Speaker: C. Arden Pope, III, Mary Lou Fulton Professor of Economics at Brigham Young University

Abstract: Almost unbelievably, it is estimated that air pollution is the fifth largest risk factor contributing to global burden of disease. Breathing fine particulate air pollution contributes to cardiopulmonary disease and mortality. Short-term exposure exacerbates existing cardiovascular and pulmonary disease and increases the risk of becoming symptomatic, requiring medial attention or even dying. Long-term repeated exposure increase the risk of chronic pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. Recent research has attempted to evaluate potential mechanistic pathways that link exposure to particulate air pollution and cardiopulmonary disease and mortality. This presentation will address the top ten scientific and public policy controversies related to evidence regarding the health effects of fine particulate matter air pollution.

Speaker Bio: C. Arden Pope, III is the Mary Lou Fulton Professor of Economics at Brigham Young University. He has a Ph.D. from Iowa State University, was a Fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health and an Honorary Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians. He has conducted or collaborated on key studies of the health effect of air pollution for nearly 30 years.