Contact Dr Zaheer Nasar
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754584
- Email: z.a.nasar@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Air
- Environment and Health
- Environmental Policy
- Hazardous Substances
- Waste Management and Resource Efficiency
Background
Dr Nasar’s
research interest lies in physico-chemical and biological characterisation of
aerosols, their spatio-temporal dynamics in different environments, societal
impacts and developing control measures, with a specific focus on particulate
matter (PM) and bioaerosols, across natural and indoor environments. He has
extensively investigated aerosol and bioaerosols sources and dynamics under
controlled as well as real-world built environments, the relationship between
indoor/outdoor air quality and indoor air hygiene control measures in both the
developed and developing world (EP/G029881/1, FP7-242497). He is
leading Cranfield’s work on the single-particle characterisation of biological
materials in PM from different indoor
and outdoor environments by using Light-Induced Fluorescence based
sensor systems capable of performing a range of measurements on single
particles in real-time ( NERC NE/M01163/1). He is Co-I on the Indoor/Outdoor
Bioaerosols Interface and Relationships Network (BioAirNet/ NE/V002171/1) and also a member
of BSI committee EH/2/5 - Emissions to internal environments as an expert on
bioaerosols.
Current activities
Understanding the interplay between air pollution, urban form and demographics -. Work includes, NERC COVID-19 urgency grant (NE/V009737/1: £146,711, Co-I), NERC Defragmenting the fragmented urban landscape (NE/W003031/1: £790,362, Co-I and WP Lead on real world and controlled experiments to investigate the impact of green infrastructure interventions on air quality)
Advancing real-time detection and characterisation of aerosols - Leading work on the single-particle characterisation of biological materials in PM from different environmental sources (Wastewater treatment plants, Livestock, Chicken farms, Agricultural, urban and rural) by using Light-Induced Fluorescence based sensor systems (NERC NE/M01163/1); Network manager and Co-I for UKRI SPF Clean Air Programme funded network ‘Indoor/Outdoor Bioaerosols Interface and Relationships Network’ ( NE/V002171/1: £507,471, https://bioairnet.co.uk/ )
Indoor air quality – Characterising indoor air pollutant dynamics and exposure in developing and developed world to support air quality management interventions. Work includes. Met office/UKRI grant ‘Indoor air quality emissions and modelling systems’( £ 975,077, Birmingham Lead, Cranfield PI and WP lead on Indoor pollutant inventory); STFC Air Quality Network funded project ‘Sources, behaviour and mitigation strategies influencing indoor air quality’ (£8000; Co-I); Various projects funded through British Council/HEC Pakistan.
Enabling mitigating the air quality challenges in Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) - Assessing the existing air quality issues and their drivers to support the development of air quality observation capacities to adopt low-cost technological innovations to inform policies and actions to mitigate air pollution for improved environmental and human health in HKH (UKRI GCRF QR 2020/21)
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Gui ZC, Li X, Liu ML, Peng Z, Yan C, Nasir ZA, Alcega SG & Coulon F (2022) Seasonal variation of quantitative microbial risk assessment for three airborne enteric bacteria from wastewater treatment plant emissions, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 240 (July) Article No. 113689.
- Ferguson RM, Neath CE, Nasir ZA, Garcia-Alcega S, Tyrrel S, Coulon F, Dumbrell AJ, Colbeck I & Whitby C (2021) Size fractionation of bioaerosol emissions from green waste composting, Environment International, 147 (February) Article No. 106327.
- Hafeez S, Ali Z, Nasir ZA & Sultan S (2021) Assessment of microbial air quality within facilities of waste transfer stations and disposal sites of Lahore, Pakistan, Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 30 (6) 1-10.
- Raza ST, Hafeez S, Ali Z, Nasir ZA, Butt MM, Saleem I, Wu J, Chen Z & Xu Y (2021) An assessment of air quality within facilities of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) sites in Lahore, Pakistan, Processes, 9 (9) Article No. 1604.
