war against air pollution in early 2014) the playing field is set for strong science to play a leading role in this challenge. Within the modest resources available and constraints of the project our focus on impact will be through engagement with decision makers. Our role as an influencer and by extension our route to impact is via our Chinese collaborators at Peking University. We will use our considerable experiences of working with agencies in the UK, Defra, EA, and GLA to help guide our input.. A policymakers project summary document and presentation will be produced in collaboration with Chinese partners, and delivered to key decision makers at the end of the project at a dedicated meeting hosted by Chinese collaborators.
Costs: - Policymakers summary, materials and joint meeting in Beijing (£1540 UK Travel and £1,000 contribution to meeting costs).
2. Public understanding of science
The public profile of air pollution is currently high, both in China and the UK. Hardly a week passes without articles in the media mentioning the 'haze;' in China or the NO2 problem in the UK. Such high profile media attention provides opportunities for potential engagement with the public on the underlying science, and also potentially with a range of NGOs. Our experience in operating the London Air Quality Network (LAQN) has shown us that the best approach is to provide the public with a clear message and to make all underlying data freely available to instil confidence.
All the UK PI's are already active players in science dissemination with media appearances, talks at high profile science events as well as school visits and production of outreach materials. This work is ongoing and enduring and we identify that the most effective role for AIRLESS is to provide new data to illustrate the challenges facing those living and working in developing Megacities. All supporting materials produced will be open access, scientifically robust, but neutral on policy, they have the potential to be used effectively by others engaged in similar activities in the UK, China and elsewhere.
Key outputs - new visual and demonstration materials for use in existing outreach programmes (no staff cost, £1,000 for production of materials).
3. Translating AIRLESS science to other megacities
The PI's of this project have a track record of successful engagement in the UK and at a European level. This project focusing on air quality and health in China's capital city, Beijing, provides some special opportunities in terms of scale of impact. Any science that leads to a change in policy or practice that results in cleaner air in China has the potential to have a vast health and economic benefit.
Whilst no two cities are identical, many of the underlying causes of air pollution in Beijing can be found in other developing cities, and much of the science and capability developed may have applicability in other locations. We will work with the other themes to host a (London) event targeted at overseas development agencies such as DfID and key aid and policy organisations highlighting the state of the science, and how this may be used to help countries identify their particular air quality challenges and most effective interventions for their subjects.
Key Outputs: - End of project event targeting development and overseas aid organisations (£1,000 meeting costs, but with expected contributions from other projects
Organisations
- Imperial College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (Collaboration)
- McGill University (Collaboration)
- University of Calgary (Collaboration)
- Umea University (Collaboration)
- Colorado State University (Collaboration)
- Peking University (Collaboration)
- KING'S COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Paul Elliott (Principal Investigator) | |
Majid Ezzati (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Brehmer C
(2019)
The Oxidative Potential of Personal and Household PM2.5 in a Rural Setting in Southwestern China.
in Environmental science & technology
Chatzidiakou L
(2020)
Using low-cost sensor technologies and advanced computational methods to improve dose estimations in health panel studies: results of the AIRLESS project
in Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology
Lai AM
(2019)
Chemical composition and source apportionment of ambient, household, and personal exposures to PM2.5 in communities using biomass stoves in rural China.
in The Science of the total environment
Snider G
(2018)
Impacts of stove use patterns and outdoor air quality on household air pollution and cardiovascular mortality in southwestern China.
in Environment international
Xie W
(2018)
Blood pressure-lowering drugs and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: systematic review and meta-analysis.
