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Jin A, DuPré N, Holm R, Smith T, Kavalukas S. Environmental Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds, Race, and Socioeconomic Markers Correlate with Areas of High Colorectal Cancer Incidence. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2024:10.1007/s40615-024-02030-z. [PMID: 38755478 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-024-02030-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ambient levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from nearby industrial plants have shown positive associations with increased colorectal cancer (CRC) rates. The objective of this study is to analyze the distribution of CRC in the context of socioeconomic status and its correlation with community environmental data. METHODS A retrospective study analyzed CRC patients from 2021 to 2023. The census tracts of the patients' residential addresses were obtained, and CRC rates were calculated for each census tract. Socioeconomic data was gathered on these communities. Environmental VOC measurements were obtained from the National Scale Air Toxics Assessment. All datapoints were compared to statewide levels. RESULTS Three census tracts in the county had higher CRC cases comparatively. These areas exhibited higher incidence rates and localized clusters of CRC cases, higher distribution of Black or African Americans, lower household incomes, lower home values, and lower educational attainment. VOC measurements in these census tracts had higher levels compared to county and state averages: specifically, 10.68% higher than county and 48.07% higher than state benzene levels (0.52 µg/m3 clusters vs 0.47µg/m3 county vs 0.35 µg/m3 state), 10.84% and 129.15% higher toluene (1.65 µg/m3 vs 1.49 vs 0.72 µg/m3), and 15.64% and 141.87% higher butadiene (0.048 µg/m3 vs 0.041 µg/m3 vs 0.020 µg/m3). CONCLUSION This study illustrates a positive correlation between higher ambient exposure to VOCs with increased CRC incidence. These findings underscore the potential interplay of environmental factors, socioeconomic determinants, and environmental injustice when considering strategies to address health disparities and CRC incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allie Jin
- School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, 550 South Jackson Street, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Natalie DuPré
- School of Public Health and Information Sciences, Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Rochelle Holm
- School of Medicine, Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Ted Smith
- School of Medicine, Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Sandy Kavalukas
- School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, University of Louisville, 550 South Jackson Street, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA.
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Sprague Martinez L, Ginzburg SL, Ron S, Brinkerhoff CA, Haque S, England SA, Khimani K, Zamore W, Reisner E, Lowe L, Brugge D. Communities catalyzing change with data to mitigate an invisible menace, traffic-related air pollution. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:411. [PMID: 38331744 PMCID: PMC10854106 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17864-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify strategies and tactics communities use to translate research into environmental health action. METHODS We employed a qualitative case study design to explore public health action conducted by residents, organizers, and public health planners in two Massachusetts communities as part of a community based participatory (CBPR) research study. Data sources included key informant interviews (n = 24), reports and direct observation of research and community meetings (n = 10) and project meeting minutes from 2016-2021. Data were coded deductively drawing on the community organizing and implementation frameworks. RESULTS In Boston Chinatown, partners drew broad participation from community-based organizations, residents, and municipal leaders, which resulted in air pollution mitigation efforts being embedded in the master planning process. In Somerville, partners focused on change at multiple levels, developer behavior, and separate from the funded research, local legislative efforts, and litigation. CONCLUSIONS CBPR affords communities the ability to environmental health efforts in a way that is locally meaningful, leveraging their respective strengths. External facilitation can support the continuity and sustainment of community led CBPR efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Sprague Martinez
- School of Social Work, Macro Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
- School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Health Disparities Institute, 241 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 06106, USA.
| | - Shir Lerman Ginzburg
- Department of Public Health, MCPHS University, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Sharon Ron
- Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Samiya Haque
- School of Social Work, Macro Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Kynza Khimani
- School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Wig Zamore
- Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership, Somerville, MA, USA
| | - Ellin Reisner
- Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership, Somerville, MA, USA
| | - Lydia Lowe
- Chinatown Community Land Trust, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Doug Brugge
- School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT, USA
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Reducing Prenatal Exposure to Toxic Environmental Agents: ACOG Committee Opinion, Number 832. Obstet Gynecol 2021; 138:e40-e54. [PMID: 34259492 DOI: 10.1097/aog.0000000000004449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT There is emerging evidence that links exposure to toxic environmental agents and adverse reproductive and developmental health outcomes. Toxic exposures related to reproductive and developmental health primarily have been associated with infertility and miscarriage, obstetric outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight, neurodevelopmental delay such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and adult and childhood cancer. Although there is substantial overlap in the type of exposure and the associated health outcomes, for the purposes of this document, exposures generally can be grouped into the following categories: toxic chemicals, air pollution, and climate change-related exposures. Obstetric care clinicians do not need to be experts in environmental health science to provide useful information to patients and refer patients to appropriate specialists, if needed, when a hazardous exposure is identified. It is important for obstetrician-gynecologists and other obstetric care clinicians to become knowledgeable about toxic environmental exposures that are endemic to their specific geographic areas, such as local water safety advisories (eg, lead-contaminated water), local air quality levels, and patients' proximity to power plants and fracking sites. Although exposure to toxic environmental agents is widespread across populations, many environmental factors that are harmful to reproductive health disproportionately affect underserved populations and are subsumed in issues of environmental justice. Clinical encounters offer an opportunity to screen and counsel patients during the prepregnancy and prenatal periods-particularly individuals most disproportionately affected-about opportunities to reduce toxic environmental health exposures. This Committee Opinion is revised to integrate more recent literature regarding reducing prepregnancy and prenatal toxic environmental exposures.
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Sprague Martinez L, Dimitri N, Ron S, Hudda N, Zamore W, Lowe L, Echevarria B, Durant JL, Brugge D, Reisner E. Two communities, one highway and the fight for clean air: the role of political history in shaping community engagement and environmental health research translation. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:1690. [PMID: 33176742 PMCID: PMC7656715 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-09751-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This paper explores strategies to engage community stakeholders in efforts to address the effects of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). Communities of color and low-income communities are disproportionately impacted by environmental threats including emissions generated by major roadways. METHODS Qualitative instrumental case study design was employed to examine how community-level factors in two Massachusetts communities, the City of Somerville and Boston's Chinatown neighborhood, influence the translation of research into practice to address TRAP exposure. Guided by the Interactive Systems Framework (ISF), we drew on three data sources: key informant interviews, observations and document reviews. Thematic analysis was used. RESULTS Findings indicate political history plays a significant role in shaping community action. In Somerville, community organizers worked with city and state officials, and embraced community development strategies to engage residents. In contrast, Chinatown community activists focused on immediate resident concerns including housing and resident displacement resulting in more opposition to local municipal leadership. CONCLUSIONS The ISF was helpful in informing the team's thinking related to systems and structures needed to translate research to practice. However, although municipal stakeholders are increasingly sympathetic to and aware of the health impacts of TRAP, there was not a local legislative or regulatory precedent on how to move some of the proposed TRAP-related policies into practice. As such, we found that pairing the ISF with a community organizing framework may serve as a useful approach for examining the dynamic relationship between science, community engagement and environmental research translation. Social workers and public health professionals can advance TRAP exposure mitigation by exploring the political and social context of communities and working to bridge research and community action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noelle Dimitri
- Boston University School of Social Work, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Sharon Ron
- Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Boston, MA 02111 USA
| | - Neelakshi Hudda
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 USA
| | - Wig Zamore
- Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership, Somerville, MA 02145 USA
| | - Lydia Lowe
- The Chinatown Land Trust, Boston, MA 02111 USA
| | | | - John L. Durant
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155 USA
| | - Doug Brugge
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030 USA
| | - Ellin Reisner
- Somerville Transportation Equity Partnership, Somerville, MA 02145 USA
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Ramphal B, DeSerisy M, Pagliaccio D, Raffanello E, Rauh V, Tau G, Posner J, Marsh R, Margolis AE. Associations between Amygdala-Prefrontal Functional Connectivity and Age Depend on Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status. Cereb Cortex Commun 2020; 1:tgaa033. [PMID: 32984815 PMCID: PMC7503474 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Although severe early life stress has been shown to accelerate the development of frontolimbic resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC), less is known about the effects of socioeconomic disadvantage, a prolonged and multifaceted stressor. In a cross-sectional study of 127 participants aged 5–25, we examined whether lower neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES; measured by Area Deprivation Index and neighborhood poverty and educational attainment) was associated with prematurely reduced amygdala-ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) RSFC. We further tested whether neighborhood SES was more predictive than household SES and whether SES effects on connectivity were associated with anxiety symptoms. We found reduced basolateral amygdala-vmPFC RSFC at earlier ages in participants from more disadvantaged neighborhoods; this effect was unique to neighborhood SES and absent for household SES. Furthermore, this reduced connectivity in more disadvantaged youth and increased connectivity in more advantaged youth were associated with less anxiety; children who deviated from the connectivity pattern associated with their neighborhood SES had more anxiety. These results demonstrate that neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage is associated with accelerated maturation of amygdala-vmPFC RSFC and suggest that the pathophysiology of pediatric anxiety depends on a child’s neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics. Our findings also underscore the importance of examining SES effects in studies of brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Ramphal
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Mariah DeSerisy
- Department of Psychology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USA
| | - David Pagliaccio
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Elizabeth Raffanello
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Virginia Rauh
- Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Gregory Tau
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Jonathan Posner
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Rachel Marsh
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Amy E Margolis
- New York State Psychiatric Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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