Welcome
Welcome to the National Institute for Health and Care Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Environmental Exposures and Health at Imperial College London.
This HPRU is a partnership between Imperial College London and the UK Health Security Agency, in collaboration with King’s College London and the MRC Toxicology Unit, Cambridge.
We have strong links with the Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards HPRU and the MRC Centre for Environment and Health and to ensure we operate as a highly collaborative matrix, analogous to the UK Health Security Agency’s multi-functional, single-agency model, we have created a Joint Steering Committee, Training Programme Committee, Public and Community Involvement, Engagement and Participation Committee and Public and Community Oversight Group.
This HPRU brings together our expertise in air quality measurement and modelling, exposure assessment, conducting large-scale epidemiological studies, biomarkers and disease mechanisms and chemical toxicology of fibres and particles to produce the scientific evidence needed to support the effective protection of the population from these environmental hazards.
Mission
The mission of this HPRU is to undertake the highest quality research on the health effects associated with exposure to a range of environmental pollutants, including those in the ambient and indoor settings. Our aims are to improve the understanding of the distribution, determinants and pathways linking these exposures to health effects, to provide scientific evidence that will impact directly on public health practice and policy, and to train the next generation of research leaders in environment and health.
Research
The research programme is organised into four complementary themes focusing on furthering understanding of the risk of ambient and indoor air pollutants on health, by examining a range of adverse endpoints in specific population subgroups (e.g. adverse birth outcomes and cognitive function in school children) and in specific locations (indoor, homes and offices, transport micro-environments including the London Underground).
In addition, we will look at emerging exposure issues including e-cigarettes, microplastics, illicit and herbal drug use and brake and tyre wear toxicology.
Theme I - Challenges
1. What are the exposures to toxicants from all environmental sources and consumer products in different populations?
2. Can models be developed to predict exposure?
3. What is the public perception of risk from these toxicants and how are potential risks best communicated?
Theme III - Challenges
1. What biomarkers emerge following acute exposure to different air pollutants and do they discriminate between different sources?
2. Are non-exhaust PM emissions (brake, tyre and road wear) of toxicological relevance and what are the relative toxicities of exhaust PM and NO2?
3. What are the relative toxicities of e-cigarette components?
Theme II - Challenges
1. What are the impacts of air pollution on birth outcomes, cognitive development, mental health and dementia in later life ?
2. What are the impacts of traffic related air pollution on school children’s neurodevelopment and overall health and to what extent does the ULEZ mitigate against any adverse effects ?
3. What, if any, is the impact of air pollution on the London Underground?
Theme IV - Challenges
1. Do microplastics have detrimental human health effects?
2. What are the potential health consequences of waste fires on local populations?
3. What are the health impacts of living near biomass electricity generating installations or being exposed to waste fire emissions?
Latest News
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The Pathway to Healthy Air in the UK
Posted on March 3, 2022Continue readingThis new report shows that if the government is successful in implementing planned environmental, transport and clean air policies, levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) could fall within the recommended interim guideline (WHO-10) from the World Health Organisation across the vast majority of the UK by 2030. Click on the The Pathway to Healthy […]
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Londoners could be PAID to walk or cycle as a replacement for ULEZ driving charge
Posted on February 23, 2022Continue readingDr Ian Mudway from the Environmental Research Group, Imperial College London comments on smart charging scheme.
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Gas stoves might be a killer in the kitchen
Posted on February 22, 2022Continue readingProfessor Frank Kelly, Battcock Chair of Community Health and Policy at Imperial College London talks about waves of emerging evidence which suggests breathing gases can lead to the development of respiratory conditions such as asthma. Read more here.
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New PhD Opportunity in Airborne Microplastic
Posted on January 7, 2022Continue readingAirborne microplastic detection and quantification, developing, evaluating, and applying novel laboratory and field-based approaches About the Project Applications are invited for a 4 year PhD studentship starting in Autumn 2022 as part of the EPSRC CDT in Aerosol Science Project description The accumulation of persistent, polymeric wear particles in the atmosphere is an emerging public health […]
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Prof Frank Kelly of the MRC Centre for Environment and Health and the The George Institute for Global Health, India join for the annual evidence to policy virtual lecture on 8th December 2021.
Posted on December 6, 2021Continue readingThe George Institute for Global Health, India is organising the fifth evidence2policy (e2p) virtual lecture on December 8, 2021. The topic for the lecture is “Air Pollution & Health: how climate change is increasing both acute and chronic disease risk” Started in 2017, the e2p lecture is an annual lecture to spark a conversation around […]
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How better air could save tens of thousands of lives a year in UK
Posted on December 3, 2021Continue readingDr Gary Fuller reports in The Guardian, at how studies on the WHO air guidelines have drastic impact on health outcomes.