- Yasmeen R, Ali Z, Tyrrel S & Nasir ZA (2020) Assessment of respiratory problems in workers associated with intensive poultry facilities in Pakistan, Safety and Health at Work, 11 (1) 118-124.
- Tian JH, Yan C, Nasir ZA, Alcega SG, Tyrrel S & Coulon F (2020) Real time detection and characterisation of bioaerosol emissions from wastewater treatment plants, Science of the Total Environment, 721 (June) Article No. 137629. Dataset/s: 10.17862/cranfield.rd.11663313.v1
- Garcia-Alcega S, Nasir ZA, Cipullo S, Ferguson R, Yan C, Whitby C, Dumbrell AJ, Drew G, Colbeck I, Tyrrel S & Coulon F (2020) Fingerprinting ambient air to understand bioaerosol profiles in three different environments in the South East of England, Science of the Total Environment, 719 (June) Article No. 137542. Dataset/s: 10.17862/cranfield.rd.11888880
- Yasmeen R, Ali Z, Tyrrel S & Nasir ZA (2019) Estimation of particulate matter and gaseous concentrations using low-cost sensors from broiler houses, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 191 (7) Article No. 470.
- Nasir ZA, Hayes E, Williams B, Gladding T, Rolph C, Khera S, Jackson S, Bennett A, Collins S, Parks S, Attwood A, Kinnersley RP, Walsh K, Garcia Alcega S, Pollard SJT, Drew G, Coulon F & Tyrrel S (2019) Scoping studies to establish the capability and utility of a real-time bioaerosol sensor to characterise emissions from environmental sources, Science of the Total Environment, 648 (January) 25-32.
- Colbeck I, Sidra S, Ali Z, Ahmed S & Nasir ZA (2019) Spatial and temporal variations in indoor air quality in Lahore, Pakistan, International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 16 (6) 2565-2572.
- Nasir ZA, Rolph C, Collins S, Stevenson D, Gladding TL, Hayes E, Williams B, Khera S, Jackson, Bennett A, Parks S, Kinnersley RP, Walsh K, Pollard SJT, Drew G, Garcia Alcega S, Coulon F & Tyrrel S (2018) A controlled study on the characterisation of bioaerosols emissions from compost, Atmosphere, 9 (10) Article No. 379. Dataset/s: https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/eidc/documents
- Garcia-Alcega S, Nasir ZA, Ferguson R, Noel C, Cravo-Laureau C, Whitby C, Dumbrell AJ, Colbeck I, Tyrrel S & Coulon F (2018) Can chemical and molecular biomarkers help discriminate between industrial, rural and urban environments?, Science of the Total Environment, 631-632 (August) 1059-1069. Dataset/s: 10.17862/cranfield.rd.5593474
- Rolph CA, Gwyther CL, Tyrrel SF, Nasir ZA, Drew GH, Jackson SK, Khera S, Hayes ET, Williams B, Bennett A, Collins S, Walsh K, Kinnersley R & Gladding TL (2018) Sources of airborne endotoxins in ambient air and exposure of nearby communities - a review, Atmosphere, 9 (10) Article No. 375.
- Nasir ZA & Tyrrel S (2017) Real-time bioaerosol detection: informing industrial emissions in real-time, AWE International (48) 47-53.
- Garcia-Alcega S, Nasir ZA, Ferguson R, Withby C, Dumbrell AJ, Colbeck I, Gomes D, Tyrrel S & Coulon F (2017) Fingerprinting outdoor air environments using microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs): A review, Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 86 (January) 75-83.
- Nasir ZA, Campos LC, Christie N & Colbeck I (2016) Airborne biological hazards and urban transport infrastructure: current challenges and future directions, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 23 (15) 15757-15766.
- Sidra S, Ali Z, Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2015) Seasonal variation of fine particulate matter in residential micro–environments of Lahore, Pakistan, Atmospheric Pollution Research, 6 (5) 797-804.
- Sidra S, Ali Z, Sultan S, Ahmed S, Colbeck I, Nasir & Z (2015) Assessment of airborne microflora in the indoor micro-environments of residential houses of Lahore, Pakistan, Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 15 (6) 2385-2396.
