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This special issue of Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health (AQAH) is the sixth and final in a series of special journal issues (Solomon 2010, 2011a, b, 2012; Solomon et al. 2011) associated with the 2010 Air Pollution and Heath Conference: Bridging the Gap between Sources and Health Outcomes (Solomon et al. 2012). The conference was based on a series of eight policy-relevant science questions (SQ1–SQ8) and one policy question (SQ9, see Table 1). The policy question integrated across the source-to-health effects continuum (NRC 1998). Nine sets of plenary speakers were asked to address the questions listed in Table 1 in their presentations at the conference and then to present a more comprehensive survey of the vast literature on their topics in the papers presented within this issue. The journal articles in this issue represent a “snap shot” in time and are not comprehensive reviews of the literature, but their strength is collectively drawn from the series, which clearly advances the science, and as indicated by the conference theme begins to “bridge the gap between air pollution sources and health outcomes.” Three science questions were not addressed (SQ2, SQ3, and SQ5), but information on these topics can be found in the series of EPA’s integrated science assessments (http://www.epa.gov/ncea/isa/).
While not as detailed and with a focus on what was presented at the conference, the conference overview (Solomon et al. 2012) addresses all nine questions and was prepared by a different group of world-renowned scientists than those who prepared journal articles for this issue. This allows the questions in Table 1 to be considered from different viewpoints, those of the authors and the readers, and provides a broader perspective on the overall science-to-health outcome issue. While the policy articles (SQ9) within this issue address aspects related to specific public and private sector viewpoints, the overview paper clearly delineates a series integrated policy-relevant insights providing a different perspective than those within this issue.
References
NRC (1998) Research priorities for airborne particulate matter: I. Immediate priorities and a long-range research portfolio. National Research Council, National Academies Press, Washington, DC
Solomon PA (2010) Preface: Special issue of Inhalation Toxicology for air pollution and health: bridging the gap from sources-to-health outcomes. Solomon PA (guest ed.) Inhalation toxicology 22(S2), 1–5, 2010
Solomon PA (2011a) Editorial: Special issue of Environmental Health Perspectives for air pollution and health: bridging the gap from sources-to-health outcomes. Solomon PA (guest ed.), Environ Health Perspect, 119(4), 156A–157A. doi:10.1289/ehp.1103660
Solomon PA (2011b) Preface: Special issue of Aerosol Science and Technology for Air Pollution And Health: bridging the gap from sources-to-health outcomes. Solomon PA (guest ed.) Aerosol Sci Technol. 45, i–vii
Solomon, P.A. 2012. Preface: Special issue of Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health for air pollution and health: bridging the gap from sources-to-health outcomes. Solomon PA (guest ed.) Air Qual Atmos Health 5, 3–8. DOI 10.1007/s11869-011-0165-0
Solomon PA, Wexler A, Sioutas C (2011) Preface: Special issue of Atmospheric Environment for air pollution and health: bridging the gap from sources-to-health outcomes. Solomon PA, Wexler A, Sioutas C (guest eds.) Atmos Environ. 45, 7537–7539
Solomon PA, Costantini M, Grahame TJ, Gerlofs-Nijland ME, Cassee F, Russell AG, Brook JR, Hopke PK, Hidy G, Phalen RF, Saldiva P, Ebelt Sarnat S, Balmes JR, Tager IB, Özkaynak H, Vedal S, Wierman SSG, Costa DL (2012) Air pollution and health: bridging the gap from sources to health outcomes: conference summary. Air Qual Atmos Health 5(1):9–62. doi:10.1007/s11869-011-0161-4
Acknowledgments
It was a great honor to organize the 2010 Air Pollution and Health conference and to see all six planned special journal issues published, especially this one, which puts into context the science and policy of interest to scientists, air quality managers, and policy makers in the public and private sectors across the source-to-health effects continuum. Still, the 2010 Air Pollution and Health Conference, sponsored by the American Association for Aerosol Research (AAAR), would not have been possible without the generous support of a number of organizations as indicated on the conference website (http://2010specialty.aaar.org). AAAR members along with AAAR staff were also pivotal in making the conference a huge success. Special thanks are given to Dr. Maria Costantini, conference co-chair, and others on the conference committees listed. Many of the authors of journal articles in this issue volunteered their time to produce this overarching issue to help ensure dissemination of the findings on this important subject, aimed at protecting human health and welfare. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through its Office of Research and Development reviewed this introduction. It has been subjected to the agency’s administrative review and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
Author’s Note
The conference website listed in the previous special issues and the overview paper has changed recently to http://2010specialty.aaar.org.
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Solomon, P.A. Introduction: Addressing air pollution and health science questions to inform science and policy. Air Qual Atmos Health 5, 149–150 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-012-0175-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-012-0175-6