When compared to chemicals, exposure to particulates, unless at extreme levels, can be hard to recognise yet are well known in the toxicology field to harm your health. For good reason, a great deal of attention is given to understanding how air pollution can effect ones health however workplace exposures have historically and continue today to have a huge impact on health. In Scotland, there is a long history of exposure and subsequently, disease associated with these exposures such as coal dust, asbestos and silica (mainly from stone dust). Whilst coal mining and in particular asbestos use has seen a massive decline, there has been increases in new (nano) materials which may pose similar risks. Work in my lab is focused on the mechanisms controlling inflammatory processes from their initiation to resolution and also understanding the potential toxicology surrounding environmental and occupational nanoparticle exposures. The rise of the nanotechnologies and the production of novel nanoparticles has raised concern that new hazards are being produced which need to be better understood in toxicological terms. A better understanding of the hazard of any particle and determination of the true biologically effective dose offers the prospect of an improved metric for risk management and the prospect of rational intervention in disease progression following exposure.