Air Quality and Climate Change: A Delicate Balance

Background image: © Elenamiv/Shutterstock John H. Tibbetts, based in Charleston, SC, is former editor of Coastal Heritage, the magazine of the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium. About This Article open Citation: Tibbetts JH. 2015. Air quality and climate change: a delicate balance. Environ Health Perspect 123:A148–A153; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.123-A148 News Topics: Air Pollution, Allergies, Asthma, Cardiovascular Health, Climate Change, Combustion Emissions, Dust, Natural Disasters, Ozone, Particulate Matter (PM), Pollen, Mold and Mycotoxins, Respiratory Health, Temperature, Weather Processes Published: 1 June 2015 PDF Version (4.2 MB) Climate change and air pollution are inextricably intertwined, so fighting one often produces gains against the other. © Carl Larson Photography/Getty Images As researchers consider the potential health impacts of a warming planet, the relationships between climate change and air pollutants become increasingly important to understand. These relationships are complex and highly variable, depending on local conditions. Dust, allergens, soot, water vapor, and other particles and gases in the atmosphere are constantly interacting and forming new mixtures, often with the influence of heat and ultraviolet radiation. Many direct human health effects of these airborne agents have been well characterized. Some of these agents also have greenhouse properties, contributing to the overall warming of the planet, while others impart coo...
Source: EHP Research - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Featured Focus News Air Pollution Allergies Asthma Cardiovascular Health Climate Change Combustion Emissions Dust June 2015 Mold and Mycotoxins Natural Disasters Ozone Particulate Matter (PM) Pollen Respiratory Health Tem Source Type: research