Research

Overview

Fine airborne particles (PM2.5) are currently considered one of the top environmental public health concerns, since they penetrate deep into the lungs, have been linked to premature mortality and a variety of cardiopulmonary diseases, and contain many toxic, carcinogenic, and genotoxic compounds. The objective of this project is to assess the short-term health outcomes from exposure to PM2.5 from various sources on susceptible individuals among Palestinians, Israelis, and Jordanians. In order to achieve these objectives, ambient PM2.5 will be collected across the region, and real-time personal PM2.5 exposure of residents will be measured.
Secondary objectives of the project include a detailed chemical characterization of the ambient particles to enable source attribution, continuous monitoring of PM2.5 concentrations, comparisons of ambient concentrations and personal exposure between adjacent sites which are separated by political boundaries (e.g. Eilat and Aqaba), contributions of crustal particles and fresh diesel exhaust, and the first simultaneous collection of PM2.5 data at locations spanning a range of urban development on both sides of the Jordan River. These data will clarify the current state of fine particulate air pollution, and enable decision makers to better design and prioritize regional air quality policies based on solid information. This research is funded by the Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Program of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

Research Team

• The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
• Al Quds University, PA
• Jordanian Society for Sustainable Development (JSSD), Amman, Jordan
• Royal Scientific Society, Amman, Jordan

For complete information on the project website please visit: www.mepm.org