Air pollution and health

In this book, we outline air pollution as a priority issue of scientific and public interest by reviewing the scientific data accumulated to date, conceptualizing and analyzing empirical data, and interpreting it in order to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed methodology and make recommendations for the future development of this scientific field in the country.

The book begins by placing the issue under consideration in the context of what is currently known, then goes through the various steps of preparing and analyzing primary data, and concludes by positioning the research conducted in the city of Plovdiv, and current research activity in the country as a whole, within the broader context of accumulated knowledge and good practices in this field. It is conceptually divided into three parts.

The first part examines the distribution, main sources, and health effects of major atmospheric pollutants. The algorithm and methodology for assessing their impact on health are presented, supported by current data.

The second part illustrates the application of the principles of environmental epidemiology in studying the relationship between air pollution in the city of Plovdiv and health outcomes related to chronic diagnosed diseases, self-assessment of health, and mental well-being. It also looks at the link between air pollution and public annoyance about it, which is rarely seen as a health indicator in Bulgaria. The steps for developing a statistical model to determine the spatial distribution of nitrogen dioxide pollution in Plovdiv are examined in detail, as well as the subsequent linking of these data with data from a quantitative sociological survey conducted among the city’s population.

The third part contains recommendations for future research work in the field of air pollution epidemiology in Bulgaria, with an emphasis on integrating geospatial analyses into the methodological apparatus of researchers working on this topic in the country.

The book is intended for specialists in the fields of public health and social sciences, as well as natural and biological sciences. It will probably be a useful source of information for other specialists and citizens interested in the topic.