Bridging aerosol science and policy action: Prof. Lidia MORAWSKA discusses ultrafine particles, microplastics and public health

On 27 August 2026, Prof. Lidia MORAWSKA of the Queensland University of Technology delivered a PAIR Distinguished Lecture titled “Current Problems of Science: The World of the Particles We Inhale and How to Control it”.  The event drew more than 70 in-person attendees and approximately 14,700 online viewers across multiple social media platforms. 

During her lecture, Prof. Morawska provided a comprehensive overview of the profound impacts of atmospheric pollution on human health and socioeconomic development.  She noted that the health and economic burden associated with indoor air pollution is estimated at 3.45% of China’s gross domestic product (GDP).  She underscored the critical need to translate advances in aerosol science into concrete and enforceable public health policies to address better the challenges posed by atmospheric pollution.

A major highlight of the lecture was the discussion on ultrafine particles (UFPs).  These tiny pollutants, measuring less than 0.1 micrometre in diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation and posing long-term risks to brain health.  To overcome the limitations of conventional, costly monitoring spectrometers, Prof. Morawska presented a global study launched in September 2024 across 19 international monitoring sites.  Utilising the portable Partector2-Pro instrument, the project aims to validate a scalable, long-term approach to UFP monitoring, enabling a more robust assessment of the relationship between exposure levels and health impacts.  These findings, she noted, will provide scientific foundation for upcoming World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and future regulatory standards worldwide.

The presentation also examined the dual threats of infectious respiratory particles and airborne microplastics.  Drawing on lessons from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Prof. Morawska highlighted the importance of monitoring airborne pathogens and examined the technical bottlenecks facing real-time pathogen detection, including sensitivity, specificity and cost-effectiveness.  She also warned of the escalating crisis of microplastics and nanoplastics (NMPs).  Since 1950, global plastic output has exceeded 10 billion tonnes, while only around 6% has been recycled.  Inhalable plastic fragments smaller than 10 micrometres from synthetic textiles, tyres and paints have become increasingly pervasive in the atmosphere.  She urged the scientific community to establish and adopt standardised testing methods to assess better their toxicological risks and potential health impacts under real-world conditions.

In conclusion, Prof. Morawska emphasised that airborne particles are influenced by multiple factors, including the built environment, human activities and surrounding environmental conditions.  Effective risk mitigation necessitates a three-pronged approach: controlling source emissions, reducing environmental concentrations and limiting human exposure.  She further stressed that scientific discoveries could bring about meaningful change only when translated into policy action.  Due to the intrinsic complexity of aerosol science, such regulatory measures must be grounded in rigorous scientific evidence to protect global public health.

The lecture concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. CHEN Qingyan, Director of PAIR.  Both in-person and online participants engaged in lively and insightful discussions with Prof. Morawska.