- Zainab I, Ali Z, Ahmad MS, Zona Z, Raza ST, Sidra S, Nasir ZA, Colbeck I & Liu W (2015) Monitoring of particulate matter concentrations at high altitude ecosystems of Pakistan and China, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 738-740.
- Amant H, Ali Z, Sidra S, Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2015) PM2.5 arising from different cooking fuels in rural residential houses, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 677-680.
- Ali Z, Naz F, Nasir ZA, Sidra S & Colbeck I (2015) Particulate pollution in urban residential built environments during winter and summer seasons in Lahore, Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3, Suppl 2) 660-665.
- Nasir ZA, Murtaza F & Colbeck I (2015) Role of poverty in fuel choice and exposure to indoor air pollution in Pakistan, Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, 12 (2) 107-117.
- Nimra A, Ali Z, Khan MN, Gulshan T, Sidra S, Gardezi JR, Tarar MR, Saleem M, Nasir ZA & Colebeck I (2015) Comparative ambient and indoor particulate matter analysis of operation theatres of government and private (trust) hospitals of Lahore, Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 628-635.
- Nasir ZA, Colbeck I, Ali Z & Ahmed S (2015) Automotive related exposure to particulate air pollution in developing countries cities, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 713-718.
- Parker ST, Nasir ZA & Campos LC (2015) Estimating exponential concentration decay rates using time-integrated aerosol sampling of variable duration, Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 15 (4) 1160-1165.
- Ali Z, Rauf A, Sidra S, Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2015) Air quality (particulate matter) at heavy traffic sites in Lahore, Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 644-648.
- Zona Z, Ali Z, Sidra S, Nirma A, Ahmad M, Aziz K, Zainab I, Quratulain, Ansari B, Raza ST, Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2015) Changes in particulate matter concentrations at different altitudinal levels with environmental dynamics, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 620-627.
- Aziz K, Ali Z, Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2015) Comparative study of particulate matter in the transport microenvironment (buses) of Pakistan and UK, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 636-643.
- Murtaza F, Nasir ZA, Colbeck I & Campos LC (2015) Socio-environmental determinants of exposure to water and sanitation related hazards in Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 725-730.
- Aziz K, Ali Z, Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2015) Assessment of airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) in university classrooms of varying occupancy, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 649-655.
- Shelly SY, Ali Z, Bibi F, Nasir ZA, Colbeck I & Butler JRA (2015) Resilience of local communities to climate change around a ramsar site in Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 324-333.
- Ali Z, Shelly SY, Bibi F, Nasir ZA, Colbeck I & Butler JRA (2015) Prospects for alleviating poverty and protecting the Taunsa barrage wildlife sanctuary, Indus river, Pakistan, through cultural and eco-tourism, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 341-347.
- Sidra S, Ali Z, Sultan S, Ahmed S, Colbeck I & Nasir ZA (2015) Microbial dynamics during various activities in residential areas of Lahore, Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 741-743.
- Nasir ZA, Mehmood T, Ali Z, Noor N, Sidra S & Colbeck I (2015) Measurement of NO2 indoor and outdoor concentrations in selected public schools of Lahore using passive sampler, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 681-686.
- Ali Z, Shahzadi K, Sidra S, Zona Z, Zainab I, Aziz K, Ahmad M, Raza ST, Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2015) Seasonal variation of particulate matter in the ambient conditions of Khanspur, Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 700-705.
- Andleeb S, Ali Z, Afzal F, Razzaq AA, Mehmood T, Noor N, Rasheed F, Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2015) Exposure to NO2 in occupational built environments in urban centre in Lahore, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 656-659.
- Ali Z, Colbeck I, Campos LC, Nasir ZA, Ali M & Riaz N (2015) Environmental health and wildlife research with transnational education forebodings, applicability and approach, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 744-745.
- Nasir ZA, Colbeck I, Ali Z & Ahmed S (2015) Ultrafine particles in rural and urban dwellings with different household fuel use in developing countries – an example from Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 693-699.
