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Hardell J, Silver EJ, Kavouras I, Lee DS, Gross E. Childhood asthma in the Bronx, NY; the impact of pollutants on length of hospital stay. J Asthma 2023; 60:2160-2169. [PMID: 37310769 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2023.2225607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The length of hospital stay (LOS) is a proxy of asthma exacerbation severity and healthcare cost. The study aims to estimate the effect of ambient air pollution on pediatric asthma LOS in the Bronx, NY. METHODS A total of 1,920 children admitted to the hospital in Bronx, NY due to asthma during 2017-2019 period were included in the study. Demographic and clinical parameters were obtained from medical records. Daily ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) measurements were obtained from local air quality networks. Poisson regression adjusting for gender, age, weight status, respiratory infections including influenza, and ambient temperature was applied to determine whether there was an association of air pollution with length of hospital stay. RESULTS The mean LOS varied by age, sex, weight status, influenza vaccination status, respiratory viral panel (RVP) results, asthma controller use, and asthma classification. After controlling for these factors in Poisson regression, the mean LOS increased up to 10.62% (95%CI: 0.78-21.41; p = 0.03) for an increase of 10 μg/m3 of PM2.5 exposure on admission day, and 3.90% (95%CI = 0.06-7.88; p = 0.05) for an increase of 10 ppbv of O3 concentration during the previous day. CONCLUSION Ambient particulate and ozone pollution is associated with lengthier hospital stays for pediatric asthma, potentially indicating more severe asthma exacerbations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ilias Kavouras
- Department of Environmental, Occupational and Geospatial Health Sciences, School of Public Health, City University of NY, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Diana S Lee
- Kravis Children's Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Elissa Gross
- The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY, USA
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Chen J, Jahn HJ, Sun HZ, Ning Z, Lu W, Ho KF, Ward TJ. Validity of using ambient concentrations as surrogate exposures at the individual level for fine particle and black carbon: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 312:120030. [PMID: 36037851 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Exposure measurement error is an important source of bias in epidemiological studies. We assessed the validity of employing ambient (outdoor) measurements as proxies of personal exposures at individual levels focusing on fine particles (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC)/elemental carbon (EC) on a global scale. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis and searched databases (ISI Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE®, Ovid Embase, and Ovid BIOSIS) to retrieve observational studies in English language published from 1 January 2006 until 5 May 2021. Correlation coefficients (r) between paired ambient (outdoor) concentration and personal exposure for PM2.5 or BC/EC were standardized as effect size. We used random-effects meta-analyses to pool the correlation coefficients and investigated the causes of heterogeneity and publication bias. Furthermore, we employed subgroup and meta-regression analyses to evaluate the modification of pooled estimates by potential mediators. This systematic review identified thirty-two observational studies involving 1744 subjects from ten countries, with 28 studies for PM2.5 and 11 studies for BC/EC. Personal PM2.5 exposure is more strongly correlated with ambient (outdoor) concentrations (0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-0.68) than personal BC/EC exposure (0.49, 95% CI: 0.38-0.59), with significant differences in ṝ (0.14, 95% CI: 0.03-0.25; p < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the health status of participants was a significant modifier of pooled correlations. In addition, the personal to ambient (P/A) ratio for PM2.5 and average ambient BC/EC levels were potential effect moderators of the pooled ṝ. The funnel plots and Egger's regression test indicated inevident publication bias. The pooled estimates were robust through sensitivity analyses. The results support the growing consensus that the validity coefficient of proxy measures should be addressed when interpreting results from epidemiological studies to better understand how strong health outcomes are affected by different levels of PM2.5 and their components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayao Chen
- Department of Real Estate and Construction, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Heiko J Jahn
- Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany
| | - Haitong Zhe Sun
- Centre for Atmospheric Science, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK
| | - Zhi Ning
- Division of Environment and Sustainability, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Weisheng Lu
- Department of Real Estate and Construction, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kin Fai Ho
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tony J Ward
- School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
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Lim S, Bassey E, Bos B, Makacha L, Varaden D, Arku RE, Baumgartner J, Brauer M, Ezzati M, Kelly FJ, Barratt B. Comparing human exposure to fine particulate matter in low and high-income countries: A systematic review of studies measuring personal PM 2.5 exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 833:155207. [PMID: 35421472 PMCID: PMC7615091 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the adverse health effects of air pollution, researchers have advocated for personal exposure measurements whereby individuals carry portable monitors in order to better characterise and understand the sources of people's pollution exposure. OBJECTIVES The aim of this systematic review is to assess the differences in the magnitude and sources of personal PM2.5 exposures experienced between countries at contrasting levels of income. METHODS This review summarised studies that measured participants personal exposure by carrying a PM2.5 monitor throughout their typical day. Personal PM2.5 exposures were summarised to indicate the distribution of exposures measured within each country income category (based on low (LIC), lower-middle (LMIC), upper-middle (UMIC), and high (HIC) income countries) and between different groups (i.e. gender, age, urban or rural residents). RESULTS From the 2259 search results, there were 140 studies that met our criteria. Overall, personal PM2.5 exposures in HICs were lower compared to other countries, with UMICs exposures being slightly lower than exposures measured in LMICs or LICs. 34% of measured groups in HICs reported below the ambient World Health Organisation 24-h PM2.5 guideline of 15 μg/m3, compared to only 1% of UMICs and 0% of LMICs and LICs. There was no difference between rural and urban participant exposures in HICs, but there were noticeably higher exposures recorded in rural areas compared to urban areas in non-HICs, due to significant household sources of PM2.5 in rural locations. In HICs, studies reported that secondhand smoke, ambient pollution infiltrating indoors, and traffic emissions were the dominant contributors to personal exposures. While, in non-HICs, household cooking and heating with biomass and coal were reported as the most important sources. CONCLUSION This review revealed a growing literature of personal PM2.5 exposure studies, which highlighted a large variability in exposures recorded and severe inequalities in geographical and social population subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanon Lim
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK.
