Centre for Air pollution, energy and health Research
An NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence
We are a virtual centre that brings together more than 40 researchers from around Australia and internationally to pursue collaborative research projects and translate our research into practice. Our research aims to understand the health impacts of air pollution and new energy sources.
Our vision is for a healthier community through cleaner air and cleaner energy sources.
Reducing the health impacts of wood heaters in Australia
Wood heater smoke significantly contributes to air pollution in Australia, impacting the health of many Australians.
Current approaches to mitigate the risk that wood heater smoke poses to human health are inadequate. In this new position paper from CAR, several policy options are proposed to help reduce wood heater smoke to protect the health of vulnerable Australians.
Professor Fay Johnston, from the University of Tasmania's Menzies Institute for Medical Research, led the development of the paper and said, "It's time to put in place measures to address the problem."
21 October, 2021
MJA-Lancet Countdown on climate change and health
CAR researchers have been involved in the latest report card on climate change and health in Australia. The article, published in the MJA today, provides an overview of progress on climate change and health in Australia against several indicators across five broad domains: climate change impacts, exposures and vulnerability; adaptation, planning and resilience for health; mitigation actions and health co‐benefits; economics and finance; and public and political engagement.
The report finds that efforts achieved at the subnational level have not been matched at the national level, with further ambition required to address climate-related health impacts.
23 September, 2021
Media Release: CAR welcomes the release of new air quality guidelines by the World Health Organization
CAR researchers have welcomed today the release of new air quality guidelines from the World Health Organization. The guidelines recommend new air quality levels to protect the health of populations, by reducing levels of key air pollutants, some of which also contribute to climate change. CAR Chief Investigator, Professor Lidia Morawska, was instrumental in the development of the guidelines as Co-Chair of the Guidelines Development Group. CAR supports a joint statement from societies around the world calling on governments to align national standards with the new WHO air quality guidelines.
20 October, 2021
Join CAR experts for a Health Impact Assessment workshop
On Wednesday 8 December from 9am-2pm (AEDT), CAR will host a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) workshop. The workshop will present worked examples of HIA calculations using real world data inputs and discuss the interpretation of results including strengths and weaknesses. The workshop is primarily for students, research and policy makers looking to understand the building blocks for conducting their own quantitative HIAs, or improving their understanding of HIA methods and results. Registration for the workshop is currently open.
15 September, 2021
Numerous CAR members awarded NHMRC grants
Several CAR researchers have successfully secured grants during the 2021 NHMRC grant round.
Congratulations to the following CAR researchers on their successful grant outcomes:
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Prof Yuming Guo
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Dr Dinh Bui
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A/Prof Caroline Lodge
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Dr Shandy Li
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Prof Shyamali Dharmage, Prof Michael Abramson, Dr Jennifer Perret, Dr Dinh Bui and A/Prof Caroline Lodge et al.
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Prof Guy Marks
30 September, 2021
An association between exposure to air pollution and hospital admissions in Sri Lanka
CAR researchers have investigated the links between exposure to air pollution and hospital admissions for lung-related diseases in Sri Lanka. The study found an increase in asthma hospitalisations during higher air pollution periods, with people over 65 years old more likely to be hospitalised.
15 September, 2021
TIME 100 Most Influential People of 2021: Congratulations Professor Lidia Morawska!
CAR Chief Investigator, Professor Lidia Morawska, has been recognised by TIME as one of the most influential people of 2021. As Scott Gottlieb, former United States Commissioner of Food and Drugs writes, "Lidia Morawska stands out among peers for her work in recognizing the importance of aerosol transmission and marshaling the data that would convince the World Health Organization and other authoritative bodies to do the same."
Congratulations to Professor Morawska on her well-deserved recognition!
25 September, 2021
2021 Lung Health Legend Awards: Congratulations Professor Guy Marks and Professor Michael Abramson
CAR Chief Investigators, Professor Guy Marks and Michael Abramson have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to lung health on World Lung Day. As individuals who have significantly contributed to their field, Professor Marks and Professor Abramson were recognised by their peers and the Lung Foundation Australia's Board of Directors as having made a positive impact on the lives of Australians living with or impacted by lung disease or lung cancer. Congratulations to Professor Marks and Professor Abramson on their achievements!
10 September, 2021
Interpersonal violence and hot weather
CAR researchers have called for further research on the relationship between interpersonal violence and hot weather. Preliminary research indicates an increase in some violent crimes as temperatures increase. Further research is needed to understand why violent behaviour is associated with temperature and how to reduce the risk of violence as temperatures increase.
Events
29 October 2021
October webinar: Associate Professor David Heslop
Please join us on 29 October for a webinar from Associate Professor David Heslop, University of New South Wales, on integrating agent based modelling and digital twins in environmental hazards and emergency response research.
30 July 2021
July webinar: Nicolás Borchers Arriagada
Watch our recording from 30 July 2021 from Nicolás Borchers Arriagada, PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania's Menzies Institute for Medical Research on the relative health costs of wildfire and prescribed burning smoke in New South Wales.
More info
17 September 2021
September webinar: Dr Arunima Malik
On 17 September 2021, Dr Arunima Malik from the University of Sydney presented a webinar on supply chain sustainability assessments in Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratories.
25 June 2021
June webinar: Dr Giovanni Di Virgilio
Watch our recording from 25 June 2021 from Dr Giovanni Di Virgilio, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment on climate-resilient planning at local scales: from leveraging real-time observations to next-gen climate modelling.
3 September 2021
September webinar: Associate Professor Donna Green and Dr Nathan Cooper
On 3 September 2021, Associate Professor Donna Green and Dr Nathan Cooper, University of New South Wales presented a webinar on an interactive research project to measure indoor and outdoor air pollution in schools.
28 May 2021
May webinar: Professor Xiaowen Zeng
Watch our recording from 28 May 2021 from Professor Xiaowen Zeng of Sun Yat-Sen University, China, discuss air pollution and health effects of schoolchildren in China based on results from the Seven Northeast Cities Study (SNEC).