As part of the Clean Air Strategy 2019, the UK has committed to tackle all sources of air pollution. This will make our air healthier to breathe, protect nature and boost the economy. Among all air pollution sources, Public Health England (2019) concluded that, in the UK, between 28,000 and 36,000 deaths a year can be attributed to long-term exposure to particulate pollution. However, we still do not know what role particulate matter of biological origins (BioPM) or bioaerosols play in this health burden nor the precise impact of exposures within the indoor or outdoor continuum.
Meanwhile the UKRI SPF Clean Air programme highlights the evolving nature of the air quality challenge, and the lack of cohesion in the research and user community which are limiting both research and innovation developments and making application of new science inefficient to support policy and action.
The programme further seeks to support investments across four main themes and two among them are on emerging air pollution challenges and associated health risks and human behavioural change and technology interventions to limit exposure and mitigate risks at vulnerable stage of the life course. To address these two themes, BioAirNet will develop a new translational approach for coordinating a larger portion of its scientific human capital and establish cross-collaboration activities along with a roadmap for a comprehensive “Bio-exposome” assessment and characterisation. These will be unlocked through enabling novel transdisciplinary and enhanced connections between researchers across disciplines and with stakeholders.