Topics and Trends in Most Cited Air Quality and Health Impacts Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Air Quality and Health Impacts research in the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in Air Quality and Health Impacts highlights a shift toward high-precision exposure modeling and specific pollutant analysis. While PM2.5 remains a core focus, topics like PM10, nitrogen dioxide, and exposure-response functions saw significant growth, underscoring an increasing emphasis on refined methodologies and vulnerable populations.

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Updated September 13, 2026

At a glance

Field
Air Quality and Health Impacts
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
12,654
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
PM2.5, Exposure-response function, Nitrogen dioxide
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
59–239
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved September 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#3 of 12,654
12018m citations

Comparative Analysis of Multiple Deep Learning Models for Forecasting Monthly Ambient PM2.5 Concentrations: A Case Study in Dezhou City, China

Zhenfang He et al.Atmosphere202410.3390/atmos15121432

Qingchun GuoLiaocheng University, China

PM2.5 concentrationDeep learning modelCNN-GRU-LSTMConvolutional neural network (CNN)Gated recurrent unit (GRU)Long short-term memory (LSTM)artificial neural network (ANN)ambient air pollution forecastingmonthly time series predictionDezhou Citycorrelation coefficient (R)Root mean square error (RMSE)hybrid deep learning architectureair quality predictionmodel performance comparison
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#4 of 12,654
10218m citations

Real-time IoT-powered AI system for monitoring and forecasting of air pollution in industrial environment

Montaser N A Ramadan et al.Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety202410.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116856

Mohammed A. H. AliUniversiti Malaya, Malaysia

chrome plating industryhexavalent chromiumVolatile organic compounds (VOCs)particulate matterPM2.5PM10IoT sensorsLong short-term memory (LSTM)Random ForestLinear Regression modelreal-time air quality monitoringAir quality forecastingNH3 detectionCO detectionNO2 detectionSO2 detectionO3 detectionautomated exhaust fan controlEnvironmental monitoringproactive pollution mitigation
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#5 of 12,654
8918m citations

Temperature-dependent emissions dominate aerosol and ozone formation in Los Angeles

Eva Y Pfannerstill et al.Science202410.1126/science.adg8204

Eva Y. Pfannerstill, Allen H. GoldsteinUniversity of California at Berkeley, United States

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)VOC precursorsairborne flux measurementsbiogenic terpenoid emissionsVOC OH reactivityozone formationsecondary organic aerosoltemperature-dependent emissionsNitrogen oxides (NOx)anthropogenic VOC emissionsEmission inventoryGlobal warmingurban air pollutionLos Angelestransportation emissions
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#8 of 12,654
8218m citations

Reassessing the role of urban green space in air pollution control

Zander S Venter et al.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences202410.1073/pnas.2306200121

Zander S. VenterNorwegian Institute for Nature Research, Norway

urban green spaceair pollution controlsatellite-derived vegetation dataNitrogen dioxidePM10PM2.5Ozoneair pollutant concentrationsmonitoring stationstree coverstreet-scale ventilationpollutant depositionpollutant dispersionMeteorological factorsprecipitationhumiditywind speedspatial scale effectsParticle morphology and aerodynamicsurban form
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#9 of 12,654
7518m citations

Ozone trends and their sensitivity in global megacities under the warming climate

Jairo Vazquez Santiago et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-54490-w

Jairo Vázquez Santiago, Kazuya InoueNational Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Japan

tropospheric ozoneVolatile organic compounds (VOCs)Nitrogen oxides (NOx)megacitiesOzone Monitoring InstrumentFormaldehydeNitrogen dioxideHCHO/NO2 ratioozone sensitivityCopernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Serviceground-level ozone reanalysisseasonal Mann-Kendalltrend decompositionCorrelation analysisozone precursor emissionstemperature-ozone correlationGlobal warmingSatellite remote sensingozone episodeurban air quality
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#10 of 12,654
7218m citations

Estimates of global mortality burden associated with short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2·5)