| | - Eridiong Bassey
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Brendan Bos
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Liberty Makacha
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK; Place Alert Labs, Department of Surveying and Geomatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe; Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, UK
| | - Diana Varaden
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR-HPRU Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Raphael E Arku
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
| | - Jill Baumgartner
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, and Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Michael Brauer
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Majid Ezzati
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK; Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics, Imperial College London, UK; Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Frank J Kelly
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR-HPRU Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Benjamin Barratt
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR-HPRU Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
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Varaden D, Leidland E, Lim S, Barratt B. "I am an air quality scientist"- Using citizen science to characterise school children's exposure to air pollution. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 201:111536. [PMID: 34166662 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Children are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution. To tackle this issue and implement effective strategies to reduce child exposure, it is important to understand how children are exposed to this risk. This study followed a citizen science approach to air pollution monitoring, aiming to characterise school children's exposure to air pollution and to analyse how a citizen science approach to data collection could contribute to and enhance the research process. 258 children across five London primary schools attended air pollution education sessions and measured air pollution for a week using backpacks with built-in air quality sensors. Children received a summary of the results, advice and information on how to reduce exposure to air pollution. Data on the impact of the approach on the school community were collected using surveys and focus groups with children and their parents and interviews with the teachers involved. The unique data set obtained permitted us to map different routes and modes of transport used by the children and quantify different exposure levels. We identified that, on average, children were exposed to higher levels of air pollution when travelling to and from school, particularly during the morning journey where air pollution levels were on average 52% higher than exposures at school. Children who walked to and from school through busy main roads were exposed to 33% higher levels of air pollution than those who travelled through back streets. The findings from this study showed that using a citizen science approach to data collection, where children are actively involved in the research process, not only facilitated the gathering of a large data set by encouraging participation and stimulating adherence with the study protocol, but also increased children's awareness of air pollution, encouraging them to adopt positive behaviour changes to reduce their exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Varaden
- NIHR-HPRU Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Hub, White City Campus, Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ , UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, Imperial College London, UK; School of Public Health, Imperial College London Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering HubWhite City Campus, Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK; School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, FWB Room 4.189, (Corridor B) 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
| | - Einar Leidland
- School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, FWB Room 4.189, (Corridor B) 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
| | - Shanon Lim
- NIHR-HPRU Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Hub, White City Campus, Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ , UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, Imperial College London, UK; School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, FWB Room 4.189, (Corridor B) 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
| | - Benjamin Barratt
- NIHR-HPRU Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Hub, White City Campus, Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ , UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, Imperial College London, UK; School of Public Health, Imperial College London Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering HubWhite City Campus, Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK; School of Population Health & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, FWB Room 4.189, (Corridor B) 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
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Jung KH, Goodwin KE, Perzanowski MS, Chillrud SN, Perera FP, Miller RL, Lovinsky-Desir S. Personal Exposure to Black Carbon at School and Levels of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide in New York City. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:97005. [PMID: 34495741 PMCID: PMC8425518 DOI: 10.1289/ehp8985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schools are often located near traffic sources, leading to high levels of exposure to traffic-related air pollutants, including black carbon (BC). Thus, the school environment could play in a significant role in the adverse respiratory health of children. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to determine associations between personal BC levels at school and airway inflammation [i.e., fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)] in school-age children. We hypothesized that higher school BC (SBC) would be associated with higher FeNO. METHODS Children 9-14 years of age in New York City (NYC) (n=114) wore BC monitors for two 24-h periods over a 6-d sampling period, repeated 6 months later. SBC was defined as the average personal BC concentrations measured during NYC school hours (i.e., 0830-1430 hours). FeNO was measured following each 24-h BC monitoring period. Multivariable linear regression in generalized estimating equation models were used to examine associations between SBC and FeNO. Results are presented as percentage difference (PD) in FeNO. RESULTS Personal BC at school was associated with higher FeNO (PD=7.47% higher FeNO per 1-μg/m3 BC (95% CI: 1.31, 13.9), p=0.02]. Compared with BC exposure during school, a smaller PD in FeNO was observed in association with BC exposure while commuting to and from school [PD=6.82% (95% CI: 0.70, 13.3), p=0.03]. Personal BC in non-school environments and residential BC were not associated with FeNO (p>0.05). A significant association between personal BC at school and FeNO was observed among children with seroatopy who did not have asthma [PD=21.5% (95% CI: 4.81, 40.9), p=0.01]. DISCUSSION Schools may be important sources of BC exposure that contribute to airway inflammation in school-age children. Our results provide rationale for interventions that target improved air quality in urban schools and classrooms. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8985.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Hwa Jung
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kathleen E. Goodwin
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Matthew S. Perzanowski
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Steven N. Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Frederica P. Perera
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rachel L. Miller
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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Mersha TB, Qin K, Beck AF, Ding L, Huang B, Kahn RS. Genetic ancestry differences in pediatric asthma readmission are mediated by socioenvironmental factors. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 148:1210-1218.e4. [PMID: 34217757 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.05.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social and financial hardships, combined with disease managment and environmental factors explain approximately 80% of the observed disparity in asthma-related readmissions between Black and White children. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine whether asthma-related readmissions differed by degree of African ancestry and the extent to which such an association would also be explained by socioenvironmental risk factors. METHODS This study used data from a prospective cohort study of 695 Black and White children aged 1 to 16 years with an asthma-related admission. The primary outcome was a similar readmission within 12 months. Each subject's African ancestry was determined by single nucleotide polymorphisms on a continuous scale ranging from 0 to 1 (0 = no African ancestry; 1 = 100% African ancestry). We also assessed 37 social, environmental, and clinical variables that we clustered into 6 domains (for example, hardship, disease management). Survival and mediation analyses were conducted. RESULTS A total of 134 children (19.3%) were readmitted within 12 months. Higher African ancestry was associated with asthma readmission (odds ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.18 for every 10% increase in African ancestry) with adjustment for age and gender. The association between African ancestry and readmission was mediated by hardship (sβ = 3.42, P < .001) and disease management (sβ = 0.046, P = .001), accounting for >50% of African ancestry's effect on readmission. African ancestry was no longer significantly associated with readmission (sβ = 0.035, P = .388) after accounting for these mediators. CONCLUSIONS African ancestry was strongly associated with readmission, and the association was mediated by family hardship and disease management. These results are consistent with the notion that asthma-related racial disparities are driven by factors like structural racism and social adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tesfaye B Mersha
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
| | - Ke Qin
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Andrew F Beck
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Division of Hospital Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Lili Ding
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Bin Huang
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Robert S Kahn
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Osborne S, Uche O, Mitsakou C, Exley K, Dimitroulopoulou S. Air quality around schools: Part I - A comprehensive literature review across high-income countries. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 196:110817. [PMID: 33524334 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Children are particularly vulnerable to the detrimental health impacts of poor air quality. In the UK, recent initiatives at local council level have focussed on mitigating children's air pollution exposure at school. However, an overview of the available evidence on concentration and exposure in school environments - and a summary of key knowledge gaps - has so far been lacking. To address this, we conducted a review bringing together recent academic and grey literature, relating to air quality in outdoor school environments - including playgrounds, drop-off zones, and the school commute - across high-income countries. We aimed to critically assess, synthesise, and categorise the available literature, to produce recommendations on future research and mitigating actions. Our searches initially identified 883 articles of interest, which were filtered down in screening and appraisal to a final total of 100 for inclusion. Many of the included studies focussed on nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM) in both the coarse and fine fractions, around schools across a range of countries. Some studies also observed ozone (O3) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) outside schools. Our review identified evidence that children can encounter pollution peaks on the school journey, at school gates, and in school playgrounds; that nearby traffic is a key determinant of concentrations outside schools; and that factors relating to planning and urban design - such as the type of playground paving, and amount of surrounding green space - can influence school site concentrations. The review also outlines evidence gaps that can be targeted in future research. These include the need for more personal monitoring studies that distinguish between the exposure that takes place indoors and outdoors at school, and a need for a greater number of studies that conduct before-after evaluation of local interventions designed to mitigate children's exposure, such as green barriers and road closures. Finally, our review also proposes some tangible recommendations for policymakers and local leaders. The creation of clean air zones around schools; greening of school grounds; careful selection of new school sites; promotion of active travel to and from school; avoidance of major roads on the school commute; and scheduling of outdoor learning and play away from peak traffic hours, are all advocated by the evidence collated in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Osborne
- Air Quality & Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Onyekachi Uche
- Air Quality & Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Christina Mitsakou
- Air Quality & Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Karen Exley
- Air Quality & Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Sani Dimitroulopoulou
- Air Quality & Public Health Group, Environmental Hazards and Emergencies Department, Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Public Health England, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Chilton, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK.
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Evangelopoulos D, Katsouyanni K, Keogh RH, Samoli E, Schwartz J, Barratt B, Zhang H, Walton H. PM 2.5 and NO 2 exposure errors using proxy measures, including derived personal exposure from outdoor sources: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 137:105500. [PMID: 32018132 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of proxy exposure estimates for PM2.5 and NO2 in air pollution studies instead of personal exposures, introduces measurement error, which can produce biased epidemiological effect estimates. Most studies consider total personal exposure as the gold standard. However, when studying the effects of ambient air pollution, personal exposure from outdoor sources is the exposure of interest. OBJECTIVES We assessed the magnitude and variability of exposure measurement error by conducting a systematic review of the differences between personal exposures from outdoor sources and the corresponding measurements for ambient concentrations in order to increase understanding of the measurement error structures of the pollutants. DATA SOURCES AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We reviewed the literature (ISI Web of Science, Medline, 2000-2016) for English language studies (in any age group in any location (NO2) or Europe and North America (PM2.5)) that reported repeated measurements over time both for personal and ambient PM2.5 or NO2 concentrations. Only a few studies reported personal exposure from outdoor sources. We also collected data for infiltration factors and time-activity patterns of the individuals in order to estimate personal exposures from outdoor sources in every study. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS Studies using modelled rather than monitored exposures were excluded. Type of personal exposure monitor was assessed. Random effects meta-analysis was conducted to quantify exposure error as the mean difference between "true" and proxy measures. RESULTS Thirty-two papers for PM2.5 and 24 for NO2 were identified. Outdoor sources were found to contribute 44% (range: 33-55%) of total personal exposure to PM2.5 and 74% (range: 57-88%) to NO2. Overall estimates of personal exposure (24-hour averages) from outdoor sources were 9.3 μg/m3 and 12.0 ppb for PM2.5 and NO2 respectively, while the corresponding difference between these exposures and the ambient concentrations (i.e. the measurement error) was 5.72 μg/m3 and 7.17 ppb. Our findings indicated also higher error variability for NO2 than PM2.5. Large heterogeneity was observed which was not explained sufficiently by geographical location or age group of the study sample. LIMITATIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS Relying only on information available in published studies led to some limitations: the contribution of outdoor sources to total personal exposure for NO2 had to be inferred, individual variation in exposure misclassification was unavailable and instrument error could not be addressed. The larger magnitude and variability of errors for NO2 compared with PM2.5 has implications for biases in the health effect estimates of multi-pollutant epidemiological models. Results suggest that further research is needed regarding personal exposure studies and measurement error bias in epidemiological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Evangelopoulos
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK.