- Gulshan T, Ali Z, Zona Z, Ansari B, Ahmad M, Zainab M, Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2015) State of air quality in and outside of hospital wards in urban centres – a case study in Lahore, Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 666-671.
- Nasir ZA, Colbeck I, Ali Z & Ahmed S (2015) Heavy metal composition of particulate matter in rural and urban residential built environments in Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 25 (3) 706-712.
- Campos LC, Ross P, Nasir ZA, Taylor H & Parkinson J (2015) Development and application of a methodology to assess sanitary risks in Maputo, Mozambique, Environment and Urbanization, 27 (2) 371-388.
- Saidu IA, Nasir ZA & Goni BW (2014) Social determinants of tuberculosis in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review, Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 3 (4).
- Nasir ZA, Colbeck I, Bharucha Z, Campos L & Ali Z (2014) Ethno-environmental knowledge as a tool to combat indoor air pollution in low income countries: a case study from rural communities in Pakistan, Journal of Environment and Human, 1 (2) 165-175.
- Nasir Z, Ciric L & Campos L (2013) Health care associated Infection control: role of aerosol science and technology, European Medical Hygiene, 2013 (3) 36-41.
- Nasir ZA, Mula V, Stokoe J, Colbeck I & Loeffler M (2013) Evaluation of total concentration and size distribution of bacterial and fungal aerosol in healthcare built environments, Indoor and Built Environment, 24 (2) 269-279.
- Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2013) Particulate pollution in different housing types in a UK suburban location, Science of the Total Environment, 445-446 (February) 165-176.
- Taylor J, Margaritis D, Nasir ZA & Borrion H (2013) The role of protection measures and their interaction in determining building vulnerability and resilience to bioterrorism, Journal of Bioterrorism and Biodefense, 4 (1) Article No. 1000123.
- Nasir ZA, Colbeck I, Ali Z & Ahmad S (2013) Indoor particulate matter in developing countries: A case study in Pakistan and potential intervention strategies, Environmental Research Letters, 8 (2) Article No. 024002.
- Colbeck I & Nasir ZA (2012) Indoor air quality in Asian countries, Environmental Technology (Online Magazine), 2012 (August / September) 28-29.
- Taylor J, Lai KM & Nasir ZA (2012) Human factors and bioagent transmission following an indoor bioterror attack, Journal of Bioterrorism and Biodefense, 3 (1) Article No. 116.
- Nasir Z, Colbeck I, Sultan S & Ahmed S (2012) Bioaerosols in residential micro-environments in low income countries: a case study from Pakistan, Environmental Pollution, 168 (September) 15-22.
- Nasir Z & Colbeck I (2012) Winter time concentrations and size distribution of bioaerosols in different residential settings in the UK, Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 223 (9) 5613-5622.
- Ali Z, Shelly SY, Bibi F, Nasir ZA, Colbeck & I (2011) Local perception of indoor air pollution with use of biofuel in rural communities of Uchalli Wetlands complex, salt range Pakistan, Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, The, 21 (SUPPL. 2) 429-434.
- Colbeck I, Nasir ZA, Ahmad S & Ali Z (2011) Exposure to PM 10, PM 2.5, PM 1 and carbon monoxide on roads in Lahore, Pakistan, Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 11 (6) 689-695.
- Colbeck I, Nasir ZA & Ali Z (2010) The state of indoor air quality in Pakistan-a review, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 17 (6) 1187-1196.
- Colbeck I, Nasir ZA, Ali Z & Ahmad S (2010) Nitrogen dioxide and household fuel use in the Pakistan, Science of the Total Environment, 409 (2) 357-363.
- Colbeck I, Nasir ZA & Ali Z (2010) Characteristics of indoor/outdoor particulate pollution in urban and rural residential environment of Pakistan, Indoor Air, 20 (1) 40-51.
- Colbeck I, Nasir ZA & Ali Z (2010) The state of ambient air quality in Pakistan-a review, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 17 (1) 49-63.
- Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2010) Assessment of bacterial and fungal aerosol in different residential settings, Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 211 (1-4) 366-377.
