Peden says air pollution doesn't cause asthma. But it can make life worse for people who already suffer from it. My suspicion is that the effects of endotoxin, and a lot of particulate matter, are probably things not usually experienced by the general population. In collaboration with the EPA's Human Studies Division, Carolina researchers have been chipping away at that question for nearly 20 years. Studies in the field have shown that high air pollution counts coincide with increased cardio-respiratory death.
Fine particles kill thousands of people each year.
Much of the collaborative research will support new air pollution regulations. Research at the facility spurred national ozone standards last year. In order to help regulators set standard levels, scientists have to pinpoint what level of exposure people are likely to encounter outside and on the job. A lot of lawyers are looking at our work. But inside it's mostly air.