| | - Klea Katsouyanni
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Ruth H Keogh
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Evangelia Samoli
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ben Barratt
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Hanbin Zhang
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Heather Walton
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
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Conrad L, Perzanowski MS. The Role of Environmental Controls in Managing Asthma in Lower-Income Urban Communities. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2020; 57:391-402. [PMID: 30903438 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-019-08727-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Children living in lower-income urban communities are at much greater risk of developing asthma, going to the emergency department for an asthma attack and being hospitalized for asthma than children living in upper- and middle-income communities. For many asthmatic children living in urban communities, especially those with greater morbidity, the allergic pathway is important in the etiology of the disease. The stages of developing allergic disease can be divided into the onset of allergic sensitization, development of allergic disease and subsequent exacerbations, and it is useful to consider the relevance of interventions at each of these stages. Indoor allergens and environmental exposures are a major contributor to allergic disease, particularly among lower socioeconomic status, urban, minority communities. These exposures include allergens, environmental tobacco smoke, combustion by-products, and mold, all of which can play an important role in asthma progression as well as morbidity. These exposures are often not found in isolation and thus these concomitant exposures need to be considered when conducting environmental interventions. There have been numerous studies looking at both primary and tertiary prevention strategies and the impact on allergic sensitization and asthma with varied results. While the outcomes of these studies have been mixed, what has emerged is the need for tertiary interventions to be targeted to the individual and to reduce all relevant exposures to which an asthmatic child is exposed and sensitized. In addition, effective intervention strategies must also consider other social determinants of asthma morbidity impacting low socioeconomic, urban communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Conrad
- Division of Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew S Perzanowski
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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10
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A Clean Air Plan for Sydney: An Overview of the Special Issue on Air Quality in New South Wales. ATMOSPHERE 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos10120774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a summary of the key findings of the special issue of Atmosphere on Air Quality in New South Wales and discusses the implications of the work for policy makers and individuals. This special edition presents new air quality research in Australia undertaken by (or in association with) the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes hub, which is funded by the National Environmental Science Program on behalf of the Australian Government’s Department of the Environment and Energy. Air pollution in Australian cities is generally low, with typical concentrations of key pollutants at much lower levels than experienced in comparable cities in many other parts of the world. Australian cities do experience occasional exceedances in ozone and PM2.5 (above air pollution guidelines), as well as extreme pollution events, often as a result of bushfires, dust storms, or heatwaves. Even in the absence of extreme events, natural emissions play a significant role in influencing the Australian urban environment, due to the remoteness from large regional anthropogenic emission sources. By studying air quality in Australia, we can gain a greater understanding of the underlying atmospheric chemistry and health risks in less polluted atmospheric environments, and the health benefits of continued reduction in air pollution. These conditions may be representative of future air quality scenarios for parts of the Northern Hemisphere, as legislation and cleaner technologies reduce anthropogenic air pollution in European, American, and Asian cities. However, in many instances, current legislation regarding emissions in Australia is significantly more lax than in other developed countries, making Australia vulnerable to worsening air pollution in association with future population growth. The need to avoid complacency is highlighted by recent epidemiological research, reporting associations between air pollution and adverse health outcomes even at air pollutant concentrations that are lower than Australia’s national air quality standards. Improving air quality is expected to improve health outcomes at any pollution level, with specific benefits projected for reductions in long-term exposure to average PM2.5 concentrations.
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Ma Y, Yu Z, Jiao H, Zhang Y, Ma B, Wang F, Zhou J. Short-term effect of PM 2.5 on pediatric asthma incidence in Shanghai, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:27832-27841. [PMID: 31342347 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-05971-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent epidemiological studies pointed out that air pollution has a significant impact on pediatric asthma. Shanghai is one of the biggest cities in China, and the short-term effect of atmospheric particulate matter on the incidence of pediatric asthma has become a hot topic. From January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2010, we used daily measurements of pollutant concentrations, daily weather data, and daily records of pediatric asthma hospital visits from local authorities to evaluate the short-term effect of air pollution on pediatric asthma incidence in Shanghai, China. We used a generalized additive model (GAM) in the analysis, and the controlled confounding factors include long-term trends, day-of-the-week effects, and weather elements. We divided the entire study group into different age-subgroups. In addition, we took a variety of lag models into consideration. The results showed a strong connection between concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and pediatric asthma hospital visits from 2009 to 2010 in Shanghai, China. For the entire study group, the greatest relative risk (RR) of PM2.5 on pediatric asthma hospital visits was 1.060 on a lag of 4 days. As for the three different age-subgroups, the greatest RR of PM2.5 on pediatric asthma hospital visits was 1.061 (at a lag of 5 days), 1.071 (at a lag of 4 days), and 1.052 (at a lag of 2 days), for the under-2-year-olds, 3-to-5-year-olds, and the 6-to-18-year-olds, respectively. The overall short-term effect of PM2.5 on pediatric asthma hospital visits was relatively stronger in younger children. Within the year, we detected the strongest seasonal effect of PM2.5 on pediatric asthma hospital visits in Summer. When adding other air pollutants in the analysis model, RR of PM2.5 on pediatric asthma hospital visits would be increased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxia Ma
- College of Atmospheric Sciences, Key Laboratory of Semi-Arid Climate Change, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Zhiang Yu
- College of Atmospheric Sciences, Key Laboratory of Semi-Arid Climate Change, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Haoran Jiao
- College of Atmospheric Sciences, Key Laboratory of Semi-Arid Climate Change, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- College of Atmospheric Sciences, Key Laboratory of Semi-Arid Climate Change, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Bingji Ma
- College of Atmospheric Sciences, Key Laboratory of Semi-Arid Climate Change, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Tacheng Meteorological Bureau, Tacheng, 834700, China
| | - Ji Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Meteorology and Health in Shanghai, Shanghai, 200030, China.