- Nasir ZA & Colbeck I (2009) Particulate air pollution in transport micro-environments, Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 11 (6) 1140-1146.
- Colbeck I, Nasir ZA, Hasnain S, Sultan & S (2008) Indoor air quality at rural and urban sites in Pakistan, Water, Air and Soil Pollution: Focus, 8 (1) 61-69.
- Sultan S & Nasir ZA (2007) Intraannual variations in weed communities of lentil fields in Chakwal, Pakistan, Pakistan Journal of Botany, 38 (5) 1471-1479.
- Nasir ZA & Sultan S (2006) Noxious weeds of winter crops in District Chakwal, Pakistan, International Journal of Agricultural Research, 1 (5) 480-487.
- Nasir ZA & Sultan S (2004) Survey of weeds in mustard fields of district Chakwal, Pakistan, Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 7 (2) 279-286.
- Nasir ZA & Sultan S (2003) Weed communities in the wheat fields of district Chakwal [Pakistan], Sarhad Journal of Agriculture (Pakistan), 19 (1) 113-120.
- Nasir Z & Sultan S (2003) Eco-taxonomic studies of weeds in groundnut fields of Chakwal [Pakistan], Journal of Science and Technology, 27 (1-2) 19-24.
- Sultan S & Nasir ZA (2003) Dynamics of weed communities in gram fields of Chakwal, Pakistan, Asian Journal of Plant Sciences, 2 (17-24) 1198-1204.
- Nasir ZA & Sultan S (2002) Floristic, biological and leaf size spectra of weeds in gram, lentil, mustard and wheat fields of district Chakwal, Pakistan, Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 5 (7) 758-762.
Conference Papers
- Williams B, Hayes E, Nasir Z, Rolph C, Jackson S, Khera S, Bennett A, Gladding T, Drew G, Longhurst & Tyrrel S (2018) Towards improved bioaerosol model validation and verification. In: Air Pollution XXVI : Air Pollution 2018, Naples, 19-21 June 2018.
- Williams B, Hayes E, Nasir ZA, Rolph C, Jackson S, Khera S, Bennett A, Gladding T, Drew G & Tyrrel S (2017) The challenges, uncertainties and opportunities of bioaerosol dispersion modelling from open composting facilities. In: Air Pollution XXV: 25th International Conference on Modelling, Monitoring and Management of Air Pollution, Cadiz, 25-27 April 2017.
- Nasir ZA, Campos L, Ciric L, Canales M & Colbeck I (2015) Environmental diagnostics to assess the risk of built environment on exposure to bioaerosols under different indoor environmental conditions. In: 2015 European Aerosol Conference (EAC 2015), Milan, 6-11 September 2015.
- Nasir ZA, Margaritis D, Lai KM, Mistry N, Campos LC, Colbeck I, Chatterjee A & Bhatter P (2015) Impact of built environment characteristics on risk of TB transmission in slums. In: 2015 European Aerosol Conference (EAC 2015), Milan, 6-11 September 2015.
- Nasir Z, Carpentieri M, Campos L, Ciric L & Canales ME (2013) Efficacy of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation based portable air cleaning devices in built environments: Impact of environmental conditions. In: Bioaerosols and the Built Environment Conference, 2013, Leeds, 26-27 June 2013.
Books
- Nasir ZA (2013) Chapter 14: Environmental Health in Built Environments. In: Aerosol Science: Technology and Applications, Wiley, p. 345-368.
- Lai K, Nasir ZA & Taylor J (2013) Bioaerosols and Hospital Infections. In: Aerosol Science: Technology and Applications, Chichester, UK: Wiley, p. 271-289.
- Colbeck I & Nasir ZA (2012) Air pollution indicators and monitoring. In: Berkshire Encyclopaedia of Sustainability, Vol. 6: Measurements, indicators, and research methods for sustainability, Massachusetts, USA: Berkshire Publishing, p. 11-16, ed. 1st.
- Colbeck I & asir ZA (2010) Indoor air pollution. In: Human exposure to pollutants via dermal absorption and inhalation, Springer.