Special Interview with Prof. Noel J. Aquilina
On November 21, 2022, the Editorial Office of Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment (JEEA) had the pleasure of interviewing Prof. Noel J. Aquilina, an atmospheric chemist at the University of Malta, Msida, Malta. His research focuses on environmental pollutants, tobacco-specific compounds, and their implications for human health.
In the interview, Prof. Aquilina discussed his team's pioneering work on detecting tobacco-related carcinogens in particulate matter and household dust. His studies reveal that even in non-smoking environments, toxic tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) such as N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4- (methylnitrosamino)-1- (3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) are present, underscoring the widespread and chronic exposure to third-hand smoke pollutants.
He also highlighted a study on Maltese children, which found that nearly all participants exhibited biomarkers of exposure to tobacco-related carcinogens, despite most parents reporting smoke-free homes---suggesting that exposure occurs in social or community settings beyond the household. Prof. Aquilina further elaborated on his article "Tobacco-specific and combustion pollutants in settled house dust in Malta," which presented an optimized analytical method for detecting both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and tobacco-related pollutants in fresh household dust samples.
Looking ahead, Prof. Aquilina introduced his upcoming Special Issue, "The Triangulum: Tobacco, Cannabis, and E-Cigarettes Contributions to Third-Hand Smoke and Implications for Human Exposure." The issue aims to explore the evolving intersection of tobacco, cannabis, and e-cigarette use, with an emphasis on chemical characterization, biomarker discovery, personal exposure studies, and health risks associated with emerging smoking behaviors. His insights highlight the hidden risks of indoor pollution and the urgent need for research on mixed-source smoke exposure.
Watch the video below for Prof. Noel J. Aquilina's expert insights.
Interview Questions:
1. What inspired you to pursue research in this area?
2. Could you share the latest advances in your current research? Could you also highlight the key findings of your article "Tobacco-specific and combustion pollutants in settled house dust in Malta"?
3. Your article calculates BaPeq (Benzo( a) pyrene equivalent). Have you estimated the associated cancer risk? In addition, as for NNN (N'-nitrosonornicotine) and NNK (4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone), two TSNA (tobacco-specific nitrosamines) carcinogens, are there any available cancer risk assessments, such as Unit Risk values?
4. Could you introduce the Special Issue you are leading?
5. Traditional tobacco issues have been widely investigated, and studies on marijuana and E-cigarettes are also increasing. What types of studies or manuscripts do you expect to see in this Special Issue?
About Prof. Noel J. Aquilina
Prof. Noel J. Aquilina is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry, University of Malta, Msida, Malta. He specializes in air quality assessment, atmospheric pollution, and environmental monitoring, with a focus on the chemical characterization of airborne particulate matter and the public health impact of transboundary pollution. Prof. Aquilina is a member of several international environmental and atmospheric science networks and has contributed extensively to European research initiatives on climate and air quality. His research integrates analytical chemistry and environmental modeling to inform sustainable policy and air pollution mitigation strategies.
Editor: Tracy Sun
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment