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Bolcas PE, Brandt EB, Zhang Z, Biagini Myers JM, Ruff BP, Khurana Hershey GK. Vitamin D supplementation attenuates asthma development following traffic-related particulate matter exposure. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 143:386-394.e3. [PMID: 29936100 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.04.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent literature suggests that children who are vitamin D deficient are uniquely susceptible to the effects of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure. This is highly significant because large segments of the population reside in zones of high TRAP exposure. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine whether vitamin D supplementation mitigates the effect of TRAP exposure on asthma development, asthma exacerbation, and/or airway inflammation and to determine the timing of vitamin D supplementation that confers maximal health benefit. METHODS Using established mouse models of asthma, we examined the effect of prenatal and postnatal vitamin D supplementation on asthma development, as well as the utility of vitamin D as a treatment for established asthma in the context of diesel exhaust particle (DEP) exposure. RESULTS DEP and allergen coexposure resulted in increased airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and accumulation of pathogenic TH2/TH17 cells in the lungs of vitamin D-deficient mice compared with control mice. Prenatal and postnatal vitamin D supplementation significantly attenuated the development of AHR and decreased pulmonary accumulation of TH2/TH17 cells after coexposure to TRAP and allergen but not to allergen alone. Restoration of normal vitamin D status had no effect on AHR once asthma was already established. CONCLUSIONS Our data establish that vitamin D confers protection against asthma development specifically in the context of TRAP exposure. Although vitamin D replacement did not reverse established asthma, restoration of normal vitamin D status in early life significantly attenuated the development of AHR in the setting of DEP-exacerbated allergic asthma and reduced numbers of lung TH2/TH17 cells, which portend the development of severe asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige E Bolcas
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Immunology Graduate Program, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Eric B Brandt
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Zhonghua Zhang
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Jocelyn M Biagini Myers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Brandy P Ruff
- Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Gurjit K Khurana Hershey
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Lowe AA, Bender B, Liu AH, Solomon T, Kobernick A, Morgan W, Gerald LB. Environmental Concerns for Children with Asthma on the Navajo Nation. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2018; 15:745-753. [PMID: 29485894 PMCID: PMC6207133 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201708-674ps] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Navajo children living on the reservation have high rates of asthma prevalence and severity. Environmental influences may contribute to asthma on the Navajo Nation and are inadequately understood. OBJECTIVES We performed a comprehensive, integrative literature review to determine the environmental factors that may contribute to increased asthma prevalence and severity among Navajo children living on the reservation. METHODS A systematic search was conducted in four databases regarding the environmental risk factors for asthma in Navajo children living on the reservation. Relevant studies between 1990 and 2017 were examined. Nonexperimental literature was also integrated into the review to describe the environmental injustices that have historically, disproportionately, and systematically affected the Navajo people, thus contributing to respiratory disparities among Navajo children. RESULTS Eight studies met inclusion criteria for systematic review; however, limited research regarding environmental risk factors specific to asthma and Navajo children living on the reservation was identified. Our integrative review indicated both indoor and outdoor environmental risk factors commonly found on the Navajo reservation appear to be important determinants of asthma. CONCLUSIONS Future research should examine indoor and outdoor air pollution from wood-burning stoves and cook stoves, coal combustion, tobacco and traditional ceremonial smoke, diesel exhaust exposure from long bus rides, indoor allergens, ambient pollutants, and regional dusts. Comprehensive mitigation efforts created in partnership with the Navajo Nation are necessary to address less-recognized risk factors as well as the common risk factors known to contribute to increased childhood asthma prevalence and severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley A. Lowe
- Asthma & Airway Disease Research Center, Tucson, Arizona
- University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona
| | - Bruce Bender
- National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Andrew H. Liu
- National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado
- University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
- Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Teshia Solomon
- University of Arizona Native American Training and Research Center, Tucson, Arizona
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona; and
| | | | - Wayne Morgan
- Asthma & Airway Disease Research Center, Tucson, Arizona
- University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona; and
| | - Lynn B. Gerald
- Asthma & Airway Disease Research Center, Tucson, Arizona
- University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Tucson, Arizona
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14
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Pañella P, Casas M, Donaire-Gonzalez D, Garcia-Esteban R, Robinson O, Valentín A, Gulliver J, Momas I, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Vrijheid M, Sunyer J. Ultrafine particles and black carbon personal exposures in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children at school age. INDOOR AIR 2017; 27:891-899. [PMID: 28321937 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure during childhood is associated with asthma; however, the contribution of the different TRAP pollutants in each microenvironment (home, school, transportation, others) in asthmatic and non-asthmatic children is unknown. Daily (24-h) personal black carbon (BC), ultrafine particle (UFP), and alveolar lung-deposited surface area (LDSA) individual exposure measurements were obtained from 100 children (29 past and 21 current asthmatics, 50 non-asthmatics) aged 9±0.7 years from the INMA-Sabadell cohort (Catalonia, Spain). Time spent in each microenvironment was derived by the geolocation provided by the smartphone and a new spatiotemporal map-matching algorithm. Asthmatics and non-asthmatics spent the same amount of time at home (60% and 61%, respectively), at school (20% and 23%), on transportation (8% and 7%), and in other microenvironments (7% and 5%). The highest concentrations of all TRAPs were attributed to transportation. No differences in TRAP concentrations were found overall or by type of microenvironment between asthmatics and non-asthmatics, nor when considering past and current asthmatics, separately. In conclusion, asthmatic and non-asthmatic children had a similar time-activity pattern and similar average exposures to BC, UFP, and LDSA concentrations. This suggests that interventions should be tailored to general population, rather than to subgroups defined by disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Pañella
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - M Casas
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - D Donaire-Gonzalez
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Physical Activity and Sports Sciences Department, Fundació Blanquerna, Barcelona, Spain
| | - R Garcia-Esteban
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - O Robinson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Kensington, London, UK
| | - A Valentín
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - J Gulliver
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Kensington, London, UK
| | - I Momas
- Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Laboratoire Santé Publique et Environnement, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
- Direction de l'Action Sociale de l'Enfance et de la Santé, Cellule Cohorte, Mairie de Paris, Paris, France
| | - M Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - M Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - J Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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15
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Gany F, Bari S, Prasad L, Leng J, Lee T, Thurston GD, Gordon T, Acharya S, Zelikoff JT. Perception and reality of particulate matter exposure in New York City taxi drivers. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2017; 27:221-226. [PMID: 27168392 PMCID: PMC5547750 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2016.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) have been linked to negative health risks, but exposure among professional taxi drivers is understudied. This pilot study measured drivers' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (KAB) about air pollution compared with direct measures of exposures. Roadside and in-vehicle levels of PM2.5 and BC were continuously measured over a single shift on each subject, and exposures compared with central site monitoring. One hundred drivers completed an air pollution KAB questionnaire, and seven taxicabs participated in preliminary in-cab air sampling. Taxicab PM2.5 and BC concentrations were elevated compared with nearby central monitoring. Average PM2.5 concentrations per 15-min interval were 4-49 μg/m3. BC levels were also elevated; reaching>10 μg/m3. Fifty-six of the 100 drivers surveyed believed they were more exposed than non-drivers; 81 believed air pollution causes health problems. Air pollution exposures recorded suggest that driver exposures would likely exceed EPA recommendations if experienced for 24 h. Surveys indicated that driver awareness of this was limited. Future studies should focus on reducing exposures and increasing awareness among taxi drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Gany
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Medicine; Weill Cornell Medical College, Department of Public Health; 300 E. 66 St., New York, NY 10065
| | - Sehrish Bari
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; 300 East 66 St., New York, NY 10065
| | - Lakshmi Prasad
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; 300 East 66 St., New York, NY 10065
| | - Jennifer Leng
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Medicine; Weill Cornell Medical College, Department of Public Health; 300 E. 66 St., New York, NY 10065
| | - Trevor Lee
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; 300 East 66 St., New York, NY 10065
| | - George D Thurston
- New York University School of Medicine, Department of Environmental Medicine. 57 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987
| | - Terry Gordon
- New York University School of Medicine, Department of Environmental Medicine. 57 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987
| | - Sudha Acharya
- South Asian Council for Social Services, 143-06 45th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11355
| | - Judith T Zelikoff
- New York University School of Medicine, Department of Environmental Medicine. 57 Old Forge Road, Tuxedo, NY 10987
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Abstract
The field of epigenetics is maturing, with increased interest in understanding the normal regulation of the genome and the possibility that it becomes reprogrammed aberrantly as part of the cause of disease phenotypes. Applying the current technologies and insights to the study of human populations is potentially a way of understanding mechanisms and consequences of these diseases. When extended to encompass health care disparities, understanding why certain populations are unusually prone to specific conditions, there is certainly some potential for gaining new and valuable insights, but these studies are likely to be unusually prone to the effects of confounding influences and need to be designed, executed and interpreted with extra care.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Greally
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1301 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx NY 10461, USA, Telephone: +1 718 678 1234
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17
