Professor Anil Namdeo

Professor Anil Namdeo is an internationally recognised expert in air quality management, sustainability, and environmental health. He is Professor of Air Quality Management and Net Zero within the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University. His research integrates environmental science, transport planning, and public health, with a strong focus on delivering practical, evidence-based solutions to some of society’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Professor Namdeo’s work spans the monitoring, modelling, and management of air pollution, linking land use, transport systems, emissions, air quality, and health outcomes through innovative and integrated frameworks. One of his major contributions is the development of PITHEM (Platform for Integrated Traffic, Health and Emissions Modelling). This tool combines traffic models (e.g. SATURN) with emissions models (e.g. COPERT, Defra’s Emissions Factor Toolkit) to estimate traffic-related emissions, predict pollutant concentrations, and assess health impacts using dose-response functions recommended by COMEAP. PITHEM has transformed local air quality management by supporting decisions such as the implementation of Clean Air Zones in Newcastle and Gateshead, and by informing transport and environmental policy at the local authority level.

His research portfolio is global in reach, including projects in the UK, India, China, Mexico, Indonesia, Kenya, and Tanzania. He has advanced understanding of personal exposure to air pollution across micro-environments (e.g. homes, workplaces, leisure spaces) and different modes of transport. His research into the relationship between air quality, deprivation, and health has been pivotal in addressing environmental justice, demonstrating how disadvantaged communities often bear a disproportionate burden of pollution-related health impacts.

Professor Namdeo has led and contributed to projects funded by major bodies such as the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), British Council, UK Department of Health, Indian Ministry of Earth Sciences, and SECTEI (Mexico). He was Principal Investigator for projects including CADTIME (Clean Air for Delhi Through Interventions, Mitigations and Engagement) and MANAPRE (Mexico City and Newcastle Partnership on Health and Air Pollution Research and Engagement). He is currently a co-investigator on key initiatives such as ETHOS (Co-developed environmental solutions to mitigate the impact of temperature extremes on the Health of vulnerable populations), Impact+ (environmental transparency in fashion), Insights North East (a regional partnership bridging the divide between research and place-based policy making), Nuna (Arctic resilience), and AIRPORT (air pollution and reproductive health).

Anil serves on several influential advisory panels, including DEFRA’s Air Quality Expert Group (AQEG), the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s Environmental Sustainability Panel (ESP), and previously the NICE Public Health Advisory Committee on Air Pollution. He is a Chartered Environmentalist, Chartered Scientist, Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society, and Fellow of the Institute of Air Quality Management. He is a visiting professor/researcher at IIT Delhi, Anna University, Vellore Institute of Technology and University of Southampton.

Professor Namdeo is passionate about knowledge exchange and public engagement. He regularly leads training and workshops both in the UK and internationally and works closely with communities to communicate the health impacts of air pollution. His research continues to shape policy and practice towards cleaner, healthier, and more equitable urban environments.