Bootstrapping air pollution epidemiology in the Indian context

Abstract

Air pollution is among the largest contributors to the overall burden of disease in India. Very few studies in India to date have assessed the effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on all-cause or cause-specific mortality, at the center of large health burdens and economic costs of air pollution. Furthermore, there is limited geographic coverage to date, and several outcomes with significant health burden in India are often not included in analyses. It is understood that epidemiologic studies of exposures to air pollution and their effects on health are critical to characterize the health burden for India’s population and to motivate air quality progress. While the need for rapidly building the evidence base as well as research competencies in the field of air pollution science in India has been discussed in detail, there has been limited discussion regarding practical opportunities to effect this change. I will discuss concrete examples and models for conduct of research studies based on available data and operating within constraints in the context of low- and middle-income countries. The talk will draw largely on ongoing work in India, including the establishment of a new research network focused on air pollution and health. I will also discuss possible roles for professional societies, funding organisations and experts, especially in the context of improving representation within ISEE and in the field of environmental health.