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Air pollution—a wicked problem
... This, however, requires that air quality data are available and accessible, and, furthermore, for this to inform individual behaviour change, individuals must be able to interpret the information provided. Moreover, exposure to air pollution is an environmentally and societally complex and 'wicked' problem [20], with various sources producing a 'cocktail' of air pollution and therefore no singular 'correct' approach or definitive action strategy to reduce exposures. Transcending environmental science, health psychology and public health, tackling air pollution exposure requires transdisciplinary, collaborative and innovative approaches towards a common goal. ...
... Interactive participatory research methods, including creative methods, can result in more effective and sustainable outcomes and solutions [102] and offer an important role in bringing together multiple stakeholders and challenging traditional power dynamics to tackle complex issues [86]. Complex and 'wicked' problems, such as air pollution [20], require practical and relevant knowledge which is not best uncovered through traditional research methods and instead requires transdisciplinary, collaborative and innovative approaches. Co-production speaks to participatory research in that it challenges the traditional power dynamics within research, but goes beyond consultation or collaboration, and instead is a commitment to working in equal partnership throughout the entirety of the project, with benefits to all parties. ...
Exposure to air pollution prematurely kills 7 million people globally every year. Policy measures designed to reduce emissions of pollutants, improve ambient air and consequently reduce health impacts, can be effective, but are generally slow to generate change. Individual actions can therefore supplement policy measures and more immediately reduce people’s exposure to air pollution. Air quality indices (AQI) are used globally (though not universally) to translate complex air quality data into a single unitless metric, which can be paired with advice to encourage behaviour change. Here we explore, with reference to health behaviour theories, why these are frequently insufficient to instigate individual change. We examine the health behaviour theoretical steps linking air quality data with reduced air pollution exposure and (consequently) improved public health, arguing that a combination of more ‘personalised’ air quality data and greater public engagement with these data will together better support individual action. Based on this, we present a novel framework, which, when used to shape air quality interventions, has the potential to yield more effective and sustainable interventions to reduce individual exposures and thus reduce the global public health burden of air pollution.
... Furthermore, one of the criticisms towards models of behavioural change such as the COM-B model is that they focus primarily on the individual and offer a limited (if at all) understanding of the systemic factors that may influence certain behaviours (Nguyen-Trung et al., 2023), especially in relation to "wicked" problems such as AP. The term "wicked" refers to complex problems (Holgate & Stokes-Lampard, 2017;Kreuter et al., 2004) that are caused by multiple interconnecting factors and that lack straightforward simple solutions (Kossoff & Irwin, 2021;Nguyen-Trung et al., 2023;Rittel & Webber, 1973). Addressing wicked problems requires a combination of solutions across individual, social and infrastructural levels in order to promote both individual and contextual opportunities (Nguyen-Trung et al., 2023). ...
Background:Air pollution (AP) is a global environmental health threat. Day-to-day behaviours contribute to poor air quality (AQ) but limited public understanding of AQ warrants effective communication strategies to promote awareness and empower positive behavioural change.Objective:Through the integration of behavioural, science communication, and socio-ecological frameworks, this rapid review mapped existing AQ-related communication interventions and their influence on AQ awareness, on protective and/or mitigating behaviours (i.e., avoiding exposure; reducing polluting activities), and on boosting civic engagement.Methods:Building on previous evidence syntheses, we conducted a comprehensive literature search of peer-reviewed and grey literature, including 79 studies for analysis. Findings were synthesised narratively and assessed for quality with the QuADS tool. We followed the Population, Interventions, Comparators, Outcomes, and Study designs (PICOS) criteria and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.Results:Despite high heterogeneity in intervention types, most served a persuasion or enablement function, often utilising dissemination modes such as websites or web applications, and most assessed awareness and/or engagement in protective behaviours. While most interventions focused on individual/household-level actions and interindividual dynamics, only some considered policy-level actions, and very few embedded infrastructural considerations in their communication. Overall, 47 studies reported positive impacts on awareness and/or behaviours, particularly through participatory approaches, although we noted issues associated with promoting meaningful participation and identified influencing psychosocial factors. Evidence of effectiveness for behaviours was often limited by observational designs and the focus on awareness only or self-reported behaviours/intentions.Significance:Our findings highlight that top-down communication intervention can have a positive influence on AQ awareness, while findings on behavioural impact are mixed. We highlight growing attempts to communicate AQ-related risks and behavioural solutions through empowering approaches that are sensitive to individual and local circumstances, but note the need for further work to foster mitigating behaviours and civic engagement.
... Recent data from the World Health Organization reveals that nearly the entire global population-up to 99% of people on earth-is exposed to air pollution exceeding WHO guideline limits, with particular concern for people in low-and middle-income countries (WHO, 2024). Such challenges are often described as 'wicked' due to their complexity and wide-reaching nature, making them seem irresolvable (Holgate et al., 2017). While efforts to reduce emissions and exposure are essential, more collaborative, interdisciplinary science is needed to understand pollution's complex effects on individuals and how to minimize them. ...
... This is because the topic spans many, if not most, different dimensions such as scientific, economic, social, ethical, political, and religious. While sustainable development has often been defined "as a form of development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs [46]", this concept can be seen as a wicked problem as well. Sustainability transition (ST) of supply chains (SCs) has wicked problem characteristics. ...
... Air quality is considered to be the most important public health risk factor, especially Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). 1 Research suggests that people spend almost 90% of our time indoors, and on average twothirds are spent in residential buildings; 2,3 more than half of breathed air is residential indoor air. In addition, vulnerable groups, including children below 3 years, elderly, and chronically ill, spend more time in their dwellings than the average person. ...
Indoor air in residential dwellings can contain a variety of chemicals, sometimes present
at concentrations or in combinations which can have a negative impact on human
health. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) surveys are often required to characterize human
exposure or to investigate IAQ concerns and complaints. Such surveys should include
sufficient contextual information to elucidate sources, pathways, and the magnitude
of exposures. The aim of this review was to investigate and describe the parameters
that affect IAQ in residential dwellings: building location, layout, and ventilation,
finishing materials, occupant activities, and occupant demography. About 180 peer-reviewed
articles, published from 01/2013 to 09/2021 (plus some important earlier
publications), were reviewed. The importance of the building parameters largely depends
on the study objectives and whether the focus is on a specific pollutant or to
assess health risk. When considering classical pollutants such as particulate matter
(PM) or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the building parameters can have a significant impact on IAQ, and detailed information of these parameters needs to be reported in each study. Research gaps and suggestions for the future studies together
with recommendation of where measurements should be done are also provided.
... This can lead to the production of useful and relevant knowledge, and in situ, context-based problem solving (Polk, 2015). This is particularly important where problems are challenging, complex and intractable, as is the case with air pollution (Holgate and Stokes-Lampard, 2017). ...
We present novel co-created transdisciplinary research that uses arts and humanities methods to explore air pollution in an informal settlement (Mukuru) in Nairobi, Kenya. Air pollution is a well-documented major human health issue, but despite many air pollution reduction interventions designed to improve health, these are frequently ineffective. Often this is because they fail to account for local knowledge, cultural practices and priorities of the intended recipients. Designing solutions therefore requires in-depth exploration of relevant issues with stakeholders. Researchers worked collaboratively with local residents to develop a range of methods to explore understandings of air pollution including interviews, storytelling, participatory mapping and theatre. Together, we uncovered contrasting definitions of air pollution, differing perceptions of who was responsible for enacting solutions, and overall a view that air pollution cannot be seen in isolation from the other issues faced by settlement residents. The methods used also allowed us to communicate about the topic with a wide audience. While we acknowledge that this research approach is more time consuming than traditional approaches, we urge other researchers wishing to address multifactorial problems, such as air pollution to use a mixture of qualitative, participatory and creative methods to engage with a wide range of stakeholders to elicit new and unexpected understandings that may not otherwise emerge.
