Effect of Particulate Matter Exposure on Vulnerable Populations

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce a Special Issue on the health effects of particulate matter on vulnerable populations. Particulate air pollution is a well-known risk factor for human health, causing more than 3.7 million deaths per year worldwide. Although numerous studies have been conducted on this issue in recent decades, many gaps exist regarding susceptibility, vulnerability, and modifying factors. More investigation is needed to further understand the role of particulate air pollution in causing detrimental effects to health in vulnerable populations including children, pregnant women, older adults, racial and ethnic minorities, the economically disadvantaged, and those with chronic health conditions, including severe mental illness. Understanding the vulnerable populations can improve the scientific basis to assess health risk and provide evidence related to credible pathological mechanisms.

The risk or severity of health outcomes linked to air pollutants is not uniform within populations. There is a substantial divergence between the socioeconomic status of vulnerable people and the level of particulate air pollutants, with the stronger effect of air pollution among people in with low socioeconomic status. Individuals and groups with different socioeconomic status are exposed to air pollution at different levels and are likely to suffer from different health effects.

In this Special Issue, original research articles, narrative and systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and short communications are welcome. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following: exposure assessment in vulnerable populations, adverse health effects associated with particulate air pollution, population vulnerability to the health effects of air pollutants, interaction effects of meteorological factors or gaseous and particulate pollutants on health outcomes, and disparities in the impact of air pollution.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Hwan-Cheol Kim
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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