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McGuinn LA, Voss RW, Laurent CA, Greenspan LC, Kushi LH, Windham GC. Residential proximity to traffic and female pubertal development. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016; 94:635-641. [PMID: 27377913 PMCID: PMC4986602 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 06/26/2016] [Accepted: 06/26/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) has been linked with several adverse health outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight, which are both related to onset of puberty. No studies to date have investigated the association between TRAP and altered pubertal timing. OBJECTIVE Determine the association between residential proximity to traffic, as a marker of long-term TRAP exposure, and age at pubertal onset in a longitudinal study of girls. METHODS We analyzed data for 437 girls at the CYGNET study site of the Breast Cancer and Environment Research Program. TRAP exposure was assessed using several measures of residential proximity to traffic based on address at study entry. Using accelerated failure time models, we calculated time ratios (TRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for specified traffic metrics and pubertal onset, defined as stage 2 or higher for breast or pubic hair development (respectively, B2+ and PH2+). Models were adjusted for race/ethnicity, household income, and cotinine levels. RESULTS At baseline, 71% of girls lived within 150m of a major road. The median age of onset was 10.3years for B2+ and 10.9years for PH2+. Living within 150m downwind of a major road was associated with earlier onset of PH2+ (TR 0.96, 95% CI 0.93, 0.99). Girls in the highest quintile of either distance-weighted traffic density, annual average daily traffic, and/or traffic density also reached PH2+ earlier than girls in the lowest quintiles. CONCLUSIONS In this first study to assess the association between residential proximity to traffic and pubertal onset we found girls with higher exposure reached one pubertal milestone several months earlier than low exposed girls, even after consideration of likely confounders. Results should be expanded in larger epidemiological studies, and with measured levels of air pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A McGuinn
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
| | - Robert W Voss
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, California Dept. of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Cecile A Laurent
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Louise C Greenspan
- Department of Pediatrics, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lawrence H Kushi
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA
| | - Gayle C Windham
- Division of Environmental and Occupational Disease Control, California Dept. of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
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18
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Arku RE, Dionisio KL, Hughes AF, Vallarino J, Spengler JD, Castro MC, Agyei-Mensah S, Ezzati M. Personal particulate matter exposures and locations of students in four neighborhoods in Accra, Ghana. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2015; 25:557-66. [PMID: 25160763 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2014.56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution exposure and places where the exposures occur may differ in cities in the developing world compared with high-income countries. Our aim was to measure personal fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure of students in neighborhoods of varying socioeconomic status in Accra, Ghana, and to quantify the main predictors of exposure. We measured 24-hour PM2.5 exposure of 56 students from eight schools in four neighborhoods. PM2.5 was measured both gravimetrically and continuously, with time-matched global positioning system coordinates. We collected data on determinants of exposure, such as distances of homes and schools from main roads and fuel used for cooking at their home or in the area of residence/school. The association of PM2.5 exposure with sources was estimated using linear mixed-effects models. Personal PM2.5 exposures ranged from less than 10 μg/m(3) to more than 150 μg/m(3) (mean 56 μg/m(3)). Girls had higher exposure than boys (67 vs 44 μg/m(3); P-value=0.001). Exposure was inversely associated with distance of home or school to main roads, but the associations were not statistically significant in the multivariate model. Use of biomass fuels in the area where the school was located was also associated with higher exposure, as was household's own biomass use. Paved schoolyard surface was associated with lower exposure. School locations in relation to major roads, materials of school ground surfaces, and biomass use in the area around schools may be important determinants of air pollution exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael E Arku
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kathie L Dionisio
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Jose Vallarino
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John D Spengler
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Marcia C Castro
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Samuel Agyei-Mensah
- Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Majid Ezzati
- MRC-PHE Center for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
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19
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Zhou S, Weitzman M, Vilcassim R, Wilson J, Legrand N, Saunders E, Travers M, Chen LC, Peltier R, Gordon T. Air quality in New York City hookah bars. Tob Control 2015; 24:e193-8. [PMID: 25232045 PMCID: PMC4390442 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2014-051763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/26/2014] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hookahs are increasingly being used in the USA and elsewhere. Despite the popularity of hookah bars, there is a paucity of research assessing the health effects of hookah smoke, and although New York City (NYC) bans indoor tobacco smoking, hookah lounges claim that they only use herbal products without tobacco. This study investigated levels of multiple indices of indoor air pollution in hookah bars in NYC. METHODS Air samples were collected in 8 hookah bars in NYC. Along with venue characteristics, real-time measurements of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), and carbon monoxide (CO), and total gravimetric PM, elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), and nicotine were collected in 1-2 hour sessions. RESULTS Overall, levels of indoor air pollution increased with increasing numbers of active hookahs smoked. The mean (SD) real time PM2.5 level was 1179.9 (939.4) µg/m(3), whereas the filter-based total PM mean was 691.3 (592.6) µg/m(3). The mean real time BC level was 4.1 (2.3) µg/m(3), OC was 237.9 (112.3) µg/m(3), and CO was 32 (16) ppm. Airborne nicotine was present in all studied hookah bars (4.2 (1.5) µg/m(3)). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that despite the ban on smoking tobacco products, at the very least, some NYC hookah bars are serving tobacco-based hookahs, and have elevated concentrations of indoor air pollutants that may present a health threat to visitors and employees. Therefore, there is an urgent need for better air quality monitoring in such establishments and policies to combat this emerging public health threat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherry Zhou
- New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Michael Weitzman
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Ruzmyn Vilcassim
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | | | - Eric Saunders
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | - Lung-Chi Chen
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Richard Peltier
- Division of Environmental Health Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
| | - Terry Gordon
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
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Li B, Lei XN, Xiu GL, Gao CY, Gao S, Qian NS. Personal exposure to black carbon during commuting in peak and off-peak hours in Shanghai. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 524-525:237-245. [PMID: 25909267 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Revised: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A study on a commuter's exposure to black carbon (BC) in five different traffic modes (taxi, bus, subway, cycling and walking) was conducted in Xuhui District, Shanghai. A commuter's real-time exposure concentrations were recorded by MicroAeth AE51 BC monitors, and the average BC exposure concentration and inhalation dose were analyzed. Data collected by cyclist was applied to characterize the micro-variability in relation to traffic density and street topology. The distance to the traffic and the street topology as well as the volume of heavy diesel trucks were the dominant factors influencing the BC concentrations. In this study, a high variability of BC concentrations between streets and even within streets was observed, and also between days and hour of the day. The average BC exposure concentrations were 5.59±1.02 μg/m(3), 6.58±1.78 μg/m(3), 7.28±1.87 μg/m(3), 8.62±4.13 μg/m(3) and 9.43±2.89 μg/m(3) for walking, cycling, bus, taxi and subway trips, respectively. Exposure levels of in-vehicle microenvironments were 8.66±3.66 μg/m(3), 9.39±6.98 μg/m(3) and 10.96±2.72 μg/m(3) for bus, taxi and subway, respectively. While inhalation doses were 0.68±0.33 μg, 0.95±0.29 μg, 1.36±0.37 μg, 1.50±0.39 μg and 1.58±0.29 μg for taxi, subway, cycling, bus and walking, respectively. BC exposure level of walking was the lowest among all the traffic modes, but its inhalation dose was the highest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Li
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Processes, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), Shanghai 200237, China; Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Xiao-ning Lei
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Processes, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), Shanghai 200237, China; Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Guang-li Xiu
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Processes, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), Shanghai 200237, China; Australia-China Centre for Air Quality Science and Management, Shanghai 200237, China
| | | | - Shuang Gao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Processes, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Ni-sheng Qian
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Processes, East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST), Shanghai 200237, China
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Highway proximity and black carbon from cookstoves as a risk factor for higher blood pressure in rural China. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:13229-34. [PMID: 25157159 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1317176111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Air pollution in China and other parts of Asia poses large health risks and is an important contributor to global climate change. Almost half of Chinese homes use biomass and coal fuels for cooking and heating. China's economic growth and infrastructure development has led to increased emissions from coal-fired power plants and an expanding fleet of motor vehicles. Black carbon (BC) from incomplete biomass and fossil fuel combustion is the most strongly light-absorbing component of particulate matter (PM) air pollution and the second most important climate-forcing human emission. PM composition and sources may also be related to its human health impact. We enrolled 280 women living in a rural area of northwestern Yunnan where biomass fuels are commonly used. We measured their blood pressure, distance from major traffic routes, and daily exposure to BC (pyrolytic biomass combustion), water-soluble organic aerosol (organic aerosol from biomass combustion), and, in a subset, hopane markers (motor vehicle emissions) in winter and summer. BC had the strongest association with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (4.3 mmHg; P < 0.001), followed by PM mass and water-soluble organic mass. The effect of BC on SBP was almost three times greater in women living near the highway [6.2 mmHg; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.6 to 8.9 vs. 2.6 mmHg; 95% CI, 0.1 to 5.2]. Our findings suggest that BC from combustion emissions is more strongly associated with blood pressure than PM mass, and that BC's health effects may be larger among women living near a highway and with greater exposure to motor vehicle emissions.
