Air Pollution & Asthma

The Issue 

Every day, many of us are exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution. As we play in parks, walk to bus stops and simply go about our day, we may be inhaling invisible gases and particulate matter (particles 10-20 times smaller than the width of a human hair) able to travel deep into our lungs and bloodstream where they can cause a number of illnesses, including asthma, lung cancer and strokes. Often these gases and particles are caused by the burning of fossil fuels, for example to run our cars and factories, or else as a result of wildfires and desert storms, sometimes traveling far and wide on the wind to neighboring towns, countries and even other continents. In the U.S. alone, exposure to particulate matter causes 90,000 deaths per year.

Our Experts

Susan Anenberg
Director, Climate & Health Institute
Professor and Chair of Environmental and Occupational Health 
GW Milken Institute School of Public Health

Dan Goldberg
Assistant Research Professor
GW Milken Institute School of Public Health

Gaige Kerr
Research Scientist
GW Milken Institute School of Public Health

Anjeni Keswani
Co-Director, Climate & Health Institute 
Director, Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center
Associate Professor of Medicine
GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Neelu Tummala
Co-Director, Climate & Health Institute 
Assistant Professor of Surgery
GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences