Air Quality
Invisible, odorless, and yet ubiquitous, air pollution is one of the most widespread forms of environmental exposure.
Watch the “Health and Air Quality” segment of the Exposome Conference
Projects Funded by the ExposUM Institute
Doctoral Nexus ExpoZFE
Analysis of a public health and environmental policy instrument, the ZFE-m, in the metropolitan areas of Toulouse and Montpellier.
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Launched in 2023 as part of the Doctoral Nexus program, ExpoZFE is led by Vincent Bittoun, a public health physician. It is a dissertation in the humanities and social sciences being conducted at CEPEL under the supervision of Laurent Visier.
To learn more, watch the interview with Vincent Bittoun from the 2026 Exposome Conference.
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Doctoral Nexus PollHeart
Study of the effects of airborne microplastics on the heart and lungs.
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The Pollheart Project isled by three doctoral candidates: Yasmine COLOMBANI (PhyMedExp), Martin PUIG (IEM), and Emma CENAC-MORTHE (IDESP), in biology, mathematics, and chemistry, respectively.
The project focuses in particular on the transport and deposition of microplastics in the respiratory tract, on what is eliminated or remains in the lungs, and on the immune system’s response. Researchers are also investigating whether certain respiratory conditions, such as COPD, can alter the way microplastics are trapped in the lungs and whether they could act as an aggravating factor.
Finally, the project explores the development of membranes capable of capturing microplastics present in the air—both indoors and outdoors—in order to better analyze and quantify them.
To learn more, watch the presentation by Olivier Cazorla, a researcher in cardiac and muscle physiology and experimental medicine at the CNRS and advisor to one of the students in the Nexus Pollheart doctoral program, at the 2026 Exposome Conference.
| The three theses that make up POLLHEART |
| > Environmental pollution and pulmonary emphysema affect cardiovascular hemodynamics Ph.D. candidate: Yasmine COLOMBANI Thesis advisors: Olivier CAZORLA, Arnaud BOURDIN UMR: PhyMedExp |
| > Modeling the correlations between mineral concentrations Ph.D. student: PUIG Martin Thesis advisor: MOLINARI Nicolas UMR: IEM |
| > Air Pollutants and Health. Microplastics: Separation by Membrane Filtration and Advanced Characterization Ph.D. Student: CENAC-MORTHE Emma Thesis Advisors: CORNU David, CAMBEDOUZOU Julien UMR: IDESP |
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IRON-MEN Research Project
Study of the links between environmental exposure (including air pollution) and the presence of magnetic iron oxides in meningiomas.
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Title: Characterizing Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Meningiomas in Relation to Atmospheric Exposure
Project acronym: IRON-MEN
Project Leader: Pierre CAMPS
UMR: GM
Exploratory research project selected following the 2026 Call for Proposals
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POLLU-DEFECT Research Project
Study of the association between exposure to environmental pollutants (including air pollution) during pregnancy and the risk of birth defects.
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Title: Is Exposure to Pollutants During Pregnancy a Risk Factor for Congenital Defects?
Acronym: POLLU-DEFECT
Project Leader: Benoît TESSIER
UMR: IDESP
Standard research project selected following the 2025 AAP call for proposals
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Research Project: “Evaluation of the Effects of Environmental Pollutants (EPs) and Air Samples on the Pregnane X Receptor (PXR)-Mediated Mitogenic Activity of Colorectal and Hepatic Cancer Cells”“
: Study of the effects of environmental pollutants and air pollution on the activity of liver and colon cancer cells”
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Exploratory research project selected following the 2025 Call for Proposals
Title: Evaluation of the Effects of Environmental Pollutants (EPs) and Air Samples on the Pregnane X Receptor (PXR)-Mediated Mitogenic Activity of Colorectal and Hepatic Cancer Cells
Project Leader: Philippe POURQUIER
UMR: IRCM
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PExAR Research Project
Study of the link between air pollution and the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women.
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Title: Exposure to Air Pollution and the Risk of Preeclampsia During Pregnancy: Current Status in France Over 6 Years (2018–2023)
Project acronym: PExAR
Project Leader: Sylvie BOUVIER
UMR: IDESP
Exploratory research project selected following the 2025 Call for Proposals
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Doctoral Nexus Cocktail
Development of a respiratory tract model to study the combined effects of pollutants and respiratory viruses on lung tissue.
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Development of an advanced airway-on-a-chip model to study the effects of a mixture of pollutants and respiratory viruses on lung tissue
Acronym: COCKTAIL
Project Leader: John DE VOS
UMR: IRMB
| The three theses that make up COCKTAIL |
| > Using an advanced “airway-on-a-chip” model to study the effects of the exposome on lung tissue Ph.D. student: ASGARI Negar Thesis advisor: DE VOS John UMR: IRMB |
| > Development of original biophysical tools to evaluate the combined effect of pollutants and viruses on model lung tissue Ph.D. student: SHARKA Iyad Abou Thesis advisor: MASSIERA Gladys UMR: L2C |
| > Studying respiratory virus infections in bronchial airway epithelium models exposed to pollutants Ph.D. candidate: Elisabeth PINEL Thesis advisor: Delphine MURIAUX UMR: IRIM |
Nexus doctoral project selected following the 2024 Call for Proposals
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EXPAIR Doctoral Nexus
Development of innovative sensors to measure exposure to air pollutants and study their effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health.
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Development of innovative sensors for measuring
's exposure to pollutants in the air to uncover cardiorespiratory effects.
Acronym: EXPAIR
Project Leader: Aurore Vicet
Research Unit: IES
| The three theses that make up EXPAIR |
| > Development of photoacoustic sensors to assess environmental pollutants and exposure to pollutants in exhaled breath Ph.D. candidate: Fadia ABOU NAOUM Thesis advisors: AuroreVICET – Michael BAHRIZ UMR: IES |
| > Role of the internal exposome, as assessed by exhaled breath samples, on the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems during chronic exposure to emerging pollutants Ph.D. Candidate: Joudi Hello Thesis Advisors: FaresGouzi – Olivier Cazorla UMR: PhyMedExp |
| > Impact of the external exposome, with a focus on air pollutants, on cardiorespiratory health under real-life conditions Ph.D. Candidate: Phamthaovan LUONG Thesis Advisor: KASE TANNO Luciana UMR: IDESP |
Nexus doctoral project selected following the 2024 Call for Proposals
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Bloodpol Research Project
To characterize exposure to air pollutants among athletes participating in endurance sports under real-world conditions.
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Title: Blood Characterization of Environmental Pollutants After Exercise in Different Air Quality Conditions: A Field Study
Acronym: BLOODPOL
Project Leader: François FAVIER
UMR: Euromov
Exploratory research project selected following the 2024 Call for Proposals