Pol for Clean Air Glbl Hlth

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Where there is fire, there is smoke! This course will focus on the global health and development-related aspects of improving air quality. Air pollution is the most important global environmental risk factor to global health. Over 95% of the world breathes unhealthy air (exceeding World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines), resulting in over 6 million premature deaths each year. Building from the evidence linking combustion source pollution (from tobacco, ambient air pollution, and traditional cooking/heating practices) with adverse health effects, this course will address the leading sources responsible for the greatest environmental risk factor to health on a global scale, including household air pollution from cooking and heating with traditional stoves and fuels, traffic, industry, and forest fires. The effectiveness of several large scale efforts to improve air quality for health will be reviewed. In addition, the importance of ensuring the availability and transparency of data on air quality to 1) increase public demand for clean air and 2) design appropriate air quality management plans will be discussed. Students will gain a deep understanding of trends in air quality and health, and explore differences in trends by region and/or level of development. Students will also work collaboratively to develop in-depth case studies and/ or urban air quality management plans focused on addressing leading sources of pollution.