Wenhua Yu et al.The Lancet Planetary Health202410.1016/s2542-5196(24)00003-2

Shanshan Li, Yuming GuoMonash University, Australia

PM2.5short-term exposureglobal mortality burdenExposure-response functiontheoretical minimum risk exposure levelslag effectsSpatiotemporal distribution and variationurban mortalitydaily PM2.5 concentrationsPremature mortality0.1-degree resolution13 189 urban centres2000 to 2019 time periodcountry-level mortality ratessensitivity analysesair pollution mitigation strategies
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#11 of 12,654
7218m citations

Two-decade surface ozone (O3) pollution in China: Enhanced fine-scale estimations and environmental health implications

Zeyu Yang et al.Remote Sensing of Environment202410.1016/j.rse.2024.114459

Zhanqing Li, Jing WeiBeijing Normal University, China

surface ozone pollutionfine-scale estimationenvironmental health implicationsTemporal trendsChinaO3 exposure assessmentspatial resolution enhancementair quality modelingozone-related health burdenlong-term pollution monitoring
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#12 of 12,654
7018m citations

Global, regional, and national burden of cancers attributable to particulate matter pollution from 1990 to 2019 and projection to 2050: Worsening or improving?

Junyan Chen et al.Journal of Hazardous Materials202410.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135319

Miao HeChina Medical University, China

Particulate matter pollutioncancer burdenPM2.5Global Burden of DiseaseAmbient air pollutionHousehold air pollutionlung cancerAttributable mortalityDisability-adjusted life yearsage-standardized rates2050 projectionsRegional disparitiesenvironmental risk factorsPopulation agingsociodemographic indexpollution exposure assessmentTemporal trendscomparative risk assessment
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#13 of 12,654
6918m citations

Temperature-related mortality burden and projected change in 1368 European regions: a modelling study

David García-León et al.The Lancet Public Health202410.1016/s2468-2667(24)00179-8

David García-LeónEuropean Commission, Spain

temperature-related mortalityClimate change scenarios1368 European regionsExposure-response functionUrban Audit datasetCold-related mortalityHeat-related mortalityGlobal warming levelsCoordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment-CMIP5EUROPOP2019 population projectionsRegional disparitieseastern Europe cold mortalitysouthern Europe heat mortalitycold-to-heat-related death ratioPopulation agingthree-stage modelling methodVulnerable populationspublic health adaptation strategiesensemble of 11 climate modelsMortality projection
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#14 of 12,654
6718m citations

Global variability in atmospheric new particle formation mechanisms

Bin Zhao et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07547-1

Bin ZhaoTsinghua University, China

new particle formation (NPF)atmospheric aerosol particlesNPF mechanismsglobal climate modelmolecular-level experimentsorganicsaminesiodine oxoacidsHNO3oceanic boundary layercontinental boundary layerupper troposphererainforestsAsian monsoon regionscloud condensation nucleiaerosol radiative forcingprecursor gas transformationglobal variabilityclimate effects of aerosols
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#15 of 12,654
6418m citations

Coupling Remote Sensing Insights With Vegetation Dynamics and to Analyze NO<sub>2</sub> Concentrations: A Google Earth Engine-Driven Investigation

Xiangtian Zheng et al.IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing202410.1109/jstars.2024.3397496

Xiangtian ZhengNanjing Institute of Technology, China

nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrationsLand surface temperature (LST)Google Earth EngineNormalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI)Atmospherically Resistant Vegetation Index (ARVI)Seasonal variationLahoreFaisalabadvegetation health deteriorationCorrelation analysisNO2-vegetation negative correlationNO2-LST positive correlationUrbanizationIndustrializationSatellite remote sensingair quality monitoringUrban heat island (UHI)Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG-11)
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#16 of 12,654
6218m citations

Anthropogenic forcing has increased the risk of longer-traveling and slower-moving large contiguous heatwaves

Ming Luo et al.Science Advances202410.1126/sciadv.adl1598

Ming Luo, Sijia Wu, Tao Pei, Wei ZhangSun Yat-sen University, China

spatiotemporally contiguous heatwavesheatwave propagation patternsmoving distancemoving speedmoving directioneddy kinetic energyzonal windanthropogenic forcinggreenhouse gas emissionsreanalysis datasetsmodel simulationsheatwave persistencelonger-traveling heatwavesslower-moving heatwavescontiguous propagationSpatiotemporal distribution and variation
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#17 of 12,654
6218m citations

