51
|
Kuras ER, Richardson MB, Calkins MM, Ebi KL, Hess JJ, Kintziger KW, Jagger MA, Middel A, Scott AA, Spector JT, Uejio CK, Vanos JK, Zaitchik BF, Gohlke JM, Hondula DM. Opportunities and Challenges for Personal Heat Exposure Research. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:085001. [PMID: 28796630 PMCID: PMC5783663 DOI: 10.1289/ehp556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Environmental heat exposure is a public health concern. The impacts of environmental heat on mortality and morbidity at the population scale are well documented, but little is known about specific exposures that individuals experience. OBJECTIVES The first objective of this work was to catalyze discussion of the role of personal heat exposure information in research and risk assessment. The second objective was to provide guidance regarding the operationalization of personal heat exposure research methods. DISCUSSION We define personal heat exposure as realized contact between a person and an indoor or outdoor environment that poses a risk of increases in body core temperature and/or perceived discomfort. Personal heat exposure can be measured directly with wearable monitors or estimated indirectly through the combination of time-activity and meteorological data sets. Complementary information to understand individual-scale drivers of behavior, susceptibility, and health and comfort outcomes can be collected from additional monitors, surveys, interviews, ethnographic approaches, and additional social and health data sets. Personal exposure research can help reveal the extent of exposure misclassification that occurs when individual exposure to heat is estimated using ambient temperature measured at fixed sites and can provide insights for epidemiological risk assessment concerning extreme heat. CONCLUSIONS Personal heat exposure research provides more valid and precise insights into how often people encounter heat conditions and when, where, to whom, and why these encounters occur. Published literature on personal heat exposure is limited to date, but existing studies point to opportunities to inform public health practice regarding extreme heat, particularly where fine-scale precision is needed to reduce health consequences of heat exposure. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP556.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evan R Kuras
- Center for Policy Informatics, Arizona State University , Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts , Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Molly B Richardson
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Miriam M Calkins
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kristie L Ebi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jeremy J Hess
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kristina W Kintziger
- Department of Public Health, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Meredith A Jagger
- Public Health Division, Oregon Health Authority , Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Ariane Middel
- School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Anna A Scott
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - June T Spector
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Christopher K Uejio
- Department of Geography, Florida State University , Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Jennifer K Vanos
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California , San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Benjamin F Zaitchik
- School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona, USA
| | - Julia M Gohlke
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - David M Hondula
- Center for Policy Informatics, Arizona State University , Phoenix, Arizona, USA
- School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning, Arizona State University , Tempe, Arizona, USA
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Koehler KA, Zhu J, Wang H, Peters TM. Sampling Strategies for Accurate Hazard Mapping of Noise and Other Hazards Using Short-Duration Measurements. Ann Work Expo Health 2017; 61:183-194. [PMID: 28395352 PMCID: PMC10463825 DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxw025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hazard mapping is an effective way to depict spatial variability in hazard intensity obtained with direct-reading instruments on a facility floor plan. However, the extent to which temporal variability affects map accuracy is unknown, and guidance on sampling strategies to minimize map bias is lacking. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of hazard maps produced for simulated sources and sampling strategies in a hypothetical facility. Hazard maps were produced from sampled data at high, mid, and low spatial resolution and with and without replicates and compared to a reference time-weighted average hazard map using several map comparison metrics. In agreement with 'real-world' mapping datasets, the simulation showed that increasing the number of replicates improved the overall comparability of the hazard map produced from the sampled data with the time-weighted average hazard map more efficiently than increasing the sampling spatial resolution. However, if accurately capturing peak exposures near sources is of interest, increasing the spatial resolution of the measurements, particularly near sources, is needed. From these results, we formulated guidelines to use the preliminary assessment of the temporal variability of large and intermittent sources to inform the spatial resolution and need for replicate measures to minimize the bias in hazard maps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten A. Koehler
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jun Zhu
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Department of Entomology, University of Wisconsin, 1450 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Haonan Wang
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, 1877 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Thomas M. Peters
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| |
Collapse
|
53
|
Dons E, Laeremans M, Orjuela JP, Avila-Palencia I, Carrasco-Turigas G, Cole-Hunter T, Anaya-Boig E, Standaert A, De Boever P, Nawrot T, Götschi T, de Nazelle A, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Int Panis L. Wearable Sensors for Personal Monitoring and Estimation of Inhaled Traffic-Related Air Pollution: Evaluation of Methods. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:1859-1867. [PMID: 28080048 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b05782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Physical activity and ventilation rates have an effect on an individual's dose and may be important to consider in exposure-response relationships; however, these factors are often ignored in environmental epidemiology studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate methods of estimating the inhaled dose of air pollution and understand variability in the absence of a true gold standard metric. Five types of methods were identified: (1) methods using (physical) activity types, (2) methods based on energy expenditure, METs (metabolic equivalents of task), and oxygen consumption, (3) methods based on heart rate or (4) breathing rate, and (5) methods that combine heart and breathing rate. Methods were compared using a real-life data set of 122 adults who wore devices to track movement, black carbon air pollution, and physiological health markers for 3 weeks in three European cities. Different methods for estimating minute ventilation performed well in relative terms with high correlations among different methods, but in absolute terms, ignoring increased ventilation during day-to-day activities could lead to an underestimation of the daily dose by a factor of 0.08-1.78. There is no single best method, and a multitude of methods are currently being used to approximate the dose. The choice of a suitable method for determining the dose in future studies will depend on both the size and the objectives of the study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evi Dons
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) , Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University , Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Michelle Laeremans
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) , Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
- Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University , Wetenschapspark 5/6, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Juan Pablo Orjuela
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London , Exhibition Road, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Ione Avila-Palencia
- ISGlobal , Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) , C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) , C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Glòria Carrasco-Turigas
- ISGlobal , Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) , C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) , C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Tom Cole-Hunter
- ISGlobal , Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) , C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) , C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States
| | - Esther Anaya-Boig
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London , Exhibition Road, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Arnout Standaert
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) , Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
| | - Patrick De Boever
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) , Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University , Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Tim Nawrot
- Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University , Agoralaan Building D, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Thomas Götschi
- Physical Activity and Health Unit, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich , Seilergraben 49, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Audrey de Nazelle
- Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London , Exhibition Road, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal , Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) , C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) , C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Luc Int Panis
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO) , Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium
- Transportation Research Institute (IMOB), Hasselt University , Wetenschapspark 5/6, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
54
|
Oliveira M, Slezakova K, Madureira J, de Oliveira Fernandes E, Delerue-Matos C, Morais S, do Carmo Pereira M. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in primary school environments: Levels and potential risks. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 575:1156-1167. [PMID: 27693148 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.09.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are priority air pollutants that strongly affect human health, information concerning the indoor exposures is still limited. This study characterized PAH levels in primary schools and evaluated risk for the respective students (aged 8-10years) in comparison with school personnel. During January-April 2014, eighteen particulate-bound (PM2.5) PAHs (16 USEPA priority compounds, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, benzo[j]fluoranthene) were collected (indoors and outdoors) at ten primary urban schools in Portugal. Total mean concentrations (ΣPAHs) ranged 2.8-54ngm-3 in indoor air, whereas corresponding outdoor levels were 7.1-48ngm-3. Indoor/outdoor ratios of lighter congeners (2-3 aromatic rings) demonstrated a contribution from indoor origin while heavier PAHs (4-6 aromatic rings) originated mostly from infiltration of ambient air indoors; traffic (both from diesel and gasoline fuelled vehicles) was the predominant source of indoor PAHs. Total cancer risk of 8-10years old children exceeded (up to 22 times) USEPA recommended guideline of 10-6, and 7-87 times WHO health-based threshold of 10-5. Risk due to indoor exposure in schools was 2-10 times higher than outdoors, mainly because of the higher amount of time that students spent indoors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Oliveira
- LEPABE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; REQUIMTE-LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Klara Slezakova
- LEPABE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; REQUIMTE-LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Madureira
- Institute of Science and Innovation on Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Eduardo de Oliveira Fernandes
- Institute of Science and Innovation on Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristina Delerue-Matos
- REQUIMTE-LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Simone Morais
- REQUIMTE-LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Maria do Carmo Pereira
- LEPABE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
Abstract
Changes in atmosphere and temperature are affecting multiple environmental indicators from extreme heat events to global air quality. Workers will be uniquely affected by climate change, and the occupational impacts of major shifts in atmospheric and weather conditions need greater attention. Climate change-related exposures most likely to differentially affect workers in the USA and globally include heat, ozone, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, other chemicals, pathogenic microorganisms, vector-borne diseases, violence, and wildfires. Epidemiologic evidence documents a U-, J-, or V-shaped relationship between temperature and mortality. Whereas heat-related morbidity and mortality risks are most evident in agriculture, many other outdoor occupational sectors are also at risk, including construction, transportation, landscaping, firefighting, and other emergency response operations. The toxicity of chemicals change under hyperthermic conditions, particularly for pesticides and ozone. Combined with climate-related changes in chemical transport and distribution, these interactions represent unique health risks specifically to workers. Links between heat and interpersonal conflict including violence require attention because they pose threats to the safety of emergency medicine, peacekeeping and humanitarian relief, and public safety professionals. Recommendations for anticipating how US workers will be most susceptible to climate change include formal monitoring systems for agricultural workers; modeling scenarios focusing on occupational impacts of extreme climate events including floods, wildfires, and chemical spills; and national research agenda setting focusing on control and mitigation of occupational susceptibility to climate change.
Collapse
|
56
|
O'Leary B, Reiners JJ, Xu X, Lemke LD. Identification and influence of spatio-temporal outliers in urban air quality measurements. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 573:55-65. [PMID: 27552730 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Forty eight potential outliers in air pollution measurements taken simultaneously in Detroit, Michigan, USA and Windsor, Ontario, Canada in 2008 and 2009 were identified using four independent methods: box plots, variogram clouds, difference maps, and the Local Moran's I statistic. These methods were subsequently used in combination to reduce and select a final set of 13 outliers for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), total benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX), and particulate matter in two size fractions (PM2.5 and PM10). The selected outliers were excluded from the measurement datasets and used to revise air pollution models. In addition, a set of temporally-scaled air pollution models was generated using time series measurements from community air quality monitors, with and without the selected outliers. The influence of outlier exclusion on associations with asthma exacerbation rates aggregated at a postal zone scale in both cities was evaluated. Results demonstrate that the inclusion or exclusion of outliers influences the strength of observed associations between intraurban air quality and asthma exacerbation in both cities. The box plot, variogram cloud, and difference map methods largely determined the final list of outliers, due to the high degree of conformity among their results. The Moran's I approach was not useful for outlier identification in the datasets studied. Removing outliers changed the spatial distribution of modeled concentration values and derivative exposure estimates averaged over postal zones. Overall, associations between air pollution and acute asthma exacerbation rates were weaker with outliers removed, but improved with the addition of temporal information. Decreases in statistically significant associations between air pollution and asthma resulted, in part, from smaller pollutant concentration ranges used for linear regression. Nevertheless, the practice of identifying outliers through congruence among multiple methods strengthens confidence in the analysis of outlier presence and influence in environmental datasets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Xiaohong Xu
- University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|