... AQ as an issue has many of these features [5]. ...
This paper explores the drivers and role of science in air quality policy over the last 100 years or so. Case studies on the smogs of Los Angeles and London, acid rain, health impacts of particulate matter, diesel and lead in fuel are used to explore the drivers and models for the interaction of science, evidence and air quality policy. It suggests there are two phases to air quality mitigation, the first driven by the air quality emergency as the pollution is visible and the effects can be relatively obvious and the second driven by science that is directed towards continuous improvement. A critical element of the ‘science phase’ is the evidence base, the models of evidence-based and -informed policy-making are explored with the conclusion that it is optimal when guided by the ideal of co-creation of knowledge and policy options between scientists and policy-makers. The future and wider drivers for air quality are detailed with a number of key areas for ‘success’ indicated as important for air quality policy development such as continuous improvement. Overall, we find there is tension between two factors: the ambition to reduce emissions, improve air quality and reduce the impacts on public health and the environment on one hand, and questions of cost, technical feasibility and societal acceptability on the other.
This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Air quality, past present and future’.
In regions experiencing severe cold, inadequate ventilation during winter months often leads to increased concentrations of indoor pollutants. While there have been several studies on indoor particulate matter and inorganic pollutants in such regions, bioaerosol pollution has not been as extensively investigated. This study examines the indoor bioaerosol situation in a university located in one of the severe cold regions in China, focusing on bacteria as a representative pollutant. It investigated random samples of an office and a dormitory (including washrooms) and spanned heating and nonheating periods. The findings indicated that bacterial abundance in the dormitory and office was approximately equivalent. The predominant airborne bacterial communities identified were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, and Myxococcota. Opening windows effectively reduced bacterial concentrations during both heating and nonheating periods. When windows remained closed, bacterial concentrations exceeded the standard by 9.1% during the nonheating period and by 14.3% during the heating period. Furthermore, temperature and relative humidity influenced bacterial particle size, activity, and consequently, aerosol concentrations. In the office, the highest percentage of bioaerosols was observed in particle sizes <1.1 and 1.1–2.1 μm, with smaller percentages observed in other particle sizes. Conversely, the percentage of particle sizes 2.1–3.3 μm in the dormitory was higher. The highest bacterial aerosol concentrations were detected in the morning in both the dormitory and office, during heating and nonheating periods. Bacterial concentrations in the office were lower on weekends than on weekdays, whereas in the dormitory, concentrations were higher on weekends than on weekdays. The above results indicate that indoor bacterial aerosol pollution is serious in winter in severe cold regions, which needs more attention.
Improving air quality in indoor environments where people live is of importance to protect human health. In this systematic review, we assessed the effectiveness of personal‐level use of air filtration units in reducing indoor particulate matters (PM) concentrations under real‐world situations following systematic review guidelines. A total of 54 articles were included in the review, in which 20 randomized controlled/crossover trials that reported the changes in indoor fine PM (PM2.5) concentrations were quantitatively assessed in meta‐analysis. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated for changes in indoor PM concentrations following air filtration interventions. Moderate‐to‐large reductions of 11%–82% in indoor PM2.5 concentrations were observed with SMD of −1.19 (95% CI: −1.50, −0.88). The reductions in indoor PM concentrations varied by geographical locations, filtration technology employed, indoor environmental characteristics, and air pollution sources. Most studies were graded with low‐to‐moderate risk of bias; however, the overall certainty of evidence for indoor PM concentration reductions was graded at very low level. Considering the effectiveness of indoor air filtration under practical uses, socio‐economic disparities across study populations, and costs of air filter replacement over time, our results highlight the importance of reducing air pollution exposure at the sources.
