Eve Draper
PhD: Clean air for all? Air pollution, deprivation and health
Location: School of Geography, Sir Clive Granger Building, University Park, University of Nottingham
I completed my undergraduate degree in Environmental Health at Cardiff Metropolitan University, it was here I developed a particular interest in Public Health and deprivation, my research project focused on tuberculosis infection in migrant populations.
After graduating, I spent a year working in a Local Authority in the Environmental Health team, part of my time here I spent working on my professional portfolio to achieve registration with the Environmental Health Registration Board. I soon developed a keen interest for air pollution and its effects on human health. My role involved measuring air pollution, in particular Nitrogen Dioxide, implementing air quality action plans to ensure statutory pollution levels were not exceeded and reporting to Defra on behalf of the Council.
PM2.5 is associated with early mortality and can exacerbate lung and heart conditions. Working with Nottingham City Council, Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants and Medical Researchers at the University of Nottingham, this PhD involves exploring the spatial and temporal distribution of Particulate Matter (PM2.5) across the City of Nottingham using available monitoring data and modelling air pollution via ADMS Urban. This data will be combined with general practice reports of cardiovascular disease and deprivation indices to investigate links between air pollution and health in more and less deprived parts of the City. The project will also look at the impacts of changing transport policy on future air pollution levels, reducing PM2.5 pollution could help to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities.