Understanding the link between air quality and health outcomes in Nottingham
School: School of Science and Technology
Study mode(s): Full-time
Starting: 2027
Funding: UK student / Fully-funded
Project overview
Although the harmful effects of air pollution on health are known, improvements in air quality reported UK-wide are not translating to the expected scale of improved health outcomes. This may well be because although standard measures of air pollution, such as concentrations of outdoor fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide are declining, the composition of the air we breathe and the timing of peak levels of pollution (episodes) is changing due to changes in both emissions and climate. In the health sector, emergency respiratory hospital admissions due to ozone are projected to increase, presenting a major concern. There is thus an urgency to improve our understanding of the relationship between air quality and health data. This can be addressed locally, where impacts on individuals, communities and health services will be most evident.
Through a collaboration with Nottingham City Council, a comprehensive local network of air quality monitors allows us to track, in real-time, a number of key air pollutants alongside temperature and traffic levels. Together with air pollution modelling, the combined data will support a City-wide assessment tool of pollution concentrations across Nottingham, providing an unprecedented level of detail on local air quality patterns. Health data from Nottingham University Hospitals Trust will be sought to track acute presentations of illness and link this to air pollution data.
This PhD research project will combine air quality and health data, using Nottingham as a case study. The work has the potential to inform new approaches to air quality targets in the UK and beyond and could provide a step change in preventative advice to communities most at risk of acute air pollution-linked health conditions. Ultimately, the outcomes of this research could help reduce morbidity and local health service pressures and have wider economic benefits.
This project has been co-created and is supported by researchers from Nottingham Trent University (NTU), the University of Nottingham (UoN) and partners at Nottingham University Hospitals Trust. The successful candidate for this project will be enrolled at the University of Nottingham. Please note, this project is mainly based at the University of Nottingham buildings on City Hospital Campus as well as University Park. A medilink bus offers transport. Flexible working supported. Working pattern to be agreed between successful candidate and lead supervisor.
Project Aims and Objectives
The project objectives are:
- To generate real-time maps of air quality across Nottingham for individual pollutants to illustrate overall air quality.
- To establish a linked, secure, real-time database of acute medical presentations across age and type
- To integrate and analyse the air quality and health data as well as investigate trends between air quality measures, such as ozone levels and acute medical presentations.
- To engage local stakeholders (including the Council, Educational Sector, healthcare professionals, etc.) and wider publics on the findings and implications.
What is Collaboratory?
Collaboratory is a research programme, led by Universities for Nottingham and the Leicester Universities Partnership, that places community knowledge and experience at the heart of research. This eight-year initiative is pioneering a new approach to collaboration, working closely with local communities and community-focused organisations to develop and deliver research that addresses the needs and priorities of local communities.
Supervisors
1.Lead Academic Supervisor: Prof Charlotte Bolton (UoN) - Charlotte.Bolton@nottingham.ac.uk
2.Academic Co-Supervisor(s): Dr Thomas William Johnson (NTU), - thomas.johnson@ntu.ac.uk
3. Academic Co-Supervisor(s) Prof Sarah Metcalfe (UoN) - Sarah.Metcalfe@nottingham.ac.uk
4.Community Supervisor: Prof Phil Quinlan (Nottingham University Hospitals Trust) - philip.quinlan@nhs.net
References
Air Quality Strategy for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire 2020-2030 https://committee.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/documents/s107973/Notts%20AQ%20Strategy%202020%20FINALv1.0.pdf Air pollution: outdoor air quality and health. NICE guideline [NG70] https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng70
COMEAP 2015 Quantification of mortality and hospital admissions associated with ground-level ozone https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80ea7fe5274a2e87dbc8ab/COMEAP_Ozone_Report_2015__rev1_.pdf
COMEAP 2022 Cognitive decline, dementia and air pollution https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62ceccdc8fa8f50c012d1406/COMEAP-dementia-report-2022.pdf
DEFRA 2023 Air Quality Strategy Framework for local authority delivery https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64e8963d635870000d1dbf9d/Air_Quality_Strategy_Web.pdf DEFRA 2023 Air Pollution in the UK 2022 https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/annualreport/viewonline? year=2022_issue_1#report_pdf
Draper, E.L., , Whyatt, J.D., , Taylor, R.S. , Metcalfe, S.E. . Estimating background concentrations of PM2.5 for urban air quality modelling in a data poor environment. Atmospheric Environment 2023, 314: 120107. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1352231023005332
McIntyre et al. 2023 Future impacts of O3 on respiratory hospital admissions in the UK from current emissions policies. Environment International 178, 108046 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108046
Public Health England Improving people’s health: Applying behavioural and social sciences to improve population health and wellbeing in England https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5bb21dd2e5274a3e0d7af9e0/Improving_Peoples_Health_Behavioural_Strateg y.pdf
Xing Z, Yang T, Shi S, Meng X, Chai D, Liu W, Tong Y, Wang Y, Ma Y, Pan M, Cui J, Long H, Sun T, Chen R, Guo Y. Combined effect of ozone and household air pollution on COPD in people aged less than 50 years old. Thorax. 2023 Dec 15;79(1):35-42.
Entry qualifications
Collaboratory aims to bridge the gap between academia and communities through a holistic programme of co-created research that actively embeds public groups within its research. As we strive to establish an innovative approach to conducting PhD research, we seek candidates who can demonstrate a deep knowledge of and commitment to Nottingham and Nottinghamshire communities. Prospective candidates should demonstrate the extent to which they meet the project competencies, detailed in the full advert on the Collaboratory website
How to apply
Applications to all Collaboratory 2027 PhD studentships must be submitted through our online applications portal. It is strongly recommended that prospective applicants attend one of the online support sessions, prior to submitting their application. Full details of the Collaboratory programme, studentship funding, eligibility criteria and link to the application form can be found on our website at collaboratoryresearchhub.ac.uk/2027-studentships.
Applications open at 11am on Monday, 5th October 2026 and close at 11:59 pm on Sunday, 29th November 2026.
Fees and funding
This is a fully funded PhD studentship for UK applicants.
Guidance and support
For any informal queries about this specific studentship please contact your project supervisors, for any questions about the Collaboratory 2027 PhD studentship scheme, please contact the team using info@collaboratoryresearchhub.ac.uk.
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