Dr. Irfan Rehman — How A First-Hand Witness of The Bhopal Gas Tragedy and Climate Change Are Revolutionizing Toxicology and Human Health Effects

“The ability to breathe is a gift. Wake up grateful each day for that gift.”

– Brant Reader

There is simply no denying the fact that health is the greatest form of wealth. Unfortunately, modern technology has greatly disrupted the health of the general populace. But the leading problem is the ordeals caused by air pollution directly and indirectly by climate change/global warming (associated with wildfire smoke and fossil/biomass burning), which has a significant effect on the pulmonary health of a person. Pulmonary health is often disregarded as one does not acknowledge the importance of their lungs, although they’re responsible for keeping organs oxygenated so the entire body can function smoothly.

Irfan Rahman, a celebrated face in the sphere of environmental health and disease research, has contributed significantly to our understanding of pulmonary toxicology and lung diseases. Born in Bhopal, India, his initial days were influenced highly by the tragic Bhopal disaster, which occurred in the state when he was in his late teens. This disastrous event, caused by a toxic gas leak from a Union Carbide Corp. affiliate, had a deep impact on his life and set the stage for his future objectives.

Rahman’s academic excursion initiated with his early schooling at Rabbani High School, followed by his undergraduate studies at St. Francis de Sales College and Nagpur University in Nagpur,

India. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in biochemistry, concentrating on neutrophil functions in hypertension. After completing his doctoral studies, Rahman followed a postdoctoral fellowship in lung toxicology at the University of Miami and Georgetown University. His thirst for knowledge then led him to the University of Edinburgh, where he probed into research on ecological agents and lung inflammation, grossing an appointment as a senior research scientist/lecturer.

In his distinguished career, Irfan Rahman holds the eminent title of dean’s professor at the Department of Environmental Medicine, Medicine (Pulmonary), University of Rochester Medical Center in upstate New York, USA. He is also related to Public Health Sciences and General Dentistry at the same institution, making him a multidisciplinary researcher with an extensive range of proficiency.

Rahman’s studies emphasize numerous critical zones, including oxidative stress, inflammation, molecular clock, mitochondrial dysfunction, epigenetics, and cellular senescence, all based on environmental factors and climate change-associated environmental factors like tobacco products, airborne particulate matter, and various chemicals. His chief areas of interest include chronic inflammatory lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)/emphysema, lung cancer, and pulmonary fibrosis, which are often activated by cigarette smoke, e-cigarettes, hookah, and environmental air pollution.

The influence of Rahman’s research cannot be exaggerated. He has penned more than 350 papers and articles in peer-reviewed journals, amassing over 50,000 citations and boasting a striking impact factor of over H=100. Moreover, his ground-breaking discoveries have resulted in several patents, notably in the kingdom of biomarkers for recognizing e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury and methods for treating chronic inflammatory diseases.

Beyond his abundant journals and patents, Rahman has also authored a book titled Inflammation, Advancing Age and Nutrition, issued in 2013, which adds to his legacy of knowledge sharing.

Documented for his trailblazing work, Irfan Rahman has received countless prestigious awards. In 2022, he was fortified with the American Thoracic Society Recognition Award for Scientific Accomplishments. Additionally, in 2023, he was honored with the SOT Leading Edge in Basic Science Award, explicitly recognizing his contributions to pulmonary toxicology and his deep visions into how e-cigarettes and cigarette smoke contribute to lung injury and disease. Rahman’s tributes also include the Senior Toxicologist Award from the Society of Toxicology — Associations of Scientists of Indian Origin, presented at the SOT 56th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo in Baltimore, MD.

In addition to his scientific accomplishments, Rahman received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the “National Conference (NCSCA-2019)” and a Career Achievement Prize from the Inhalation and Respiratory Specialty Section (IRSS) of the Society of Toxicology in 2013. He was also the beneficiary of the Outstanding Senior Investigator Award in 2006 from the Oxygen Society.