Rising cause-specific mortality risk and burden of compound heatwaves amid climate change

Jiangdong Liu et al.Nature Climate Change202410.1038/s41558-024-02137-5

Renjie Chen, Maigeng ZhouFudan University, China

compound heatwavescause-specific mortalitymortality riskmortality burdenclimate changeHeat-related mortalitytemperature extremescardiovascular mortalityrespiratory mortalitymulti-day heat exposureheatwave intensityheatwave durationVulnerable populationsTemporal trendsattribution analysis
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#18 of 12,654
6018m citations

Global, regional, and national mortality burden attributable to air pollution from landscape fires: a health impact assessment study

Rongbin Xu et al.The Lancet202410.1016/s0140-6736(24)02251-7

Yuming GuoMonash University, Australia

landscape firesair pollution mortalityhealth impact assessmentPM2.5 exposurewildfire smokebiomass burningglobal disease burdenregional mortality estimatesfire-related particulate mattercardiovascular mortalityrespiratory mortalityAmbient air pollutionWildfire emissionspopulation exposure modelingAttributable mortality
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#19 of 12,654
5918m citations

Optimized machine learning model for air quality index prediction in major cities in India

Suresh Kumar Natarajan et al.Scientific Reports202410.1038/s41598-024-54807-1

Shitharth SelvarajanJain (Deemed-to-be University), India

Air Quality Index (AQI)Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO)Decision Tree (DT) algorithmair pollution predictionDelhiHyderabadKolkataBangaloreVisakhapatnamChennaiKaggle air quality datasetk-nearest NeighborRandom ForestSupport vector regressorR-SquareRoot mean square error (RMSE)Mean square errorMAEhybrid machine learning modelurban air quality monitoring
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#20 of 12,654
5918m citations

Combined short-term and long-term emission controls improve air quality sustainably in China

Zhang Wen, Xin Ma, Wen Xu et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-49539-9

Xuejun LiuChina Agricultural University, China

PM2.5 concentrationshort-term emission reduction measureslong-term emission reduction policiesair quality reboundatmospheric nitrogen depositionblue skies campaignsreactive nitrogen pollutioneconomic development decouplingammonia concentrationstransboundary pollutant flowssynergistic control of multiple pollutantsinter-regional actionClimate change scenariosBeijing air qualityinternational event abatement measures
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Air Quality and Health Impacts

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in air quality and health impacts is overwhelmingly defined by research into specific pollutants and analytical methodologies. PM2.5 remains a central focus, being the most prominent canonical concept, reflecting its critical role in health impact assessments. Alongside particulate matter, Nitrogen dioxide and Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are leading focal points. Methodologically, there is a strong emphasis on Exposure-response functions to quantify health risks, and the use of high-resolution data, such as 0.1-degree resolution, to improve the accuracy of ambient air pollution measurements. Demographically, Population aging is a significant area of concern, indicating a growing focus on how air quality disproportionately affects vulnerable older populations. Together, these themes underscore a field moving towards more precise exposure modeling and targeted health assessments.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

A comparative analysis between the Class of 2025 and 2026 reveals significant shifts in research priorities. Most notably, there is a substantial surge in studies focusing on specific pollutants like PM10, which saw a drastic increase in normalized frequency, alongside steady growth in Nitrogen dioxide and Nitrogen oxides (NOx). Analytical approaches are also evolving, with Exposure-response functions and 0.1-degree resolution methodologies experiencing notable upward trends, indicating a shift towards higher precision in environmental epidemiology. Similarly, Population aging and Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gaining momentum. Conversely, research explicitly centering on general concepts like PM2.5 saw a slight decrease in normalized frequency, possibly suggesting that the field is moving beyond broad PM2.5 studies into more nuanced or localized investigations.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Air Quality and Health Impacts Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/air-quality-and-health-impacts/2026. Accessed 2026-10-24.

Methodology
Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459