COMMITTEE ON THE MEDICAL EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTANTS

SHORT NOTE OF MEETING 20th JUNE 2008

Introduction

1. Sadly, Professor Pat Lawther died on 6th June 2008. His important contribution to the air pollution and health field was remembered.

Matters arising

2. A document on the definition of the different types of Member's interest was tabled and discussed.

3. There was further debate about the decline in air pollution concentrations with increasing distance from a major road. Further information will be added to a note by Professor Duncan Laxen on points relating to the Gauderman et al (2007) paper on traffic and lung development. This note and one by Mr Ben Armstrong will be circulated to the Committee and then incorporated in a letter to the Department of Health regarding this study.

4. The statement on substitute fuels for use in cement kilns had been completed and placed on the website. During preparation of the statement an issue had arisen with the presentation of data on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Examination of further data obtained on individual PAHs had been reassuring. Presentation of data on an individual PAH basis was encouraged.

5. The annual air pollution meeting held at Cranfield University had been a success. The inaugural HPA Annual Air Pollution Lecture presented by Bert Brunekreef was well received.

Updates

6. A strategy meeting had been held with the Chairman. Current work and possible future work on roadside exposure and the air quality banding system were discussed. There would be further discussion at the October 2008 meeting of COMEAP on the COMEAP/EPAQS merger; open meetings and ways to raise the profile of COMEAP.

7. This meeting was the last meeting for Professor Poole-Wilson and for Professor Strachan (although it was hoped that Professor Strachan would continue to take part in the sub-group work with which he is currently involved). Professor Poole-Wilson and Professor Strachan were thanked for their important contribution to the work of the Committee over the years.

8. A document suggesting a logical framework for the potential routes and mechanisms by which air pollution might cause asthma had been prepared as a working paper for the draft asthma report. This would be discussed by the asthma report drafting group, who were meeting in the afternoon.

9. The COMEAP draft report on 'Long-term exposure to air pollution - Effect on Mortality' had been published for comment on the website in July 2007. Proposed changes in response to these comments had been incorporated into the report and the new draft circulated to the sub-group. Their comments were now being incorporated. It was hoped that a final version would be ready for the October 2008 meeting if it had been cleared with the full Committee by correspondence before then.

10. The Secretariat had prepared some material on air pollution and COPD/chronic bronchitis for the morbidity working group. This only covered the evidence on 'hazard' and totalled over 100 pages. It would be circulated to the morbidity working group soon. The morbidity report would be published in stages: the material on hazard, coefficients and impacts for air pollution and COPD/chronic bronchitis being the first part.

11. Time in August 2008 was being allocated to work on the ozone report.

12. An outline structure for an update of the Handbook on Air Pollution would be presented at the October 2008 meeting.

Draft Statement on the Effects of Air Pollutant's on Children's Health

13. The statement was focussed on whether there was any need to dissent from the advice given in the WHO's report 'Effects of Air Pollution on Children's Health and Development - a Review of the Evidence (2005)'. Further material on birth outcomes, infant mortality, birth defects, lung function, childhood cancer, neurotoxic effects and asthma/lung development had been prepared as annexes. It was suggested that there should be a clearer separation in the statement between areas covered and areas not covered by the WHO report. Further work at a separate time might be needed on some of the areas. Amendments to the statement were suggested and will be incorporated by the Secretariat. The amended statement will be circulated to Members for further comment before being cleared by the Chairman.

Website

14. A new COMEAP website was being planned. Initial ideas for the structure and design of the website and a logo were presented. Members comments were invited.

Any Other Business

15. The Department of Health had informed applicants of the outcome of their application to the recent call 'Research on the Health Effects of Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution'. A list of the commissioned projects would be published once contracts were signed.

Date of next meeting

16. The next meeting would be held on 24th October 2008 in London.

Secretariat
June 2008

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