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Grunig G, Marsh LM, Esmaeil N, Jackson K, Gordon T, Reibman J, Kwapiszewska G, Park SH. Perspective: ambient air pollution: inflammatory response and effects on the lung's vasculature. Pulm Circ 2014; 4:25-35. [PMID: 25006418 DOI: 10.1086/674902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2013] [Accepted: 11/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Particulates from air pollution are implicated in causing or exacerbating respiratory and systemic cardiovascular diseases and are thought to be among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. However, the contribution of ambient particulate matter to diseases affecting the pulmonary circulation, the right heart, and especially pulmonary hypertension is much less documented. Our own work and that of other groups has demonstrated that prolonged exposure to antigens via the airways can cause severe pulmonary arterial remodeling. In addition, vascular changes have been well documented in a typical disease of the airways, asthma. These experimental and clinical findings link responses in the airways with responses in the lung's vasculature. It follows that particulate air pollution could cause, or exacerbate, diseases in the pulmonary circulation and associated pulmonary hypertension. This perspective details the literature for support of this concept. Data regarding the health effects of particulate matter from air pollution on the lung's vasculature, with emphasis on the lung's inflammatory responses to particulate matter deposition and pulmonary hypertension, are discussed. A deeper understanding of the health implications of exposure to ambient particulate matter will improve our knowledge of how to improve the management of lung diseases, including diseases of the pulmonary circulation. As man-made ambient particulate air pollution is typically linked to economic growth, a better understanding of the health effects of exposure to particulate air pollution is expected to integrate the global goal of achieving healthy living for all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Grunig
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA ; Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Leigh M Marsh
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Vascular Research, Graz, Austria
| | - Nafiseh Esmaeil
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA ; Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Katelin Jackson
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA
| | - Terry Gordon
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA
| | - Joan Reibman
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA ; Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Sung-Hyun Park
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA
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Shirinde J, Wichmann J, Voyi K. Association between wheeze and selected air pollution sources in an air pollution priority area in South Africa: a cross-sectional study. Environ Health 2014; 13:32. [PMID: 24885606 PMCID: PMC4018977 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-13-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/28/2014] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An association between wheeze (a symptom of asthma) and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), types of fuel used for residential heating or cooking and the frequency of trucks passing near homes, has been reported mainly in developed countries. Little is known about the strength of such associations in developing countries. This study was conducted in residential areas situated in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, namely Tembisa and Kempton Park, which form part of the Highveld region, a priority area in terms of air pollution in South Africa. METHODS From 3764 eligible school children, aged between 13 and 14 years, from 16 selected high schools in the study area, 3468 completed a modified questionnaire based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Data were analysed using multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS The results are based on data from 3424 children. In the adjusted models, exposure to ETS at school was associated with wheeze ever (OR 1.22 95% CI: 1.03 - 1.45) and current wheeze (OR 1.33 95% CI: 1.08 - 1.64). When gas was most frequently used for residential heating the likelihood of wheeze ever increased by 47% (OR 1.47 95% CI: 1.15 - 1.88). Trucks passing near homes for almost the whole day during weekdays, increased the likelihood of wheeze ever (OR 1.32 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.73), current wheeze (OR 1.61 95% CI: 1.15 - 2.24) and current severe wheeze (OR 2.22 95% CI: 1.28 - 3.77). When data were stratified according to residential area, for children living in Tembisa, ETS exposure at home was associated with current wheeze (OR 1.36 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.77); gas most frequently used for residential heating was associated with wheeze ever (OR 1.68 95% CI: 1.23 - 2.28) and current wheeze (OR 1.61 95% CI: 1.08 - 2.39); paraffin most frequently used for residential heating was associated with current severe wheeze (OR 1.85 95% CI: 1.04 - 3.28). CONCLUSION It was concluded that children living in one of the air pollution priority areas of South Africa, have an increased risk of wheezing due to exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollution sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Shirinde
- Department of Environmental Health, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Pretoria, P.O. Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Janine Wichmann
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Pretoria, P.O. Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Kuku Voyi
- School of Health Systems and Public Health, Health Sciences Faculty, University of Pretoria, P.O. Box 667, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
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Jyethi DS, Khillare PS, Sarkar S. Risk assessment of inhalation exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in school children. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 21:366-378. [PMID: 23780511 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-013-1912-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Accepted: 06/05/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with the inhalable fraction of particulate matter were determined for 1 year (2009-2010) at a school site located in proximity of industrial and heavy traffic roads in Delhi, India. PM10 (aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm) levels were ∼11.6 times the World Health Organization standard. Vehicular (59.5%) and coal combustion (40.5%) sources accounted for the high levels of PAHs (range 38.1-217.3 ng m(-3)) with four- and five-ring PAHs having ∼80 % contribution. Total PAHs were dominated by carcinogenic species (∼75%) and B[a]P equivalent concentrations indicated highest exposure risks during winter. Extremely high daily inhalation exposure of PAHs was observed during winter (439.43 ng day(-1)) followed by monsoon (232.59 ng day(-1)) and summer (171.08 ng day(-1)). Daily inhalation exposure of PAHs to school children during a day exhibited the trend school hours > commuting to school > resting period in all the seasons. Vehicular source contributions to daily PAH levels were significantly correlated (r = 0.94, p < 0.001) with the daily inhalation exposure level of school children. A conservative estimate of ∼11 excess cancer cases in children during childhood due to inhalation exposure of PAHs has been made for Delhi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darpa Saurav Jyethi
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Laboratory, Room No. 325, School of Environmental Sciences, 1Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
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Baja ES, Schwartz JD, Coull BA, Wellenius GA, Vokonas PS, Suh HH. Structural equation modeling of parasympathetic and sympathetic response to traffic air pollution in a repeated measures study. Environ Health 2013; 12:81. [PMID: 24059437 PMCID: PMC3907044 DOI: 10.1186/1476-069x-12-81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traffic-related air pollution has been associated to a range of adverse health impacts, including decreased heart rate variability (HRV). The association between traffic-related pollution and HRV, however, has varied by traffic-related or HRV marker as well as by study, suggesting the need for a more comprehensive and integrative approach to examining air pollution-mediated biological impacts on these outcomes. In a Bayesian framework, we examined the effect of traffic pollution on HRV using structural equation models (SEMs) and looked at effect modification by participant characteristics. METHODS We studied measurements of 5 HRV markers [high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), 5-min standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal-to-normal intervals (rMSSD), and LF/HF ratio (LF/HF)] for 700 elderly men from the Normative Aging Study. Using SEMs, we fit a latent variable for traffic pollution that is reflected by levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and black carbon (BC) to estimate its effect on latent variable for parasympathetic tone that included HF, SDNN and rMSSD, and the sympathetic tone marker, LF/HF. Exposure periods were assessed using 4-, 24-, 48-, 72-hour moving average pre-visit. We compared our main effect findings using SEMs with those obtained using linear mixed models. RESULTS Traffic pollution was not associated with mean parasympathetic tone and LF/HF for all examined moving averages. In Bayesian linear mixed models, however, BC was related to increased LF/HF, an inter quartile range (IQR) increase in BC was associated with a 6.5% (95% posterior interval (PI): -0.7%, 14.2%) increase in mean LF/HF 24-hours later. The strongest association observed was for the 4-hour moving average (10.1%; 95% PI: 3.0%, 17.6%). The effect of traffic on parasympathetic tone was stronger among diabetic as compared to non-diabetic participants. Specifically, an IQR increase in traffic pollution in the 48-hr prior to the clinic visit was associated with a 44.3% (95% PI: -67.7%, -4.2%) lower mean parasympathetic tone among diabetics, and a 7.7% (95% PI: -18.0%, 41.4%) higher mean parasympathetic tone among non-diabetics. CONCLUSIONS BC was associated with adverse changes LF/HF in the elderly. Traffic pollution may decrease parasympathetic tone among diabetic elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel S Baja
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute of Clinical Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health, University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines
| | - Joel D Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brent A Coull
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gregory A Wellenius
- Center for Environmental Health and Technology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Pantel S Vokonas
- VA Normative Aging Study, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Helen H Suh
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Environmental Health Program, NORC at the University of Chicago, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
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Shang Y, Fan L, Feng J, Lv S, Wu M, Li B, Zang YS. Genotoxic and inflammatory effects of organic extracts from traffic-related particulate matter in human lung epithelial A549 cells: The role of quinones. Toxicol In Vitro 2013; 27:922-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2013.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Revised: 12/05/2012] [Accepted: 01/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Patel MM, Chillrud SN, Deepti KC, Ross JM, Kinney PL. Traffic-related air pollutants and exhaled markers of airway inflammation and oxidative stress in New York City adolescents. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2013; 121:71-78. [PMID: 23177171 PMCID: PMC3577992 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2012.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2012] [Revised: 10/25/2012] [Accepted: 10/29/2012] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Exposures to ambient diesel exhaust particles have been associated with respiratory symptoms and asthma exacerbations in children; however, epidemiologic evidence linking short-term exposure to ambient diesel exhaust particles with airway inflammation is limited. We conducted a panel study with asthmatic and nonasthmatic adolescents to characterize associations between ambient diesel exhaust particle exposures and exhaled biological markers of airway inflammation and oxidative stress. Over four weeks, exhaled breath condensate was collected twice a week from 18 asthmatics and 18 nonasthmatics (ages 14-19 years) attending two New York City schools and analyzed for pH and 8-isoprostane as indicators of airway inflammation and oxidative stress, respectively. Air concentrations of black carbon, a diesel exhaust particle indicator, were measured outside schools. Air measurements of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and fine particulate matter were obtained for the closest central monitoring sites. Relationships between ambient pollutants and exhaled biomarkers were characterized using mixed effects models. Among all subjects, increases in 1- to 5-day averages of black carbon were associated with decreases in exhaled breath condensate pH, indicating increased airway inflammation, and increases in 8-isoprostane, indicating increased oxidative stress. Increases in 1- to 5-day averages of nitrogen dioxide were associated with increases in 8-isoprostane. Ozone and fine particulate matter were inconsistently associated with exhaled biomarkers. Associations did not differ between asthmatics and nonasthmatics. The findings indicate that short-term exposure to traffic-related air pollutants may increase airway inflammation and/or oxidative stress in urban youth and provide mechanistic support for associations documented between traffic-related pollutant exposures and respiratory morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molini M. Patel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 St, New York, NY, 10032, U.S.A
| | - Steven N. Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Comer Building, Rm 201, Palisades, NY, 10964, U.S.A
| | - KC Deepti
- West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc., 271 West 125 Street, Suite 308, New York, NY, 10027, U.S.A
| | - James M. Ross
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Comer Building, Rm 201, Palisades, NY, 10964, U.S.A
| | - Patrick L. Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 St, New York, NY, 10032, U.S.A
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Jung KH, Hsu SI, Yan B, Moors K, Chillrud SN, Ross J, Wang S, Perzanowski MS, Kinney PL, Whyatt RM, Perera F, Miller RL. Childhood exposure to fine particulate matter and black carbon and the development of new wheeze between ages 5 and 7 in an urban prospective cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2012; 45:44-50. [PMID: 22572116 PMCID: PMC3366055 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2012.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2011] [Revised: 01/18/2012] [Accepted: 03/28/2012] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While exposures to urban fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) and soot-black carbon (soot-BC) have been associated with asthma exacerbations, there is limited evidence on whether these pollutants are associated with the new development of asthma or allergy among young inner city children. We hypothesized that childhood exposure to PM(2.5) and the soot-BC component would be associated with the report of new wheeze and development of seroatopy in an inner city birth cohort. METHODS As part of the research being conducted by the Columbia Center of Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) birth cohort study in New York City, two-week integrated residential monitoring of PM(2.5), soot-BC (based on a multi-wavelength integrating sphere method), and modified absorption coefficient (Abs*; based on the smoke stain reflectometer) was conducted between October 2005 and May 2011 for 408 children at ages 5-6 years old. Residential monitoring was repeated 6 months later (n=262) to capture seasonal variability. New wheeze was identified through the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaires during up to 3 years of follow-up and compared to a reference group that reported never wheeze, remitted wheeze, or persistent wheeze. Specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E against cockroach, mouse, cat, and dust mite and total IgE levels was measured in sera at ages 5 and 7 years. RESULTS PM(2.5), soot-BC, and Abs* measured at the first visit were correlated moderately with those at the second visit (Pearson r>0.44). Using logistic regression models, a positive association between PM(2.5) and new wheeze was found with adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence intervals] of 1.51 [1.05-2.16] per interquartile range (IQR). Positive but non-significant association was found between the development of new wheeze and soot-BC and (OR 1.40 [0.96-2.05]), and Abs* (OR 1.57 [0.91-2.68]); Significantly positive associations were found between air pollutant measurements and new wheeze when restricting to those participants with repeat home indoor measurements 6 months apart. Associations between pollutants and IgE levels were not detected. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that childhood exposure to indoor air pollution, much of which penetrated readily from outdoor sources, may contribute to the development of wheeze symptoms among children ages 5 to 7 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Hwa Jung
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine , Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E, 630 W. 168 St. New York, New York 10032
| | - Shao-I Hsu
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine , Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E, 630 W. 168 St. New York, New York 10032
| | - Beizhan Yan
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Rt, 9W Palisades, New York 10964
| | - Kathleen Moors
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine , Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E, 630 W. 168 St. New York, New York 10032
| | - Steven N. Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Rt, 9W Palisades, New York 10964
| | - James Ross
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Rt, 9W Palisades, New York 10964
| | - Shuang Wang
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave., B-1 New York, New York 10032
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 St. New York, New York 10032
| | - Matthew S. Perzanowski
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave., B-1 New York, New York 10032
| | - Patrick L. Kinney
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave., B-1 New York, New York 10032
| | - Robin M. Whyatt
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave., B-1 New York, New York 10032
| | - Frederica Perera
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave., B-1 New York, New York 10032
| | - Rachel L. Miller
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine , Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E, 630 W. 168 St. New York, New York 10032
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave., B-1 New York, New York 10032
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 W. 168 St. New York, New York 10032
- Corresponding author: Rachel L. Miller, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University College Physicians and Surgeons, New York New York 10032, Tel: 212-305-7759, Fax: 212-305-2277,
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Shang Y, Chen C, Li Y, Zhao J, Zhu T. Hydroxyl radical generation mechanism during the redox cycling process of 1,4-naphthoquinone. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2012; 46:2935-2942. [PMID: 22288565 DOI: 10.1021/es203032v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Airborne quinones contribute to adverse health effects of ambient particles probably because of their ability to generate hydroxyl radicals (·OH) via redox cycling, but the mechanisms remain unclear. We examined the chemical mechanisms through which 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NQ) induced ·OH, and the redox interactions between 1,4-NQ and ascorbate acid (AscH(2)). First, ·OH formation by 1,4-NQ was observed in cellular and acellular systems, and was enhanced by AscH(2). AscH(2) also exacerbated the cytotoxicity of 1,4-NQ in Ana-1 macrophages, at least partially due to enhanced ·OH generation. The detailed mechanism was studied in an AscH(2)/H(2)O(2) physiological system. The existence of a cyclic 1,4-NQ process was shown by detecting the corresponding semiquinone radical (NSQ·-) and hydroquinone (NQH(2)). 1,4-NQ was reduced primarily to NSQ·- by O2·- (which was from AscH(2) reacting with H(2)O(2)), not by AscH(2) as normally thought. At lower doses, 1,4-NQ consumed O2·- to suppress ·OH; however, at higher doses, 1,4-NQ presented a positive association with ·OH. The reaction of NSQ·- with H(2)O(2) to release ·OH was another important channel for OH radical formation except for Haber-Weiss reaction. As a reaction precursor for O2·-, the enhanced ·OH response to 1,4-NQ by AscH(2) was indirect. Reducing substrates were necessary to sustain the redox cycling of 1,4-NQ, leading to more ·OH and a deleterious end point.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Shang
- State Key Laboratory for Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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Tong Z, Wang Y, Patel M, Kinney P, Chrillrud S, Zhang KM. Modeling spatial variations of black carbon particles in an urban highway-building environment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2012; 46:312-9. [PMID: 22084971 PMCID: PMC3258341 DOI: 10.1021/es201938v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Highway-building environments are prevalent in metropolitan areas. This paper presents our findings in investigating pollutant transport in a highway-building environment by combing field measurement and numerical simulations. We employ and improve the Comprehensive Turbulent Aerosol Dynamics and Gas Chemistry (CTAG) model to simulate the spatial variations of black carbon (BC) concentrations near highway I-87 and an urban school in the South Bronx, New York. The results of CTAG simulations are evaluated against and agree adequately with the measurements of wind speed, wind directions, and BC concentrations. Our analysis suggests that the BC concentration at the measurement point of the urban school could decrease by 43-54% if roadside buildings were absent. Furthermore, we characterize two generalized conditions in a highway-building environment, i.e., highway-building canyon and highway viaduct-building. The former refers to the canyon between solid highway embankment and roadside buildings, where the spatial profiles of BC depend on the equivalent canyon aspect ratio and flow recirculation. The latter refers to the area between a highway viaduct (i.e., elevated highway with open space underneath) and roadside buildings, where strong flow recirculation is absent and the spatial profiles of BC are determined by the relative heights of the highway and buildings. The two configurations may occur at different locations or in the same location with different wind directions when highway geometry is complex. Our study demonstrates the importance of incorporating highway-building interaction into the assessment of human exposure to near-road air pollution. It also calls for active roles of building and highway designs in mitigating near-road exposure of urban population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheming Tong
