Lou has a bachelor’s degree in chemical and materials engineering, a master’s degree in environmental law and 30 years’ experience working for both private and public sectors in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom on all aspects of air quality management.

Some recent experience includes:

[Air quality research]

Social Inequity & Air Pollution in Aotearoa

This study explored how population exposure to air pollution in New Zealand varied by socioeconomic deprivation. We found that the percentage of people exposed to annual concentrations of nitrogen dioxide above the WHO annual air quality guideline was three time greater for people living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas, than (the percentage of people living) in the least socioeconomically deprived areas.

On average, people living in the most socioeconomically deprived areas had 34% higher chronic exposure to nitrogen dioxide than people in the least socioeconomically deprived areas. The impacts of chronic exposure varied around the country, with Counties Manukau District Health Board being disproportionately impacted.

[Air quality advice for public health]

Fact sheets on World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines

Everything you ever wanted to know about the science and epidemiology that informed the global air quality guidelines published by the World Health Organisation in 2021. The new WHO guidelines present a substantial new body of scientific evidence, demonstrating that air pollution affects all parts of the body, from the brain to a growing baby in a mother’s womb; at significantly lower concentrations than previously observed. These fact sheets, with supporting information, provide a plain English guide to what a risk ratio is, how systematic reviews are undertaken and the ways in which long-term and short-term health effects of air pollution are considered.

[Air quality research]

Air quality benefits of COVID-19 restrictions: Auckland case study 2020-2021

There were some upsides to the lockdown that broke every parent in Auckland - air quality improved! From modelling estimates, we report that the COVID-19 restrictions reduced air pollution in Auckland in 2020 and 2021 for an estimated prevention of 236 cases of premature mortality (95% confidence interval -231, -242) with $1,070 million in averted social costs ($2019, low/high -$958M, -$1,239M). In addition, we estimate that around 350 cardiovascular and 800 respiratory hospitalisations were averted. The reduced levels of annual PM2.5 averted just over 100,000 less restricted activity days and the reduction in annual NO2 was associated with asthma prevalence being lessened by around 1,600 cases in under 18-year-olds.

[Health impacts of air pollution]

Air Pollution: Health Risk Assessment Mount Maunganui (2023)

This report is an air pollution health risk assessment for the Mount Maunganui area, prepared in response to a request by Toi Te Ora Public Health. The modelling estimates show that, compared with Otūmoetai, in Mount Maunganui there were:

• Around five additional premature deaths in adults (>30 years) each year associated with exposure to long-term concentrations of PM2.5 and NO2. For context, the total mortality from all non-external causes1 in Mount Maunganui for the year 2019 was 145 so this estimate represents around 3% of deaths in that year.

• An additional four cardiovascular and six respiratory hospitalisations per year associated with long-term exposure to PM2.5 and NO2.

• An additional 1,256 restricted activity days per year across the population associated with long-term exposure to PM2.5.

• Two additional cases of asthma per year in under 18-year-olds associated with long-term exposure to NO2.

• Estimated social costs due to additional mortality and morbidity of $22 million (NZ$2019).

Our assessment of uncertainty concludes there is a moderate degree of confidence in the modelling estimates.

[RMA Decision]

New Zealand Steel Air Consent

Lou was one of three commissioners appointed to consider an application by the Glenbrook steel mill for renewal of consent for their discharges to air. Consent was granted, with conditions, for 25 years.