The most recent estimates indicate that Asia accounts for the majority of the global burden of disease related to air pollution in Asia.  As countries in Asia develop and prioritize expenditures and strategies to improve public health, it is necessary to both describe the magnitude of air pollution-related health impacts and to identify likely trends in air pollution and air pollution related disease for the future. In this presentation I will discuss an overview of one component of a report currently being prepared for the Health Effects Institute describing air quality and heath in Asia. The report covers both the status and trends in air quality and exposure to air pollutants in Asia, the focus of today's talk, and a quantitative meta-analysis of air pollution epidemiological studies conducted in Asia for mortality and measures of respiratory, cardiovascular and reproductive health impacts.  In the rapidly developing countries of Asia, demographic changes, economic development, and urbanization are occurring along with associated increases in industrialization and vehicularization, resulting in shifting patterns of environmental risk.  In this presentation I will discuss some of the major factors in Asia that are expected to most influence the health effects of exposure to air pollution over the next 20 to 30 years.

A Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center, Dr. Brauer is a Professor in the School of Environmental Health at The University of British Columbia. His research emphasis is on the assessment of exposure and health impacts of air pollution, with specific interest in transportation-related and biomass air pollution. He has participated in studies throughout the world (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Asia, eastern/western Europe) and served on advisory committees to the World Health Organization, the US National Academy of Sciences, the International Joint Commission and governments in North American and Asia.