Addressing the Complex and Pressing Societal Issue of Air Pollution and Health

Air pollution is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed at all levels, more urgently than ever. Air pollution has been a recognized and serious health problem far longer than the beginning of industrialization. There are accounts from the Roman philosopher Seneca, who in a letter described some 2000 years ago how much better he felt after leaving “a ruinous mess of steam and soot”.