Modeling the health impacts of air pollution

Air pollution, especially outdoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5), has been linked to chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. In rapidly growing urban centers like Mexico City, that disease burden is intensified by population density and other compounding health risks. This project will use simulation models to project future trends in air pollution-related chronic disease across a range of pollution scenarios over the next 30 years. Drawing on newly available datasets on disease prevalence, mortality, and PM2.5 levels in Mexico City from 1990 to 2020, the researchers will identify how cumulative pollution exposure drives disease outcomes and model the health benefits of potential policy interventions — equipping Mexican policymakers with evidence to evaluate air quality policies and their impacts on health equity.

Above: Independence Angel in Mexico City. Image credit: simonmayer / iStock