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Yan Wang
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Molini Patel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Patrick Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Steven Chrillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA
| | - K. Max Zhang
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Restrepo CE, Simonoff JS, Thurston GD, Zimmerman R. Asthma Hospital Admissions and Ambient Air Pollutant Concentrations in New York City. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.4236/jep.2012.329129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Yan B, Kennedy D, Miller RL, Cowin JP, Jung KH, Perzanowski M, Balletta M, Perera FP, Kinney PL, Chillrud SN. Validating a nondestructive optical method for apportioning colored particulate matter into black carbon and additional components. ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT (OXFORD, ENGLAND : 1994) 2011; 45:7478-7486. [PMID: 22125411 PMCID: PMC3223915 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2011.01.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Exposure of black carbon (BC) is associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes. A number of optical methods for estimating BC on Teflon filters have been adopted but most assume all light absorption is due to BC while other sources of colored particulate matter exist. Recently, a four-wavelength-optical reflectance measurement for distinguishing second hand cigarette smoke (SHS) from soot-BC was developed (Brook et al., 2010; Lawless et al., 2004). However, the method has not been validated for soot-BC nor SHS and little work has been done to look at the methodological issues of the optical reflectance measurements for samples that could have SHS, BC, and other colored particles. We refined this method using a lab-modified integrating sphere with absorption measured continuously from 350 nm to 1000 nm. Furthermore, we characterized the absorption spectrum of additional components of particulate matter (PM) on PM(2.5) filters including ammonium sulfate, hematite, goethite, and magnetite. Finally, we validate this method for BC by comparison to other standard methods. Use of synthesized data indicates that it is important to optimize the choice of wavelengths to minimize computational errors as additional components (more than 2) are added to the apportionment model of colored components. We found that substantial errors are introduced when using 4 wavelengths suggested by Lawless et al. to quantify four substances, while an optimized choice of wavelengths can reduce model-derived error from over 10% to less than 2%. For environmental samples, the method was sensitive for estimating airborne levels of BC and SHS, but not mass loadings of iron oxides and sulfate. Duplicate samples collected in NYC show high reproducibility (points consistent with a 1:1 line, R(2) = 0.95). BC data measured by this method were consistent with those measured by other optical methods, including Aethalometer and Smoke-stain Reflectometer (SSR); although the SSR looses sensitivity at filter loadings above 90 ng/mm(2). Furthermore, positive correlations (R(2) = 0.7) were observed between EC measured by NIOSH Method 5040 on quartz filters and BC measured in co-located Teflon filter samples collected from both heating and non-heating seasons. Overall, the validation data demonstrates the usefulness of this method to evaluate BC from archived Teflon filters while potentially providing additional component information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beizhan Yan
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York
- Corresponding author: Beizhan Yan, phone: 845-365-8448; fax: 845-365-8155;
| | - Daniel Kennedy
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York
| | - Rachel L. Miller
- Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, New York
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | - James P. Cowin
- The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington
| | - Kyung-hwa Jung
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | - Matt Perzanowski
- Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Marco Balletta
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York
| | - Federica P. Perera
- Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Patrick L. Kinney
- Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Steven N. Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York
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Spira-Cohen A, Chen LC, Kendall M, Lall R, Thurston GD. Personal exposures to traffic-related air pollution and acute respiratory health among Bronx schoolchildren with asthma. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2011; 119:559-65. [PMID: 21216722 PMCID: PMC3080941 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1002653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2010] [Accepted: 01/07/2011] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported relationships between adverse respiratory health outcomes and residential proximity to traffic pollution, but have not shown this at a personal exposure level. OBJECTIVE We compared, among inner-city children with asthma, the associations of adverse asthma outcome incidences with increased personal exposure to particulate matter mass ≤ 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM(2.5)) air pollution versus the diesel-related carbonaceous fraction of PM2.5. METHODS Daily 24-hr personal samples of PM(2.5), including the elemental carbon (EC) fraction, were collected for 40 fifth-grade children with asthma at four South Bronx schools (10 children per school) during approximately 1 month each. Spirometry and symptom scores were recorded several times daily during weekdays. RESULTS We found elevated same-day relative risks of wheeze [1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-2.04)], shortness of breath (1.41; 95% CI, 1.01-1.99), and total symptoms (1.30; 95% CI, 1.04-1.62) with an increase in personal EC, but not with personal PM(2.5) mass. We found increased risk of cough, wheeze, and total symptoms with increased 1-day lag and 2-day average personal and school-site EC. We found no significant associations with school-site PM(2.5) mass or sulfur. The EC effect estimate was robust to addition of gaseous pollutants. CONCLUSION Adverse health associations were strongest with personal measures of EC exposure, suggesting that the diesel "soot" fraction of PM(2.5) is most responsible for pollution-related asthma exacerbations among children living near roadways. Studies that rely on exposure to PM mass may underestimate PM health impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Spira-Cohen
- Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA
| | - Lung Chi Chen
- Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA
| | - Michaela Kendall
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter, The Knowledge Spa, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Ramona Lall
- Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA
| | - George D. Thurston
- Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, USA
- Address correspondence to G.D. Thurston, Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, 57 Old Forge Rd., Tuxedo, NY 10987-5007 USA. Telephone: (845) 731-3564. Fax: (845) 351-5472. E-mail:
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Patel MM, Chillrud SN, Correa JC, Hazi Y, Feinberg M, KC D, Prakash S, Ross JM, Levy D, Kinney PL. Traffic-related particulate matter and acute respiratory symptoms among New York City area adolescents. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2010; 118:1338-43. [PMID: 20452882 PMCID: PMC2944099 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.0901499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2009] [Accepted: 05/07/2010] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to traffic-related particulate matter (PM) has been associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes in children. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) are a local driver of urban fine PM [aerodynamic diameter < or = 2.5 microm (PM(2.5))]; however, evidence linking ambient DEP exposure to acute respiratory symptoms is relatively sparse, and susceptibilities of urban and asthmatic children are inadequately characterized. OBJECTIVES We examined associations of daily ambient black carbon (BC) concentrations, a DEP indicator, with daily respiratory symptoms among asthmatic and nonasthmatic adolescents in New York City (NYC) and a nearby suburban community. METHODS BC and PM(2.5) were monitored continuously outside three NYC high schools and one suburban high school for 4-6 weeks, and daily symptom data were obtained from 249 subjects (57 asthmatics, 192 nonasthmatics) using diaries. Associations between pollutants and symptoms were characterized using multilevel generalized linear mixed models, and modification by urban residence and asthma status were examined. RESULTS Increases in BC were associated with increased wheeze, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Multiple lags of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) exposure were associated with symptoms. For several symptoms, associations with BC and NO(2) were significantly larger in magnitude among urban subjects and asthmatics compared with suburban subjects and nonasthmatics, respectively. PM(2.5) was not consistently associated with increases in symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Acute exposures to traffic-related pollutants such as DEPs and/or NO(2) may contribute to increased respiratory morbidity among adolescents, and urban residents and asthmatics may be at increased risk. The findings provide support for developing additional strategies to reduce diesel emissions further, especially in populations susceptible because of environment or underlying respiratory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molini M. Patel
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Steven N. Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, New York, USA
| | - Juan C. Correa
- Division de Salud Communitaria, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Yair Hazi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Deepti KC
- West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc., New York, New York, USA
| | - Swati Prakash
- West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc., New York, New York, USA
| | - James M. Ross
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, Palisades, New York, USA
| | - Diane Levy
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Patrick L. Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Address correspondence to P.L. Kinney, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave., B-1, New York, NY 10032 USA. Telephone: (212) 305-3663. Fax: (212) 305-4012. E-mail:
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