Ionising Radiation

The Fukushima reactor crisis in Japan has brought the risks associated with exposure to ionising radiation very much into the forefront of public consciousness. Workers attempting to bring the reactors under control are being exposed to higher than normal levels of radiation and there are concerns about radiation escaping into the environment and affecting the wider population.

Particulate pollution – PM10 and PM2.5

Airborne particulate is a major component of urban air pollution. Anthropogenic sources  include combustion within car engines, solid-fuel combustion in households, industrial activities (such as building, mining, manufacturing of cement, ceramics and bricks, and smelting), quarrying and mining. Epidemiological evidence indicates a clear relationship between exposure to particulate matter and effects on health, particularly smaller

Climate change increases the impact of Persistent Organic Pollutants

Human activity releases a large number of chemical pollutants into the environment, many of which are harmful to human health. Some chemicals that are particularly noted for their ability to persist in the environment once released and for their harmful effects on health and the environment, are collectively known as “persistent organic pollutants” (POPs). These