RSV is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children worldwide. While most develop a mild, self-limiting illness, some develop severe acute lower respiratory infection and persistent airway disease. Exposure to ambient particulate matter has been linked to asthma, bronchitis, and viral infection in multiple epidemiologic studies. We hypothesized that co-exposure to nanoparticles worsens RSV-induced airway epithelial barrier dysfunction. Bronchial epithelial cells were incubated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO 2 -NP) or a combination of TiO 2 -NP and RSV. Structure and function of epithelial cell barrier were analyzed. Viral titer and the role of reactive oxygen species generation was evaluated. In vivo, mice were intranasally incubated with TiO 2 -NP, RSV, or a combination. Lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were harvested for analysis of airway inflammation and AJC disruption. RSV-induced AJC disruption was amplified by TiO 2 -NP. Nanoparticle exposure increased viral infection in epithelial cells. TiO 2 -NP induced generation of ROS, and pretreatment with antioxidant, N-acetylcysteine, reversed said barrier dysfunction. In vivo, RSV-induced injury and AJC disruption were augmented in the lungs of mice given TiO 2 -NP. Airway inflammation was exacerbated, as evidenced by increased white blood cell infiltration into the BAL, along with exaggeration of peribronchial inflammation and AJC disruption. These data demonstrate that TiO 2 -NP exposure exacerbates RSV-induced AJC dysfunction and increases inflammation by mechanisms involving generation of ROS. Further studies are required to determine whether NP exposure plays a role in the health disparities of asthma and other lung diseases, and why some children experience more severe airway disease with RSV infection.
Associations have been found between day-to-day particulate air pollution and increased risk of various adverse health outcomes, including cardiopulmonary mortality. However, studies of health effects of long-term particulate air pollution have been less conclusive.
To assess the relationship between long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution and all-cause, lung cancer, and cardiopulmonary mortality.
Vital status and cause of death data were collected by the American Cancer Society as part of the Cancer Prevention II study, an ongoing prospective mortality study, which enrolled approximately 1.2 million adults in 1982. Participants completed a questionnaire detailing individual risk factor data (age, sex, race, weight, height, smoking history, education, marital status, diet, alcohol consumption, and occupational exposures). The risk factor data for approximately 500 000 adults were linked with air pollution data for metropolitan areas throughout the United States and combined with vital status and cause of death data through December 31, 1998.
All-cause, lung cancer, and cardiopulmonary mortality.
Fine particulate and sulfur oxide--related pollution were associated with all-cause, lung cancer, and cardiopulmonary mortality. Each 10-microg/m(3) elevation in fine particulate air pollution was associated with approximately a 4%, 6%, and 8% increased risk of all-cause, cardiopulmonary, and lung cancer mortality, respectively. Measures of coarse particle fraction and total suspended particles were not consistently associated with mortality.
Long-term exposure to combustion-related fine particulate air pollution is an important environmental risk factor for cardiopulmonary and lung cancer mortality.
Vehicle emissions contribute to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and tropospheric ozone air pollution, affecting human health, crop yields and climate worldwide. On-road diesel vehicles produce approximately 20 per cent of global anthropogenic emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are key PM2.5 and ozone precursors. Regulated NOx emission limits in leading markets have been progressively tightened, but current diesel vehicles emit far more NOx under real-world operating conditions than during laboratory certification testing. Here we show that across 11 markets, representing approximately 80 per cent of global diesel vehicle sales, nearly one-third of on-road heavy-duty diesel vehicle emissions and over half of on-road light-duty diesel vehicle emissions are in excess of certification limits. These excess emissions (totalling 4.6 million tons) are associated with about 38,000 PM2.5- and ozone-related premature deaths globally in 2015, including about 10 per cent of all ozone-related premature deaths in the 28 European Union member states. Heavy-duty vehicles are the dominant contributor to excess diesel NOx emissions and associated health impacts in almost all regions. Adopting and enforcing next-generation standards (more stringent than Euro 6/VI) could nearly eliminate real-world diesel-related NOx emissions in these markets, avoiding approximately 174,000 global PM2.5- and ozone-related premature deaths in 2040. Most of these benefits can be achieved by implementing Euro VI standards where they have not yet been adopted for heavy-duty vehicles.