in Journal of hypertension
Description | Study data from participants in Beijing China (rural and urban community samples) is being used to examine the acute effects of personal exposure of air pollution micro-particles on blood pressure. These pollutants may exert adverse effects on blood pressure whilst being associated with mediating influences such as temperature and humidity. Samples of participants living in both rural and urban communities carried a personal air monitor to measure exposure to air pollution for seven days and associations with health outcomes are being studied. Results indicate different seasonal variations in exposures in urban compared to rural inhabitants. and associations with respiratory and systemic inflammatory health outcomes. In our most recent paper, we reported on use of low-cost sensor technologies and advanced computational methods to improve accuracy of dose estimations of exposures to outdoor pollution. |
Exploitation Route | We anticipate that study findings will help to inform and add to the scientific evidence base for the health impacts of air pollution on cardiovascular health. This project will also serve as a new platform to further enhance the research capacity of the Chinese teams in air pollution and its impact on health, which will leave a legacy beyond the project lifetime, thus contributing to the continuous improvement of life and welfare of more than a billion people. |
Sectors | Environment Healthcare |
URL | http://erg.ic.ac.uk/research/home/projects/AIRLESS-The-Effects-of-AIR-pollution-on-cardiopulmonary-disease-in-urban-peri-urban-residents-in-Beijing.html |
Description | Does-response relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular disease in Beijing |
Amount | £87,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2016 |
End | 02/2018 |
Description | Using metabolomics to investigate the metabolic signatures and associated pathways linked to short-term exposure to air pollutants |
Amount | £615,557 (GBP) |
Funding ID | MR/S020810/2 |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2020 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | AIRLESS - Collaboration with Peking University Prof Tong Zhu and colleagues |
Organisation | University of Calgary |
Department | Clinical Research Unit |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in cardiovascular epidemiology and CVD biomarkers |
Collaborator Contribution | Experience of leading cohort studies and participant data collection in field centres in China |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary: cardiovascular epidemiology, atmospheric science - pollution, exposure assessment. Presentations made of study results at scientific meetings and conferences and papers under submission for publication. |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | AIRLESS - Collaboration with the George Institute for Global Health, Prof Yangfeng Wu and colleagues |
Organisation | Peking University |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Epidemiological expertise in data collection for population cohort studies and in cardiovascular disease health outcomes |
Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in field epidemiology and data collection in clinical trials in China |
Impact | Continuing collaboration, presentations at scientific conferences and papers under submission for publication |
Start Year | 2017 |
Description | AIRLESS - collaboration with Colorado State University |
Organisation | Colorado State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Statistical analysis and epidemiological interpretation of data |
Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in field-based studies in China on air quality, energy and health, exposures to air pollution, chemistry of air pollution and health impacts of housing particularly low income housing. |
Impact | Lai et al published in Environ Sci Technol 2021, 55, 23 and paper accepted for publication in Scientific Reports on Household air pollution from solid fuel use as a dose-dependent risk factor for cognitive impairment in northern China. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | AIRLESS - collaboration with McGill University USA |
Organisation | McGill University |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Statistical analysis and epidemiological interpretation of data |
Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in impacts of improved energy technologies and housing on health and exposures/impacts on health of different sources of air pollution incl. wood combustion, vehicles, dust in environment. |
Impact | Lai et al Science of The Total Environment 2019 646, 309. Paper accepted for publication in Scientific Reports on Household air pollution from solid fuel use as a dose-dependent risk factor for cognitive impairment in northern China. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Using metabolomics to investigate metabolic signatures and associated pathways linked to short-term exposure to air pollutants |
Organisation | Chinese Academy of Sciences |
Department | Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in environmental epidemiology and environmental exposures, and molecular epidemiology including metabolomic analysis and risk markers for cardiovascular disease |
Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in air pollution research and in metabolomics |
Impact | continuing collaboration - new project |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Using metabolomics to investigate metabolic signatures and associated pathways linked to short-term exposure to air pollutants |
Organisation | King's College London |
Department | Division Analytical and Environmental Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in environmental epidemiology and environmental exposures, and molecular epidemiology including metabolomic analysis and risk markers for cardiovascular disease |
Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in air pollution research and in metabolomics |
Impact | continuing collaboration - new project |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Using metabolomics to investigate metabolic signatures and associated pathways linked to short-term exposure to air pollutants |
Organisation | Umea University |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in environmental epidemiology and environmental exposures, and molecular epidemiology including metabolomic analysis and risk markers for cardiovascular disease |
Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in air pollution research and in metabolomics |
Impact | continuing collaboration - new project |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | 2018 ISES-ISEE Joint Annual meeting - Acute effects of ambient fine particulate matter on blood pressure: results from the AIRLESS Study |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation to major international conference for epidemiologists of study results - important forum for communicating research to international audience. Resulted in enquiries for further information and potential for collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | 2018 ISES-LSEE Joint Annual meeting -Comparison of air pollution and its inflammatory impact on local residents in urban and rural Beijing, China - results of AIRLESS project |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Major international annual conference for epidemiologists. Resulted in interest in the study results and enquiries on the results and further information. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2018 |
Description | 6th UK and Ireland Exposure Science meeting 2018 -Comparing Personal air pollution exposure and ambient exposure and effect estimates on Health outcomes |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation at national exposure science conference of study results produced enquiries for further information. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | MRC-PHE Centre annual scientific meeting 2017 London - poster presentation by post doctoral student on Effects of AIR pollution on cardiopuLmonary disEaSe in urban and rural reSidents in Beijing (AIRLESS): Study Design & Winter Campaign Overview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation to annual scientific meeting followed by discussion- opportunity for junior academic to present to peer audience |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | MRC-PHE Centre annual scientific meeting May 2017 London- oral presentation by post doctoral student on Risk factors for Cardiovascular disease in China - AIRLESS study |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation to MRC-PHE Centre annual scientific meeting by junior post doctoral student - followed by Q&A/ discussion - opportunity for junior staff development |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |