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Gerges F, Llaguno-Munitxa M, Zondlo MA, Boufadel MC, Bou-Zeid E. Weather and the City: Machine Learning for Predicting and Attributing Fine Scale Air Quality to Meteorological and Urban Determinants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6313-6325. [PMID: 38529628 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Urban air quality persists as a global concern, with critical health implications. This study employs a combination of machine learning (gradient boosting regression, GBR) and spatial analysis to better understand the key drivers behind air pollution and its prediction and mitigation strategies. Focusing on New York City as a representative urban area, we investigate the interplay between urban characteristics and weather factors, showing that urban features, including traffic-related parameters and urban morphology, emerge as crucial predictors for pollutants closely associated with vehicular emissions, such as elemental carbon (EC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Conversely, pollutants with secondary formation pathways (e.g., PM2.5) or stemming from nontraffic sources (e.g., sulfur dioxide, SO2) are predominantly influenced by meteorological conditions, particularly wind speed and maximum daily temperature. Urban characteristics are shown to act over spatial scales of 500 × 500 m2, which is thus the footprint needed to effectively capture the impact of urban form, fabric, and function. Our spatial predictive model, needing only meteorological and urban inputs, achieves promising results with mean absolute errors ranging from 8 to 32% when using full-year data. Our approach also yields good performance when applied to the temporal mapping of spatial pollutant variability. Our findings highlight the interacting roles of urban characteristics and weather conditions and can inform urban planning, design, and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firas Gerges
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Maider Llaguno-Munitxa
- Louvain Research Institute of Landscape, Architecture, Built Environment, UCLouvain, Place du Levant 1, Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium
| | - Mark A Zondlo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Michel C Boufadel
- Center for Natural Resources, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102, United States
| | - Elie Bou-Zeid
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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2
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Humphrey JL, Kinnee EJ, Robinson LF, Clougherty JE. Disentangling impacts of multiple pollutants on acute cardiovascular events in New York city: A case-crossover analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 242:117758. [PMID: 38029813 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ambient air pollution contributes to an estimated 6.67 million deaths annually, and has been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death. Short-term increases in air pollution have been associated with increased risk of CVD event, though relatively few studies have directly compared effects of multiple pollutants using fine-scale spatio-temporal data, thoroughly adjusting for co-pollutants and temperature, in an exhaustive citywide hospitals dataset, towards identifying key pollution sources within the urban environment to most reduce, and reduce disparities in, the leading cause of death worldwide. OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine multiple pollutants against multiple CVD diagnoses, across lag days, in models adjusted for co-pollutants and meteorology, and inherently adjusted by design for non-time-varying individual and aggregate-level covariates, using fine-scale space-time exposure estimates, in an exhaustive dataset of emergency department visits and hospitalizations across an entire city, thereby capturing the full population-at-risk. METHODS We used conditional logistic regression in a case-crossover design - inherently controlling for all confounders not varying within case month - to examine associations between spatio-temporal nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3) in New York City, 2005-2011, on individual risk of acute CVD event (n = 837,523), by sub-diagnosis [ischemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), stroke, ischemic stroke, acute myocardial infarction]. RESULTS We found significant same-day associations between NO2 and risk of overall CVD, IHD, and HF - and between PM2.5 and overall CVD or HF event risk - robust to all adjustments and multiple comparisons. Results were comparable by sex and race - though median age at CVD was 10 years younger for Black New Yorkers than White New Yorkers. Associations for NO2 were comparable for adults younger or older than 69 years, though PM2.5 associations were stronger among older adults. DISCUSSION Our results indicate immediate, robust effects of combustion-related pollution on CVD risk, by sub-diagnosis. Though acute impacts differed minimally by age, sex, or race, the much younger age-at-event for Black New Yorkers calls attention to cumulative social susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L Humphrey
- Center Public Health Methods; RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Ellen J Kinnee
- University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Lucy F Robinson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jane E Clougherty
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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3
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Feathers A, Lovasi GS, Grigoryan Z, Beem K, Datta SK, Faleck DM, Socci T, Maggi R, Swaminath A. Crohn's Disease Mortality and Ambient Air Pollution in New York City. Inflamm Bowel Dis 2023:izad243. [PMID: 37934758 DOI: 10.1093/ibd/izad243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The worldwide increase in Crohn's disease (CD) has accelerated alongside rising urbanization and accompanying decline in air quality. Air pollution affects epithelial cell function, modulates immune responses, and changes the gut microbiome composition. In epidemiologic studies, ambient air pollution has a demonstrated relationship with incident CD and hospitalizations. However, no data exist on the association of CD-related death and air pollution. METHODS We conducted an ecologic study comparing the number of CD-related deaths of individuals residing in given zip codes, with the level of air pollution from nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and fine particulate matter. Air pollution was measured by the New York Community Air Survey. We conducted Pearson correlations and a Poisson regression with robust standard errors. Each pollution component was modeled separately. RESULTS There was a higher risk of CD-related death in zip codes with higher levels of SO2 (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.27). Zip codes with higher percentage of Black or Latinx residents were associated with lower CD-related death rates in the SO2 model (IRR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35-0.98; and IRR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.05-0.30, respectively). There was no significant association of either population density or area-based income with the CD-related death rate. CONCLUSIONS In New York City from 1993 to 2010, CD-related death rates were higher among individuals from neighborhoods with higher levels of SO2 but were not associated with levels of nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate matter. These findings raise an important and timely public health issue regarding exposure of CD patients to environmental SO2, warranting further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gina S Lovasi
- Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Zoya Grigoryan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Samit K Datta
- Gastroenterology, Department at Skagit Regional Health in Mt. Vernon, WA
| | - David M Faleck
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas Socci
- Division of Gastroenterology, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Maggi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arun Swaminath
- Division of Gastroenterology, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY, USA
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Clougherty JE, Ocampo P. Perception Matters: Perceived vs. Objective Air Quality Measures and Asthma Diagnosis among Urban Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6648. [PMID: 37681788 PMCID: PMC10487870 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Urban air pollution is consistently linked to poorer respiratory health, particularly in communities of lower socioeconomic position (SEP), disproportionately located near highways and industrial areas and often with elevated exposures to chronic psychosocial stressors. Fewer studies, however, have considered air pollution itself as a psychosocial stressor and whether pollution may be impacting health through both direct physiologic and psychosocial pathways. We examined data on perceived air pollution exposures from a spatially representative survey of New York City adults through summer and winter 2012 (n = 1183) using residence-specific ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure estimates. We used logistic regression to compare associations for perceived and objective air quality on self-reported asthma and general health, adjusting for sociodemographics and mental health. In models including all exposure metrics, we found small but significant associations for perceived air quality (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04-1.22) but not for NO2 or PM2.5. Neither perceived nor objective pollution was significantly associated with self-reported general health. Results suggest that perceived air quality may be significantly associated with adult asthma, more so than objective air pollution and after adjusting for mental health-associations not observed for self-reported general health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane E. Clougherty
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Pilar Ocampo
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
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Liang L, Daniels J, Bailey C, Hu L, Phillips R, South J. Integrating low-cost sensor monitoring, satellite mapping, and geospatial artificial intelligence for intra-urban air pollution predictions. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 331:121832. [PMID: 37209897 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing need to apply geospatial artificial intelligence analysis to disparate environmental datasets to find solutions that benefit frontline communities. One such critically needed solution is the prediction of health-relevant ambient ground-level air pollution concentrations. However, many challenges exist surrounding the size and representativeness of limited ground reference stations for model development, reconciling multi-source data, and interpretability of deep learning models. This research addresses these challenges by leveraging a strategically deployed, extensive low-cost sensor (LCS) network that was rigorously calibrated through an optimized neural network. A set of raster predictors with varying data quality and spatial scales was retrieved and processed, including gap-filled satellite aerosol optical depth products and airborne LiDAR-derived 3D urban form. We developed a multi-scale, attention-enhanced convolutional neural network model to reconcile the LCS measurements and multi-source predictors for estimating daily PM2.5 concentration at 30-m resolution. This model employs an advanced approach by using the geostatistical kriging method to generate a baseline pollution pattern and a multi-scale residual method to identify both regional patterns and localized events for high-frequency feature retention. We further used permutation tests to quantify the feature importance, which has rarely been done in DL applications in environmental science. Finally, we demonstrated one application of the model by investigating the air pollution inequality issue across and within various urbanization levels at the block group scale. Overall, this research demonstrates the potential of geospatial AI analysis to provide actionable solutions for addressing critical environmental issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liang
- Department of Geography and the Environment, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA.
| | - Jacob Daniels
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA
| | - Colleen Bailey
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA
| | - Leiqiu Hu
- Atmospheric and Earth Science Department, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL, 35805, USA
| | - Ronney Phillips
- Department of Geography and the Environment, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA
| | - John South
- Department of Geography and the Environment, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, 76203, USA
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Sharma R, Humphrey JL, Frueh L, Kinnee EJ, Sheffield PE, Clougherty JE. Neighborhood violence and socioeconomic deprivation influence associations between acute air pollution and temperature on childhood asthma in New York city. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116235. [PMID: 37244495 PMCID: PMC10364588 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Ambient air pollution, temperature, and social stressor exposures are linked with asthma risk, with potential synergistic effects. We examined associations for acute pollution and temperature exposures, with modification by neighborhood violent crime and socioeconomic deprivation, on asthma morbidity among children aged 5-17 years year-round in New York City. Using conditional logistic regression in a time-stratified, case-crossover design, we quantified percent excess risk of asthma event per 10-unit increase in daily, residence-specific exposures to PM2.5, NO2, SO2, O3, and minimum daily temperature (Tmin). Data on 145,834 asthma cases presenting to NYC emergency departments from 2005 to 2011 were obtained from the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). Residence- and day-specific spatiotemporal exposures were assigned using the NYC Community Air Survey (NYCCAS) spatial data and daily EPA pollution and NOAA weather data. Point-level NYPD violent crime data for 2009 (study midpoint) was aggregated, and Socioeconomic Deprivation Index (SDI) scores assigned, by census tract. Separate models were fit for each pollutant or temperature exposure for lag days 0-6, controlling for co-exposures and humidity, and mutually-adjusted interactions (modification) by quintile of violent crime and SDI were assessed. We observed stronger main effects for PM2.5 and SO2 in the cold season on lag day 1 [4.90% (95% CI: 3.77-6.04) and 8.57% (5.99-11.21), respectively]; Tmin in the cold season on lag day 0 [2.26% (1.25-3.28)]; and NO2 and O3 in the warm season on lag days 1 [7.86% (6.66-9.07)] and 2 [4.75% (3.53-5.97)], respectively. Violence and SDI modified the main effects in a non-linear manner; contrary to hypotheses, we found stronger associations in lower-violence and -deprivation quintiles. At very high stressor exposures, although asthma exacerbations were highly prevalent, pollution effects were less apparent-suggesting potential saturation effects in socio-environmental synergism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachit Sharma
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Jamie L Humphrey
- Center for Health Analytics, Media & Policy, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Lisa Frueh
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ellen J Kinnee
- University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Perry E Sheffield
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jane E Clougherty
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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7
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Anyachebelu A, Cabral A, Abdin MI, Choudhury P, Daepp MIG. Characterizing the effects of structural fires on fine particulate matter with a dense sensing network. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12862. [PMID: 37553425 PMCID: PMC10409864 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38392-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Short-term increases in air pollution levels are linked to large adverse effects on health and productivity. However, existing regulatory monitoring systems lack the spatial or temporal resolution needed to capture localized events. This study uses a dense network of over 100 sensors, deployed across the city of Chicago, Illinois, to capture the spread of smoke from short-term structural fire events. Examining all large structural fires that occurred in the city over a year (N = 21), we characterize differences in PM[Formula: see text] concentrations downwind versus upwind of the fires. On average, we observed increases of up to 10.7 [Formula: see text]g/m[Formula: see text] (95% CI 5.7-15.7) for sensors within 2 km and up to 7.7 [Formula: see text]g/m[Formula: see text] (95% CI 3.4-12.0) for sensors 2-5 km downwind of fires. Statistically significant elevated concentrations were evident as far as 5 km downwind of the location of the fire and persisted over approximately 2 h on average. This work shows how low-cost sensors can provide insight on local and short-term pollution events, enabling regulators to provide timely warnings to vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayina Anyachebelu
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College London, London, WC1E 7HB, UK.
| | - Alex Cabral
- John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02134, USA
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8
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Esie P, Daepp MIG, Roseway A, Counts S. Neighborhood Composition and Air Pollution in Chicago: Monitoring Inequities With a Dense, Low-Cost Sensing Network, 2021. Am J Public Health 2022. [PMID: 36383946 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.022.307068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy of a novel, real-time sensor network for routine monitoring of racial and economic disparities in fine particulate matter (PM2.5; particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm in diameter) exposures at the neighborhood level. Methods. We deployed a dense network of low-cost PM2.5 sensors in Chicago, Illinois, to evaluate associations between neighborhood-level composition variables (percentage of Black residents, percentage of Hispanic/Latinx residents, and percentage of households below poverty) and interpolated PM2.5. Relationships were assessed in spatial lag models after adjustment for all composition variables. Models were fit with data both from the overall period and during high-pollution episodes associated with social events (July 4, 2021) and wildfires (July 23, 2021). Results. The spatial lag models showed that racial/ethnic composition variables were associated with higher PM2.5 levels. Levels were notably higher in neighborhoods with larger compositions of Hispanic/Latinx residents across the entire study period and notably higher in neighborhoods with larger Black populations during the July 4 episode. Conclusions. As a complement to sparse regulatory networks, dense, low-cost sensor networks can capture spatial variations during short-term air pollution episodes and enable monitoring of neighborhood-level inequities in air pollution exposures in real time. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(12):1765-1773. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307068).
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Affiliation(s)
- Precious Esie
- At the time of the study, the authors were with Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA
| | - Madeleine I G Daepp
- At the time of the study, the authors were with Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA
| | - Asta Roseway
- At the time of the study, the authors were with Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA
| | - Scott Counts
- At the time of the study, the authors were with Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA
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9
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Esie P, Daepp MIG, Roseway A, Counts S. Neighborhood Composition and Air Pollution in Chicago: Monitoring Inequities With a Dense, Low-Cost Sensing Network, 2021. Am J Public Health 2022; 112:1765-1773. [PMID: 36383946 PMCID: PMC9670210 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2022.307068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy of a novel, real-time sensor network for routine monitoring of racial and economic disparities in fine particulate matter (PM2.5; particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm in diameter) exposures at the neighborhood level. Methods. We deployed a dense network of low-cost PM2.5 sensors in Chicago, Illinois, to evaluate associations between neighborhood-level composition variables (percentage of Black residents, percentage of Hispanic/Latinx residents, and percentage of households below poverty) and interpolated PM2.5. Relationships were assessed in spatial lag models after adjustment for all composition variables. Models were fit with data both from the overall period and during high-pollution episodes associated with social events (July 4, 2021) and wildfires (July 23, 2021). Results. The spatial lag models showed that racial/ethnic composition variables were associated with higher PM2.5 levels. Levels were notably higher in neighborhoods with larger compositions of Hispanic/Latinx residents across the entire study period and notably higher in neighborhoods with larger Black populations during the July 4 episode. Conclusions. As a complement to sparse regulatory networks, dense, low-cost sensor networks can capture spatial variations during short-term air pollution episodes and enable monitoring of neighborhood-level inequities in air pollution exposures in real time. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(12):1765-1773. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307068).
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Affiliation(s)
- Precious Esie
- At the time of the study, the authors were with Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA
| | - Madeleine I G Daepp
- At the time of the study, the authors were with Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA
| | - Asta Roseway
- At the time of the study, the authors were with Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA
| | - Scott Counts
- At the time of the study, the authors were with Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA
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10
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Martenies SE, Hoskovec L, Wilson A, Moore BF, Starling AP, Allshouse WB, Adgate JL, Dabelea D, Magzamen S. Using non-parametric Bayes shrinkage to assess relationships between multiple environmental and social stressors and neonatal size and body composition in the Healthy Start cohort. Environ Health 2022; 21:111. [PMID: 36401268 PMCID: PMC9675112 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00934-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both environmental and social factors have been linked to birth weight and adiposity at birth, but few studies consider the effects of exposure mixtures. Our objective was to identify which components of a mixture of neighborhood-level environmental and social exposures were driving associations with birth weight and adiposity at birth in the Healthy Start cohort. METHODS Exposures were assessed at the census tract level and included air pollution, built environment characteristics, and socioeconomic status. Prenatal exposures were assigned based on address at enrollment. Birth weight was measured at delivery and adiposity was measured using air displacement plethysmography within three days. We used non-parametric Bayes shrinkage (NPB) to identify exposures that were associated with our outcomes of interest. NPB models were compared to single-predictor linear regression. We also included generalized additive models (GAM) to assess nonlinear relationships. All regression models were adjusted for individual-level covariates, including maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, and smoking. RESULTS Results from NPB models showed most exposures were negatively associated with birth weight, though credible intervals were wide and generally contained zero. However, the NPB model identified an interaction between ozone and temperature on birth weight, and the GAM suggested potential non-linear relationships. For associations between ozone or temperature with birth weight, we observed effect modification by maternal race/ethnicity, where effects were stronger for mothers who identified as a race or ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White. No associations with adiposity at birth were observed. CONCLUSIONS NPB identified prenatal exposures to ozone and temperature as predictors of birth weight, and mothers who identify as a race or ethnicity other than non-Hispanic White might be disproportionately impacted. However, NPB models may have limited applicability when non-linear effects are present. Future work should consider a two-stage approach where NPB is used to reduce dimensionality and alternative approaches examine non-linear effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena E Martenies
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 906 S Goodwin Ave, M/C 052, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Lauren Hoskovec
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Ander Wilson
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Brianna F Moore
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Anne P Starling
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD Center), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - William B Allshouse
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - John L Adgate
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD Center), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Sheryl Magzamen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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11
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Molla A, Ren Y, Zuo S, Qiu Y, Li L, Zhang Q, Ju J, Zhu J, Zhou Y. Evaluating sample sizes and design for monitoring and characterizing the spatial variations of potentially toxic elements in the soil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157489. [PMID: 35882327 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cost-effective, representative and spatial coverage sampling designs are required to monitor the effects of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the soil. This study aims to evaluate the minimum sample sizes and placement of soil sampling designs to monitor and characterize the spatial variation of the PTEs (Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni) in the soils. However, there is no standardized approach for evaluating the optimum soil sample size and monitoring location because of the spatial heterogeneity of PTEs in the soil. As a result, three broad techniques were applied. The first step was to use Global Moran's I and q-statistic values to describe the variability of soil PTEs and select appropriate evaluation methods. Second, using simple random sampling (SRS), ordinary kriging (OK), and Mean of Surface with Non-homogeneity (MSN), we estimated and evaluated soil PTEs in the current soil sampling schemes. Finally, MSN and spatial simulated annealing (SSA) optimization techniques were used to assess the required sample sizes and placements in the existing designs. Method performance was evaluated using a standard error (SE) and a relative standard error of the mean (RSE). Except for Zn and Cd, all PTEs tested showed heterogeneous distributions over the area. The MSN lowered the predicted SE by 79-86 % compared with SRS. The OK approach also outperformed the SRS method regarding mean estimated values of soil PTEs by 42-57 %. After SSA refined the initial design, the predicted SE by MSN of Cr and Zn was lowered by 13 % and 39 %, respectively. The MSN was effective with small sample sizes, reducing sample sizes and surveying costs by 39 % after SSA optimized the existing sample numbers. Thus, integrating various sampling strategies may be efficient for building optimal sample designs to monitor PTEs in the soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiot Molla
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Metabolism of Xiamen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos +251269, Ethiopia
| | - Yin Ren
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Metabolism of Xiamen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
| | - Shudi Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Metabolism of Xiamen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yue Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Metabolism of Xiamen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Liangbin Li
- Wuyishan National Park Scientific Research and Monitoring Center, Wuyishan 354300, China
| | - Qijiong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Metabolism of Xiamen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Jiaheng Ju
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Metabolism of Xiamen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Jianqin Zhu
- Wuyishan National Park Scientific Research and Monitoring Center, Wuyishan 354300, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Wuyishan National Park Scientific Research and Monitoring Center, Wuyishan 354300, China
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Hwa Jung K, Pitkowsky Z, Argenio K, Quinn JW, Bruzzese JM, Miller RL, Chillrud SN, Perzanowski M, Stingone JA, Lovinsky-Desir S. The effects of the historical practice of residential redlining in the United States on recent temporal trends of air pollution near New York City schools. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 169:107551. [PMID: 36183489 PMCID: PMC9616211 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the 1930's the United States (US) sponsored Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) created maps that determined risk for mortgage lending based on the racial and ethnic composition of neighborhoods leading to disinvestment in "redlined" or highest risk neighborhoods. This historical practice has perpetuated racial and economic segregation, and health disparities, that persist today. Interventions near schools where children spend large portions of the day, could impact large groups of children but schools are an often-overlooked environment for exposure. Despite a declining trend of ambient pollution in New York City (NYC) between 1998 and 2012, little is known about differences in air quality improvement near schools by historical redlining neighborhood status. Our objective was to examine if recent temporal trends of air pollution near NYC public schools differed in historically redlined neighborhoods. METHODS We examined annual average street-level concentrations of combustion-related air pollutants (black carbon (BC), particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitric oxide (NO)), within a 250-m radius around schools using NYC Community Air Survey land-use regression models (n = 1,462). Year of monitoring, historical redlining (binary), and summer ozone were included in multivariable linear regression using generalized estimating equation models. Average annual percent change (APC) in pollutant concentration was calculated. Models were further stratified by historical redlining and a multiplicative interaction term (year of monitoring × historical redlining) was used to assess effect modification. RESULTS Overall, there was a decreasing trend of BC (APC = -4.40%), PM2.5 (-3.92%), NO2 (-2.76%), and NO (-6.20%) during the 10-year period. A smaller reduction of BC, PM2.5 and NO was observed in redlined neighborhoods (n = 722), compared to others (n = 740): BC (APC: -4.11% vs -4.69%; Pinteraction < 0.01), PM2.5 (-3.82% vs -4.11%; Pinteraction < 0.01), and NO (-5.73% vs -6.67%; Pinteraction < 0.01). Temporal trends of NO2 did not differ by historical redlining (Pinteraction = 0.60). CONCLUSIONS Despite significant reductions in annual average pollution concentrations across NYC, schools in historically redlined neighborhoods, compared to others, experienced smaller decrease in pollution, highlighting a potential ongoing ramification of the discriminatory practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Hwa Jung
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 3959 Broadway CHC-745, New York, NY 10032, United States.
| | - Zachary Pitkowsky
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, United States.
| | - Kira Argenio
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 3959 Broadway CHC-745, New York, NY 10032, United States.
| | - James W Quinn
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 St., New York, NY 10032, United States.
| | - Jean-Marie Bruzzese
- Columbia University School of Nursing, 560 W. 168 St., New York, NY 10032, United States.
| | - Rachel L Miller
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, New York 10029, United States.
| | - Steven N Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Rt 9W, Palisades, NY 10964, United States.
| | - Matthew Perzanowski
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 St., New York, NY 10032, United States.
| | - Jeanette A Stingone
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 St., New York, NY 10032, United States.
| | - Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 3959 Broadway CHC-745, New York, NY 10032, United States.
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13
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Rundle AG, Bader MDM, Mooney SJ. Machine Learning Approaches for Measuring Neighborhood Environments in Epidemiologic Studies. CURR EPIDEMIOL REP 2022; 9:175-182. [PMID: 35789918 PMCID: PMC9244309 DOI: 10.1007/s40471-022-00296-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of review Innovations in information technology, initiatives by local governments to share administrative data, and growing inventories of data available from commercial data aggregators have immensely expanded the information available to describe neighborhood environments, supporting an approach to research we call Urban Health Informatics. This review evaluates the application of machine learning to this new wealth of data for studies of the effects of neighborhood environments on health. Recent findings Prominent machine learning applications in this field include automated image analysis of archived imagery such as Google Street View images, variable selection methods to identify neighborhood environment factors that predict health outcomes from large pools of exposure variables, and spatial interpolation methods to estimate neighborhood conditions across large geographic areas. Summary In each domain, we highlight successes and cautions in the application of machine learning, particularly highlighting legal issues in applying machine learning approaches to Google’s geo-spatial data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G. Rundle
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, NY USA
| | | | - Stephen J. Mooney
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
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14
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Molla A, Zuo S, Zhang W, Qiu Y, Ren Y, Han J. Optimal spatial sampling design for monitoring potentially toxic elements pollution on urban green space soil: A spatial simulated annealing and k-means integrated approach. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 802:149728. [PMID: 34454139 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sampling design in soil science is critical because the lack of reliable methods and collecting samples requires tremendous work and resources. The aims were to obtain an optimal sampling design for assessing potentially toxic elements pollution using pilot Pb soil samples from the urban green space area of Shanghai, China. Two general steps have been used. The first step is to determine the optimum sample size against improving the prediction accuracy and monitoring costs using the spatial simulated annealing (SSA) algorithm. Secondly, we evaluated their likely placement of new extra sampling points by integrated SSA with k-means (SSA+ k-means) and expert-based (SSA+ expert-based) sampling methods. The improvement of sampling design by the integrated sampling approaches was evaluated using mean kriging variance (MKV), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The findings indicated that adding and placing 350 new monitoring points upon the existing sampling design by SSA increased the prediction accuracy by 64.35%. The MKV for the optimized SSA+ k-means sample was lower than by 4.12 mg/kg, 9.46 mg/kg compared with locations optimized by SSA and SSA+ expert-based method, respectively. Optimizing new sampling locations by SSA+ k-means sampling method was reduced MAPE by 9.26% and RMSE by 7.13 mg/kg compared to optimizing by SSA alone. However, there was no improvement in placing the new sampling points in SSA+ expert-based sampling method; instead, it increased the error by 8.11%. This paper shows integrating optimization approaches to evaluate the existing sampling design and optimize a new optimal sampling design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiot Molla
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Metabolism of Xiamen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos +251269, Ethiopia
| | - Shudi Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Metabolism of Xiamen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Ecological Landscaping of Challenging Urban Sites, Shanghai Academy of Landscape Architecture Science and Planning, Shanghai 200232, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Landscaping on Challenging Urban Sites, Shanghai 200232, China
| | - Yue Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Metabolism of Xiamen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yin Ren
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Fujian Key Laboratory of Watershed Ecology, Key Laboratory of Urban Metabolism of Xiamen, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
| | - Jigang Han
- Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Ecological Landscaping of Challenging Urban Sites, Shanghai Academy of Landscape Architecture Science and Planning, Shanghai 200232, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Landscaping on Challenging Urban Sites, Shanghai 200232, China.
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15
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Bozack A, Pierre S, DeFelice N, Colicino E, Jack D, Chillrud SN, Rundle A, Astua A, Quinn JW, McGuinn L, Yang Q, Johnson K, Masci J, Lukban L, Maru D, Lee AG. Long-Term Air Pollution Exposure and COVID-19 Mortality: A Patient-Level Analysis from New York City. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2021; 205:651-662. [PMID: 34881681 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202104-0845oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE Risk factors for COVID-19 mortality may include environmental exposures, such as air pollution. OBJECTIVES Determine whether, amongst adults hospitalized with PCR-confirmed COVID-19, long-term air pollution exposure is associated with risk for mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission or intubation. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive patients admitted to seven New York City hospitals from March 8, 2020 to August 30, 2020. The primary outcome was mortality; secondary outcomes were ICU admission and intubation. We estimated the annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and black carbon (BC) concentrations at patients' residential addresses. We employed double-robust Poisson regression to analyze associations between annual average PM2.5, NO2 and BC exposure and COVID-19 outcomes, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, hospital, insurance and time from onset of the pandemic. RESULTS Of the 6,542 patients, 41% were female and aged median 65 years (IQR 53, 77). Over 50% self-identified as a person of color [N=1,687 (26%) Hispanic, N=1,659 (25%) Black]. Air pollution exposures were generally low. Overall, 31% (N=2,044) of the cohort died, 19% (N=1,237) were admitted to the ICU and 16% (1,051) were intubated. In multivariable models, higher long-term exposure to PM2.5 was associated with increased risk of mortality (RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.02, 1.21 per 1µg/m3 increase in PM2.5) and ICU admission (RR 1.13, 95% CI 1.00, 1.28 per 1µg/m3 increase in PM2.5). In multivariable models, neither NO2 nor BC exposure was associated with COVID-19 mortality, ICU admission or intubation. CONCLUSIONS Amongst patients hospitalized with COVID-19, higher long-term PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased risk of mortality and ICU admission. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Bozack
- University of California Berkeley, 1438, Berkeley, California, United States
| | - Stanley Pierre
- NYC Health and Hospitals Queens, New York, New York, United States
| | - Nicholas DeFelice
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5925, Environmental Medicine and Public Health, New York, New York, United States
| | - Elena Colicino
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5925, New York, New York, United States
| | - Darby Jack
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 33638, Environmental Health Sciences, New York, New York, United States
| | - Steven N Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 57699, Palisades, New York, United States
| | - Andrew Rundle
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 33638, New York, New York, United States
| | - Alfredo Astua
- Mount Sinai Health System, 5944, Internal Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - James W Quinn
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 33638, New York, New York, United States
| | - Laura McGuinn
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5925, Environmental Medicine and Public Health, New York, New York, United States
| | - Qiang Yang
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 57699, Palisades, New York, United States
| | - Keely Johnson
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5925, Department of Internal Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - Joseph Masci
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5925, Division of Infectious Disease, New York, New York, United States
| | - Laureen Lukban
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5925, Pediatrics, New York, New York, United States
| | - Duncan Maru
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5925, Pediatrics, New York, New York, United States
| | - Alison G Lee
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 5925, Division of Pulmonary, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, New York, New York, United States;
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Castillo MD, Kinney PL, Southerland V, Arno CA, Crawford K, van Donkelaar A, Hammer M, Martin RV, Anenberg SC. Estimating Intra-Urban Inequities in PM 2.5-Attributable Health Impacts: A Case Study for Washington, DC. GEOHEALTH 2021; 5:e2021GH000431. [PMID: 34765851 PMCID: PMC8574205 DOI: 10.1029/2021gh000431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution levels are uneven within cities, contributing to persistent health disparities between neighborhoods and population sub-groups. Highly spatially resolved information on pollution levels and disease rates is necessary to characterize inequities in air pollution exposure and related health risks. We leverage recent advances in deriving surface pollution levels from satellite remote sensing and granular data in disease rates for one city, Washington, DC, to assess intra-urban heterogeneity in fine particulate matter (PM2.5)- attributable mortality and morbidity. We estimate PM2.5-attributable cases of all-cause mortality, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and asthma emergency department (ED) visits using epidemiologically derived health impact functions. Data inputs include satellite-derived annual mean surface PM2.5 concentrations; age-resolved population estimates; and statistical neighborhood-, zip code- and ward-scale disease counts. We find that PM2.5 concentrations and associated health burdens have decreased in DC between 2000 and 2018, from approximately 240 to 120 cause-specific deaths and from 40 to 30 asthma ED visits per year (between 2014 and 2018). However, remaining PM2.5-attributable health risks are unevenly and inequitably distributed across the District. Higher PM2.5-attributable disease burdens were found in neighborhoods with larger proportions of people of color, lower household income, and lower educational attainment. Our study adds to the growing body of literature documenting the inequity in air pollution exposure levels and pollution health risks between population sub-groups, and highlights the need for both high-resolution disease rates and concentration estimates for understanding intra-urban disparities in air pollution-related health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D. Castillo
- George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public HealthWashingtonDCUSA
| | | | - Veronica Southerland
- George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public HealthWashingtonDCUSA
| | - C. Anneta Arno
- District of Columbia Department of HealthOffice of Health EquityWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Kelly Crawford
- District of Columbia Department of Energy & EnvironmentAir Quality DivisionWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Aaron van Donkelaar
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric ScienceDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNSCanada
- Center for Aerosol Science and EngineeringWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMOUSA
| | - Melanie Hammer
- Center for Aerosol Science and EngineeringWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMOUSA
| | - Randall V. Martin
- Department of Physics and Atmospheric ScienceDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNSCanada
- Center for Aerosol Science and EngineeringWashington University in St. LouisSt. LouisMOUSA
| | - Susan C. Anenberg
- George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public HealthWashingtonDCUSA
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17
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El-Khoury C, Alameddine I, Zalzal J, El-Fadel M, Hatzopoulou M. Assessing the intra-urban variability of nitrogen oxides and ozone across a highly heterogeneous urban area. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2021; 193:657. [PMID: 34533645 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09414-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
High-resolution air quality maps are critical towards assessing and understanding exposures to elevated air pollution in dense urban areas. However, these surfaces are rarely available in low- and middle-income countries that suffer from some of the highest air pollution levels worldwide. In this study, we make use of land use regressions (LURs) to generate annual and seasonal, high-resolution nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and ozone (O3) exposure surfaces for the Greater Beirut Area (GBA) in Lebanon. NO2, NOx and O3 concentrations were monitored using passive samplers that were deployed at 55 pre-defined monitoring locations. The average annual concentrations of NO2, NOx, and O3 across the GBA were 36.0, 89.7, and 26.9 ppb, respectively. Overall, the performance of the generated models was appropriate, with low biases, high model robustness, and acceptable R2 values that ranged between 0.66 and 0.73 for NO2, 0.56 and 0.60 for NOx, and 0.54 and 0.65 for O3. Traffic-related emissions as well as the operation of a fossil-fuel power plant were found to be the main contributors to the measured NO2 and NOx levels in the GBA, whereas they acted as sinks for O3 concentrations. No seasonally significant differences were found for the NO2 and NOx pollution surfaces; as their seasonal and annual models were largely similar (Pearson's r > 0.85 for both pollutants). On the other hand, seasonal O3 pollution surfaces were significantly different. The model results showed that around 99% of the population of the GBA were exposed to NO2 levels that exceeded the World Health Organization defined annual standard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine El-Khoury
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- The Issam Fares Institute, The Climate Change and Environment Program, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Ibrahim Alameddine
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Jad Zalzal
- Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mutasem El-Fadel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Marianne Hatzopoulou
- Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Locations of Adolescent Physical Activity in an Urban Environment and Their Associations with Air Pollution and Lung Function. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2021; 18:84-92. [PMID: 32813558 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201910-792oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Physical activity while being exposed to high concentrations of air pollution may lead to greater inhalation of pollutant particles and gases. Thus, owing to features of the built city environment, specific locations where physical activity take place may put individuals at increased risk for harmful inhaled exposures leading to decrements in lung function.Objectives: The objectives were to determine locations throughout an urban landscape where children engage in moderate to vigorous activity (MVA). We hypothesized that outdoor activity would be associated with increased exposure to air pollution and reduced lung function.Methods: Children aged 9-14 years living in New York City (NYC) (n = 151) wore global positioning system devices and wrist accelerometers for two 24-hour periods. Time-stamped global positioning system points and accelerometer data were aggregated and mapped using ArcGIS to determine locations where children engaged in MVA. Location-specific particulate matter <2.5 microns and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was determined based on land use regression models of street-level pollution. Temporal air pollution exposure was determined based on daily concentrations collected at one central site in NYC. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory flow, midexpiratory phase (FEF25-75) were collected following each 24-hour period. Data were analyzed using multivariable linear regression models to examine associations between MVA time and both lung function and air pollution in separate models. Additionally, a multiplicative interaction term (MVA time × season) was included to test whether the association between MVA time and lung function outcomes varied by warmer versus colder months.Results: On average, children spent less MVA time outdoors (38.2 ± 39.6 min/d) compared with indoors (71.9 ± 74.7 min/d, P < 0.01), regardless of season. The majority of outdoor MVA occurred along sidewalks and roadbeds (30.2 ± 33.3 min/d, 76.9% of outdoor) where annual average concentrations of NO2 were relatively high. Interquartile range (IQR) increase in outdoor MVA time (44 min) was associated with higher levels of annual average NO2 (P < 0.01) but not particulate matter <2.5 microns. In warmer months, for IQR increase in outdoor MVA time, children had 1.41% lower FEV1/FVC (95% confidence interval [95% CI], -2.46 to -0.36) and 4.40% lower percent predicted FEF25-75 (95% CI, -8.02 to -0.78). These results persisted even after adjustment for location-specific annual average concentrations of NO2. No association was observed between MVA time and lung function in colder months (P > 0.05), and a formal test for interaction (MVA time × season) was significant (P value for interaction = 0.01 and 0.03 for FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75, respectively).Conclusions: Children in NYC spent less time active outdoors compared with indoors. Outdoor activity was greatest near traffic sources and associated with higher annual average concentrations of NO2. In warmer months, outdoor activity was associated with lower lung function, but this association did not appear to be mediated by higher exposure to outdoor pollution during exercise.
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19
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The Optimization Strategy of the Existing Urban Green Space Soil Monitoring System in Shanghai, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094820. [PMID: 33946486 PMCID: PMC8124676 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
High concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) create global environmental stress due to the crucial threat of their impacts on the environment and human health. Therefore, determining the concentration levels of PTE and improving their prediction accuracy by sampling optimization strategy is necessary for making sustainable environmental decisions. The concentrations of five PTEs (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn) were compared with reference values for Shanghai and China. The prediction of PTE in soil was undertaken using a geostatistical and spatial simulated annealing algorithm. Compared to Shanghai’s background values, the five PTE mean concentrations are much higher, except for Cd and Cr. However, all measured values exceeded the reference values for China. Pb, Cu, and Zn levels were 1.45, 1.20, and 1.56 times the background value of Shanghai, respectively, and 1.57, 1.66, 1.91 times the background values in China, respectively. The optimization approach resulted in an increased prediction accuracy (22.4% higher) for non-sampled locations compared to the initial sampling design. The higher concentration of PTE compared to background values indicates a soil pollution issue in the study area. The optimization approach allows a soil pollution map to be generated without deleting or adding additional monitoring points. This approach is also crucial for filling the sampling strategy gap.
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20
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Martenies SE, Keller JP, WeMott S, Kuiper G, Ross Z, Allshouse WB, Adgate JL, Starling AP, Dabelea D, Magzamen S. A Spatiotemporal Prediction Model for Black Carbon in the Denver Metropolitan Area, 2009-2020. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:3112-3123. [PMID: 33596061 PMCID: PMC8313050 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Studies on health effects of air pollution from local sources require exposure assessments that capture spatial and temporal trends. To facilitate intraurban studies in Denver, Colorado, we developed a spatiotemporal prediction model for black carbon (BC). To inform our model, we collected more than 700 weekly BC samples using personal air samplers from 2018 to 2020. The model incorporated spatial and spatiotemporal predictors and smoothed time trends to generate point-level weekly predictions of BC concentrations for the years 2009-2020. Our results indicate that our model reliably predicted weekly BC concentrations across the region during the year in which we collected data. We achieved a 10-fold cross-validation R2 of 0.83 and a root-mean-square error of 0.15 μg/m3 for weekly BC concentrations predicted at our sampling locations. Predicted concentrations displayed expected temporal trends, with the highest concentrations predicted during winter months. Thus, our prediction model improves on typical land use regression models that generally only capture spatial gradients. However, our model is limited by a lack of long-term BC monitoring data for full validation of historical predictions. BC predictions from the weekly spatiotemporal model will be used in traffic-related air pollution exposure-disease associations more precisely than previous models for the region have allowed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena E Martenies
- Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801-3028, United States
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019, United States
| | - Joshua P Keller
- Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019, United States
| | - Sherry WeMott
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019, United States
| | - Grace Kuiper
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019, United States
| | - Zev Ross
- ZevRoss Spatial Analysis, Ithaca, New York 14850, United States
| | - William B Allshouse
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - John L Adgate
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Anne P Starling
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Dana Dabelea
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
- Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity and Diabetes (LEAD) Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Sheryl Magzamen
- Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1019, United States
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
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21
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Cao R, Li B, Wang Z, Peng ZR, Tao S, Lou S. Using a distributed air sensor network to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of PM 2.5 concentrations. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 264:114549. [PMID: 32408078 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal variations in PM2.5 are a key factor affecting personal pollution exposure levels in urban areas. However, fixed-site monitoring stations are so sparsely distributed that they hardly capture the dynamic and fine-scale variations in PM2.5 in urban areas with complex geographical features and urban forms. Recently, a distributed air sensor network (DASN) was deployed in Dezhou city, China, to monitor fine-scale air pollution information and obtain deep insight into variations in PM2.5. Based on the data collected by the DASN, this paper investigated the spatiotemporal patterns of PM2.5 using the time-series clustering method. The results demonstrated that there were four stages of PM2.5 daily variations, i.e., accumulation, continuous pollution, dispersion, and cleaning. Generally, the stage of dispersion occurred more rapidly than the stage of accumulation, and PM2.5 accumulated easily in warm and humid weather with low wind speeds. However, the stage of dispersion was affected mainly by high wind speeds and precipitation. Additionally, the results suggested that four variation stages did not strictly correspond to seasonal divisions. The spatial distributions of PM2.5 revealed that the main pollution source was located in a southeastern industrial park, which exhibited a significant impact throughout the four stages. Considering both the temporal and spatial characteristics of PM2.5, this study successfully identified pollution hotspots and confirmed the effect of industrial parks. The study demonstrates that the DASN has high prospective applicability for assessing the fine-scale spatial distribution of PM2.5, and the time-series clustering method can also assist environmental researchers in further exploring the spatiotemporal characteristics of urban air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Cao
- Center for Intelligent Transportation Systems and Unmanned Aerial Systems Applications, State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Bai Li
- Center for Intelligent Transportation Systems and Unmanned Aerial Systems Applications, State Key Laboratory of Ocean Engineering, School of Naval Architecture, Ocean & Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Zhanyong Wang
- College of Transportation and Civil Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
| | - Zhong-Ren Peng
- International Center for Adaptation Planning and Design (iAdapt), School of Landscape Architecture and Planning, College of Design, Construction, and Planning, University of Florida, P.O. Box 115706, Gainesville, FL, 32611-5706, USA
| | - Shikang Tao
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of the Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Shengrong Lou
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of the Formation and Prevention of Urban Air Pollution Complex, Shanghai Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shanghai, 200233, China
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22
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Kinnee EJ, Tripathy S, Schinasi L, Shmool JLC, Sheffield PE, Holguin F, Clougherty JE. Geocoding Error, Spatial Uncertainty, and Implications for Exposure Assessment and Environmental Epidemiology. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17165845. [PMID: 32806682 PMCID: PMC7459468 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although environmental epidemiology studies often rely on geocoding procedures in the process of assigning spatial exposure estimates, geocoding methods are not commonly reported, nor are consequent errors in exposure assignment explored. Geocoding methods differ in accuracy, however, and, given the increasing refinement of available exposure models for air pollution and other exposures, geocoding error may account for an increasingly larger proportion of exposure misclassification. We used residential addresses from a reasonably large, dense dataset of asthma emergency department visits from all New York City hospitals (n = 21,183; 26.9 addresses/km2), and geocoded each using three methods (Address Point, Street Segment, Parcel Centroid). We compared missingness and spatial patterning therein, quantified distance and directional errors, and quantified impacts on pollution exposure estimates and assignment to Census areas for sociodemographic characterization. Parcel Centroids had the highest overall missingness rate (38.1%, Address Point = 9.6%, Street Segment = 6.1%), and spatial clustering in missingness was significant for all methods, though its spatial patterns differed. Street Segment geocodes had the largest mean distance error (µ = 29.2 (SD = 26.2) m; vs. µ = 15.9 (SD = 17.7) m for Parcel Centroids), and the strongest spatial patterns therein. We found substantial over- and under-estimation of pollution exposures, with greater error for higher pollutant concentrations, but minimal impact on Census area assignment. Finally, we developed surfaces of spatial patterns in errors in order to identify locations in the study area where exposures may be over-/under-estimated. Our observations provide insights towards refining geocoding methods for epidemiology, and suggest methods for quantifying and interpreting geocoding error with respect to exposure misclassification, towards understanding potential impacts on health effect estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen J. Kinnee
- University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-412-385-5105
| | - Sheila Tripathy
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.T.); (L.S.); (J.E.C.)
| | - Leah Schinasi
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.T.); (L.S.); (J.E.C.)
- Drexel University Urban Health Collaborative (UHC), Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jessie L. C. Shmool
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA;
| | - Perry E. Sheffield
- Environmental Medicine and Public Health and Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
| | - Fernando Holguin
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
| | - Jane E. Clougherty
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.T.); (L.S.); (J.E.C.)
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23
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Fry D, Kioumourtzoglou MA, Treat CA, Burke KR, Evans D, Tabb LP, Carrion D, Perera FP, Lovasi GS. Development and validation of a method to quantify benefits of clean-air taxi legislation. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2020; 30:629-640. [PMID: 31142812 PMCID: PMC7398736 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-019-0141-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution from motor vehicle traffic remains a significant threat to public health. Using taxi inspection and trip data, we assessed changes in New York City's taxi fleet following Clean Air Taxi legislation enacted in 2005-2006. Inspection and trip data between 2004 and 2015 were used to assess changes in New York's taxi fleet and to estimate and spatially apportion annual taxi-related exhaust emissions of nitric oxide (NO) and total particulate matter (PMT). These emissions changes were used to predict reductions in NO and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations estimates using data from the New York City Community Air Survey (NYCCAS) in 2009-2015. Efficiency trends among other for-hire vehicles and spatial variation in traffic intensity were also considered. The city fuel efficiency of the medallion taxi fleet increased from 15.7 MPG to 33.1 MPG, and corresponding NO and PMT exhaust emissions estimates declined by 82 and 49%, respectively. These emissions reductions were associated with changes in NYCCAS-modeled NO and PM2.5 concentrations (p < 0.001). New York's clean air taxi legislation was effective at increasing fuel efficiency of the medallion taxi fleet, and reductions in estimated taxi emissions were associated with decreases in NO and PM2.5 concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin Fry
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, USA.
| | | | - Christian A Treat
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - Kimberly R Burke
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - David Evans
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA
| | - Loni P Tabb
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Daniel Carrion
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - Frederica P Perera
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, USA
| | - Gina S Lovasi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, USA
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24
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Tayarani M, Rowangould G. Estimating exposure to fine particulate matter emissions from vehicle traffic: Exposure misclassification and daily activity patterns in a large, sprawling region. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:108999. [PMID: 31855700 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Vehicle traffic is responsible for a significant portion of toxic air pollution in urban areas that has been linked to a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Most vehicle air quality analyses used for transportation planning and health effect studies estimate exposure from the measured or modeled concentration of an air pollutant at a person's home. This study evaluates exposure to fine particulate matter from vehicle traffic and the magnitude and cause of exposure misclassification that result from not accounting for population mobility during the day in a large, sprawling region. We develop a dynamic exposure model by integrating activity-based travel demand, vehicle emission, and air dispersion models to evaluate the magnitude, components and spatial patterns of vehicle exposure misclassification in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area. Overall, we find that population exposure estimates increase by 51% when population mobility is accounted for. Errors are much larger in suburban and rural areas where exposure is underestimated while exposure may be overestimated near high volume roadways and in the urban core. Exposure while at work and traveling account for much of the error. We find much larger errors than prior studies, all of which have focused on more compact urban regions. Since many people spend a large part of their day away from their homes and vehicle emissions are known to create "hotspots" along roadways, home-based exposure is unlikely to be a robust estimator of a person's actual exposure. Accounting for population mobility in vehicle emission exposure studies may reveal more effective mitigation strategies, important differences in exposure between population groups with different travel patterns, and reduce exposure misclassification in health studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Tayarani
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Gregory Rowangould
- University of Vermont, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Votey Hall, 33 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT, 05405, USA.
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25
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Paulin LM, Gassett AJ, Alexis NE, Kirwa K, Kanner RE, Peters S, Krishnan JA, Paine R, Dransfield M, Woodruff PG, Cooper CB, Barr RG, Comellas AP, Pirozzi CS, Han M, Hoffman EA, Martinez FJ, Woo H, Peng RD, Fawzy A, Putcha N, Breysse PN, Kaufman JD, Hansel NN. Association of Long-term Ambient Ozone Exposure With Respiratory Morbidity in Smokers. JAMA Intern Med 2020; 180:106-115. [PMID: 31816012 PMCID: PMC6902160 DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.5498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Few studies have investigated the association of long-term ambient ozone exposures with respiratory morbidity among individuals with a heavy smoking history. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association of historical ozone exposure with risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), computed tomography (CT) scan measures of respiratory disease, patient-reported outcomes, disease severity, and exacerbations in smokers with or at risk for COPD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This multicenter cross-sectional study, conducted from November 1, 2010, to July 31, 2018, obtained data from the Air Pollution Study, an ancillary study of SPIROMICS (Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD Study). Data analyzed were from participants enrolled at 7 (New York City, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; Los Angeles, California; Ann Arbor, Michigan; San Francisco, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Winston-Salem, North Carolina) of the 12 SPIROMICS clinical sites. Included participants had historical ozone exposure data (n = 1874), were either current or former smokers (≥20 pack-years), were with or without COPD, and were aged 40 to 80 years at baseline. Healthy persons with a smoking history of 1 or more pack-years were excluded from the present analysis. EXPOSURES The 10-year mean historical ambient ozone concentration at participants' residences estimated by cohort-specific spatiotemporal modeling. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Spirometry-confirmed COPD, chronic bronchitis diagnosis, CT scan measures (emphysema, air trapping, and airway wall thickness), 6-minute walk test, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV1) % predicted, and self-report of exacerbations in the 12 months before SPIROMICS enrollment, adjusted for demographics, smoking, and job exposure. RESULTS A total of 1874 SPIROMICS participants were analyzed (mean [SD] age, 64.5 [8.8] years; 1479 [78.9%] white; and 1013 [54.1%] male). In adjusted analysis, a 5-ppb (parts per billion) increase in ozone concentration was associated with a greater percentage of emphysema (β = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.25-1.64; P = .007) and percentage of air trapping (β = 1.60; 95% CI, 0.16-3.04; P = .03); worse scores for the mMRC Dyspnea Scale (β = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.03-0.17; P = .008), CAT (β = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.05-1.26; P = .04), and SGRQ (β = 1.47; 95% CI, 0.01-2.93; P = .048); lower FEV1% predicted value (β = -2.50; 95% CI, -4.42 to -0.59; P = .01); and higher odds of any exacerbation (odds ratio [OR], 1.37; 95% CI, 1.12-1.66; P = .002) and severe exacerbation (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.07-1.76; P = .01). No association was found between historical ozone exposure and chronic bronchitis, COPD, airway wall thickness, or 6-minute walk test result. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study found that long-term historical ozone exposure was associated with reduced lung function, greater emphysema and air trapping on CT scan, worse patient-reported outcomes, and increased respiratory exacerbations for individuals with a history of heavy smoking. The association between ozone exposure and adverse respiratory outcomes suggests the need for continued reevaluation of ambient pollution standards that are designed to protect the most vulnerable members of the US population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Paulin
- Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire.,Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Amanda J Gassett
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle
| | - Neil E Alexis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
| | - Kipruto Kirwa
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle
| | - Richard E Kanner
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| | - Stephen Peters
- Department of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Jerry A Krishnan
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago
| | - Robert Paine
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| | | | | | | | - R Graham Barr
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.,Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Cheryl S Pirozzi
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
| | - MeiLan Han
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | | | | | - Han Woo
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Roger D Peng
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ashraf Fawzy
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Nirupama Putcha
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Patrick N Breysse
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.,National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Joel D Kaufman
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Nadia N Hansel
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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26
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Huang K, Bi J, Meng X, Geng G, Lyapustin A, Lane KJ, Gu D, Kinney PL, Liu Y. Estimating daily PM 2.5 concentrations in New York City at the neighborhood-scale: Implications for integrating non-regulatory measurements. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 697:134094. [PMID: 32380602 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Previous PM2.5 related epidemiological studies mainly relied on data from sparse regulatory monitors to assess exposure. The introduction of non-regulatory PM2.5 monitors presents both opportunities and challenges to researchers and air quality managers. In this study, we evaluated the advantages and limitations of integrating non-regulatory PM2.5 measurements into a satellite-based daily PM2.5 model at 100 m resolution in New York City in 2015. Two separate machine learning models were developed, one using only PM2.5 data from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the other with measurements from both EPA and the New York City Community Air Survey (NYCCAS). The EPA-only model obtained a cross-validation (CV) R2 of 0.85 while the EPA + NYCCAS model obtained a CV R2 of 0.73. With the help of the NYCCAS measurements, the EPA + NYCCAS model predicted distinctly different PM2.5 spatial patterns and more pollution hotspots compared with the EPA model, and its predictions were >15% higher than the EPA model along major roads and in densely populated areas. Our results indicated that satellite AOD and non-regulatory PM2.5 measurements can be fused together to capture neighborhood-scale PM2.5 levels and previous studies may have underestimated the disease burden due to PM2.5 in densely populated areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyong Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China; Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jianzhao Bi
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Xia Meng
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Guannan Geng
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | | | - Kevin J Lane
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dongfeng Gu
- Department of Epidemiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Patrick L Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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27
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Humphrey JL, Reid CE, Kinnee EJ, Kubzansky LD, Robinson LF, Clougherty JE. Putting Co-Exposures on Equal Footing: An Ecological Analysis of Same-Scale Measures of Air Pollution and Social Factors on Cardiovascular Disease in New York City. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16234621. [PMID: 31766340 PMCID: PMC6926874 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16234621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiologic evidence consistently links urban air pollution exposures to health, even after adjustment for potential spatial confounding by socioeconomic position (SEP), given concerns that air pollution sources may be clustered in and around lower-SEP communities. SEP, however, is often measured with less spatial and temporal resolution than are air pollution exposures (i.e., census-tract socio-demographics vs. fine-scale spatio-temporal air pollution models). Although many questions remain regarding the most appropriate, meaningful scales for the measurement and evaluation of each type of exposure, we aimed to compare associations for multiple air pollutants and social factors against cardiovascular disease (CVD) event rates, with each exposure measured at equal spatial and temporal resolution. We found that, in multivariable census-tract-level models including both types of exposures, most pollutant-CVD associations were non-significant, while most social factors retained significance. Similarly, the magnitude of association was higher for an IQR-range difference in the social factors than in pollutant concentrations. We found that when offered equal spatial and temporal resolution, CVD was more strongly associated with social factors than with air pollutant exposures in census-tract-level analyses in New York City.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L. Humphrey
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Colleen E. Reid
- Geography Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA;
| | - Ellen J. Kinnee
- University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA;
| | - Laura D. Kubzansky
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Lucy F. Robinson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Jane E. Clougherty
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-267-359-6072
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28
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Gillooly SE, Michanowicz DR, Jackson M, Cambal LK, Shmool JLC, Tunno BJ, Tripathy S, Bain DJ, Clougherty JE. Evaluating deciduous tree leaves as biomonitors for ambient particulate matter pollution in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2019; 191:711. [PMID: 31676989 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7857-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution varies spatially and temporally in concentration and composition and has been shown to cause or exacerbate adverse effects on human and ecological health. Biomonitoring using airborne tree leaf deposition as a proxy for particulate matter (PM) pollution has been explored using a variety of study designs, tree species, sampling strategies, and analytical methods. In the USA, relatively few have applied these methods using co-located fine particulate measurements for comparison and relying on one tree species with extensive spatial coverage, to capture spatial variation in ambient air pollution across an urban area. Here, we evaluate the utility of this approach, using a spatial saturation design and pairing tree leaf samples with filter-based PM2.5 across Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with the goal of distinguishing mobile and stationary sources using PM2.5 composition. Co-located filter and leaf-based measurements revealed some significant associations with traffic and roadway proximity indicators. We compared filter and leaf samples with differing protection from the elements (e.g., meteorology) and PM collection time, which may account for some variance in PM source and/or particle size capture between samples. To our knowledge, this study is among the first to use deciduous tree leaves from a single tree species as biomonitors for urban PM2.5 pollution in the northeastern USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Gillooly
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 401 Park Drive, Room 429-A, Landmark Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Drew R Michanowicz
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mike Jackson
- University of Minnesota Institute for Rock Magnetism, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Leah K Cambal
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jessie L C Shmool
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Brett J Tunno
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sheila Tripathy
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Daniel J Bain
- Department of Geology and Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jane E Clougherty
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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29
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Jin L, Berman JD, Warren JL, Levy JI, Thurston G, Zhang Y, Xu X, Wang S, Zhang Y, Bell ML. A land use regression model of nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter in a complex urban core in Lanzhou, China. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 177:108597. [PMID: 31401375 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Land use regression (LUR) models have been widely used to estimate air pollution exposures at high spatial resolution. However, few LUR models were developed for rapidly developing urban cores, which have substantially higher densities of population and built-up areas than the surrounding areas within a city's administrative boundary. Further, few studies incorporated vertical variations of air pollution in exposure assessment, which might be important to estimate exposures for people living in high-rise buildings. OBJECTIVE A LUR model was developed for the urban core of Lanzhou, China, along with a model of vertical concentration gradients in high-rise buildings. METHODS In each of four seasons in 2016-2017, NO2 was measured using Ogawa badges for 2 weeks at 75 ground-level sites. PM2.5 was measured using DataRAM for shorter time intervals at a subset (N = 38) of the 75 sites. Vertical profile measurements were conducted on 9 stories at 2 high-rise buildings (N = 18), with one building facing traffic and another facing away from traffic. The average seasonal concentrations of NO2 and PM2.5 at ground level were regressed against spatial predictors, including elevation, population, road network, land cover, and land use. The vertical variations were investigated and linked to ground-level predictions with exponential models. RESULTS We developed robust LUR models at the ground level for estimated annual averages of NO2 (R2: 0.71, adjusted R2: 0.67, and Leave-One-Out Cross Validation (LOOCV) R2: 0.64) and PM2.5 (R2: 0.77, adjusted R2: of 0.73, and LOOCV R2: 0.67) in the urban core of Lanzhou, China. The LUR models for the estimated seasonal averages of NO2 showed similar patterns. Vertical variation of NO2 and PM2.5 differed by windows orientation with respect to traffic, by season or by time of a day. Vertical variation functions incorporated the ground-level LUR predictions, in a form that could allow for exposure assessment in future epidemiological investigations. CONCLUSIONS Ground-level NO2 and PM2.5 showed substantial spatial variations, explained by traffic and land use patterns. Further, vertical variation of air pollution levels is significant under certain conditions, suggesting that exposure misclassification could occur with traditional LUR that ignores vertical variation. More studies are needed to fully characterize three-dimensional concentration patterns to accurately estimate air pollution exposures for residents in high-rise buildings, but our LUR models reinforce that concentration heterogeneity is not captured by the limited government monitors in the Lanzhou urban area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Jin
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 195 Prospect St, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
| | - Jesse D Berman
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Joshua L Warren
- School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Jonathan I Levy
- School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St Talbot Building, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - George Thurston
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University, 57 Old Forge Rd, Tuxedo Park, NY, 10987, USA
| | - Yawei Zhang
- School of Public Health, Yale University, 60 College St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA
| | - Xibao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Watershed Geographic Sciences, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 73 East Beijing Road, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Yaqun Zhang
- Gansu Academy of Environmental Sciences, 225 Yanerwan Rd, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, Gansu, 730000, China
| | - Michelle L Bell
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, 195 Prospect St, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
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Choe SA, Eliot MN, Savitz DA, Wellenius GA. Ambient air pollution during pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes in New York City. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 175:414-420. [PMID: 31154231 PMCID: PMC6590689 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests a potential association between ambient air pollution and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but results have been inconsistent. Accordingly, we assessed the associations between ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels with risk of GDM. METHODS Using linked data from birth certificates, hospital discharge diagnoses, and air pollution estimates informed by the New York City Community Air Survey, we fit conditional logistic regression models to evaluate the association between residential levels of PM2.5 and NO2 with risk of GDM among 256,372 singleton live births of non-smoking mothers in New York City born 2008-2010, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and stratified on zip code of maternal address. RESULTS GDM was identified in 17,065 women, yielding a risk of GDM in the study sample of 67 per 1000 deliveries. In single pollutant models, 1st and 2nd trimester PM2.5 was associated with a lower and higher risk of GDM, respectively. In models mutually adjusting for PM2.5 levels in both trimesters, GDM was associated with PM2.5 levels in the 2nd trimester (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.10 per interquartile range increase in PM2.5), but not the 1st trimester (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.02). Conversely, GDM was associated with NO2 during the 1st trimester (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.09), but not the 2nd trimester (OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.06). The positive associations between pollutants and GDM were robust to different model specifications. PM2.5 in the 2nd trimester was more strongly associated with GDM among mothers who were aged <35 years and not Medicaid recipients. NO2 in the 1st trimester was more strongly associated with GDM among overweight and parous women. CONCLUSIONS In this large cohort of singleton births in New York City, NO2 in the 1st trimester and PM2.5 in the 2nd trimester were associated with higher odds of GDM, while 1st trimester PM2.5 was weakly and inconsistently associated with lower odds of GDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Ah Choe
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHA University School of Medicine, Gyeonggi, South Korea
| | - Melissa N Eliot
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - David A Savitz
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Gregory A Wellenius
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
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Longley I, Tunno B, Somervell E, Edwards S, Olivares G, Gray S, Coulson G, Cambal L, Roper C, Chubb L, Clougherty JE. Assessment of Spatial Variability across Multiple Pollutants in Auckland, New Zealand. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16091567. [PMID: 31060269 PMCID: PMC6539388 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Spatial saturation studies using source-specific chemical tracers are commonly used to examine intra-urban variation in exposures and source impacts, for epidemiology and policy purposes. Most such studies, however, has been performed in North America and Europe, with substantial regional combustion-source contributions. In contrast, Auckland, New Zealand, a large western city, is relatively isolated in the south Pacific, with minimal impact from long-range combustion sources. However, fluctuating wind patterns, complex terrain, and an adjacent major port complicate pollution patterns within the central business district (CBD). We monitored multiple pollutants (fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), elemental composition, organic diesel tracers (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hopanes, steranes), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)) at 12 sites across the ~5 km2 CBD during autumn 2014, to capture spatial variation in traffic, diesel, and proximity to the port. PM2.5 concentrations varied 2.5-fold and NO2 concentrations 2.9-fold across the CBD, though constituents varied more dramatically. The highest-concentration constituent was sodium (Na), a distinct non-combustion-related tracer for sea salt (µ = 197.8 ng/m3 (SD = 163.1 ng/m3)). BC, often used as a diesel-emissions tracer, varied more than five-fold across sites. Vanadium (V), higher near the ports, varied more than 40-fold across sites. Concentrations of most combustion-related constituents were higher near heavy traffic, truck, or bus activity, and near the port. Wind speed modified absolute concentrations, and wind direction modified spatial patterns in concentrations (i.e., ports impacts were more notable with winds from the northeast).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Longley
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bag 99940, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand.
| | - Brett Tunno
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
| | - Elizabeth Somervell
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bag 99940, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand.
| | - Sam Edwards
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bag 99940, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand.
| | - Gustavo Olivares
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bag 99940, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand.
| | - Sally Gray
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bag 99940, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand.
| | - Guy Coulson
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Private Bag 99940, Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand.
| | - Leah Cambal
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
| | - Courtney Roper
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
| | - Lauren Chubb
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
| | - Jane E Clougherty
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
- Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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Tunno B, Longley I, Somervell E, Edwards S, Olivares G, Gray S, Cambal L, Chubb L, Roper C, Coulson G, Clougherty JE. Separating spatial patterns in pollution attributable to woodsmoke and other sources, during daytime and nighttime hours, in Christchurch, New Zealand. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 171:228-238. [PMID: 30685575 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
During winter nights, woodsmoke may be a predominant source of air pollution, even in cities with many sources. Since two major earthquakes resulted in major structural damage in 2010 and 2011, reliance on woodburning for home heating has increased substantially in Christchurch, New Zealand (NZ), along with intensive construction/demolition activities. Further, because NZ is a relatively isolated western country, it offers the unique opportunity to disentangle multiple source impacts in the absence of long-range transport pollution. Finally, although many spatial saturation studies have been published, and levoglucosan is an established tracer for woodburning emissions, few studies have monitored multiple sites simultaneously for this or other organic constituents, with the ability to distinguish spatial patterns for daytime vs. nighttime hours, in complex urban settings. We captured seven-day integrated samples of PM2.5, and elemental and organic tracers of woodsmoke and diesel emissions, during "daytime" (7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.) and "nighttime" (7 p.m. - 5:30 a.m.) hours, at nine sites across commercial and residential areas, over three weeks in early winter (May 2014). At a subset of six sites, we also sampled during hypothesized "peak" woodburning hours (7 p.m. - 12 a.m.), to differentiate emissions during "active" residential woodburning, vs. overnight smouldering. Concentrations of PM2.5 were, on average, were twice as high during nighttime than daytime [µ = 18.4 (SD = 6.13) vs. 9.21 (SD = 6.13) µg/m3], with much greater differences in woodsmoke tracers (i.e., levoglucosan [µ = 1.83 (SD = 0.82) vs. 0.34 (SD = 0.17) µg/m3], potassium) and indicators of treated- or painted-wood burning (e.g., arsenic, lead). Only nitrogen dioxide, calcium, iron, and manganese (tracers of vehicular emissions) were higher during daytime. Levoglucosan and most PAHs were higher during "active" woodburning, vs. overnight smouldering. Our time-stratified spatial saturation detected strong spatial variability throughout the study area, which distinctly differed during daytime vs. night time hours, and quantified the substantial contribution of woodsmoke to overnight spatial variation in PM2.5 across Christchurch. Daytime vs. nighttime differences were greater than those observed across sites. Traffic, especially diesel, contributed substantially to daytime NO2 and spatial gradients in non-woodsmoke constituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Tunno
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Ian Longley
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Elizabeth Somervell
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sam Edwards
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Gustavo Olivares
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Sally Gray
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Leah Cambal
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Lauren Chubb
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Courtney Roper
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Guy Coulson
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jane E Clougherty
- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States; Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Caplin A, Ghandehari M, Lim C, Glimcher P, Thurston G. Advancing environmental exposure assessment science to benefit society. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1236. [PMID: 30874557 PMCID: PMC6420629 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09155-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Awareness of the human health impacts of exposure to air pollution is growing rapidly. For example, it has become evident that the adverse health effects of air pollution are more pronounced in disadvantaged populations. Policymakers in many jurisdictions have responded to this evidence by enacting initiatives that lead to lower concentrations of air pollutants, such as urban traffic restrictions. In this review, we focus on the interplay between advances in environmental exposure assessment and developments in policy. We highlight recent progress in the granular measurement of air pollutants and individual-level exposures, and how this has enabled focused local policy actions. Finally, we detail an illustrative study designed to link individual-level health-relevant exposures with economic, behavioral, biological, familial, and environmental variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Caplin
- School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Economics, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Masoud Ghandehari
- Tandon School of Engineering, Department of Urban Engineering, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Chris Lim
- NYU School of Medicine, Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul Glimcher
- School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Economics, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - George Thurston
- NYU School of Medicine, Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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Berman JD, Jin L, Bell ML, Curriero FC. Developing a geostatistical simulation method to inform the quantity and placement of new monitors for a follow-up air sampling campaign. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2019; 29:248-257. [PMID: 30237550 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-018-0073-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Sampling campaign design is a crucial aspect of air pollution exposure studies. Selection of both monitor numbers and locations is important for maximizing measured information, while minimizing bias and costs. We developed a two-stage geostatistical-based method using pilot NO2 samples from Lanzhou, China with the goal of improving sample design decision-making, including monitor numbers and spatial pattern. In the first step, we evaluate how additional monitors change prediction precision through minimized kriging variance. This was assessed in a Monte Carlo fashion by adding up to 50 new monitors to our existing sites with assigned concentrations based on conditionally simulated NO2 surfaces. After identifying a number of additional sample sites, a second step evaluates their potential placement using a similar Monte Carlo scheme. Evaluations are based on prediction precision and accuracy. Costs are also considered in the analysis. It was determined that adding 28-locations to the existing Lanzhou NO2 sampling campaign captured 73.5% of the total kriged variance improvement and resulted in predictions that were on average within 10.9 μg/m3 of measured values, while using 56% of the potential budget. Additional monitor sites improved kriging variance in a nonlinear fashion. This method development allows for informed sampling design by quantifying prediction improvement (accuracy and precision) against the costs of monitor deployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- J D Berman
- Environmental Health Sciences Division, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - L Jin
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - M L Bell
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - F C Curriero
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Exposures to Air Pollution and Risk of Acute-onset Placental Abruption: A Case-crossover Study. Epidemiology 2019; 29:631-638. [PMID: 29863531 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000000859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite abruption's elusive etiology, knowledge of triggers that precede it by just a few days prior to delivery may help to understand the underpinnings of this acute obstetrical complication. We examine whether air pollution exposures immediately preceding delivery are associated with acute-onset abruptions. METHODS We applied a bidirectional, time-stratified, case-crossover design to births with an abruption diagnosis in New York City, 2008-2014. We measured ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). We fit distributed lag nonlinear models based on conditional logistic regression to evaluate individual exposure and cumulative exposures over lags 0-7 days before abruption, adjusted for temperature and relative humidity (similar lags to the main exposures). RESULTS We identified 1,190 abruption cases. We observed increased odds of abruption for exposure to PM2.5 (per 10 μg/m) on lag day 3 (odds ratio [OR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.98, 1.43), lag day 4 (OR 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.46), and lag day 5 (OR 1.17, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.33). Similarly, the odds of abruption increased with exposure to NO2 (per 5 ppb) on lag day 3 (OR 1.16, 95% CI = 0.98, 1.37), lag day 4 (OR 1.19, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.39), and lag day 5 (OR 1.16, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.27). Exposures to PM2.5 and NO2 at other lags, or cumulative exposures, were not associated with abruption of acute onset. CONCLUSIONS This case-crossover study showed evidence of an association between short-term ambient air pollution exposures and increased abruption risk of acute onset.
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Maroko AR, Pavilonis BT. Occupational Groups and Environmental Justice: A Case Study in the Bronx, New York. Prev Chronic Dis 2018; 15:E139. [PMID: 30447105 PMCID: PMC6266425 DOI: 10.5888/pcd15.180344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We used spatial analyses to examine exposure of people in vulnerable occupational groups to neighborhood-level environmental pollutants in the Bronx borough of New York City. Five-year estimates of environmental ambient exposures (derived from land use regression models for PM2.5 [particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm] and black carbon) and demographic and occupational variables were harmonized at the census tract level. Correlations revealed that areas with high environmental exposures also had high proportions of people in service industries and manufacturing and high proportions of socioeconomically vulnerable populations. This combination of vulnerabilities may be cumulative, suggesting residents could have high occupational and residential exposures in addition to sociodemographic-related inequity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Maroko
- The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, New York.,55 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027.
| | - Brian T Pavilonis
- The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, New York
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Reid CE, Kubzansky LD, Li J, Shmool JL, Clougherty JE. It's not easy assessing greenness: A comparison of NDVI datasets and neighborhood types and their associations with self-rated health in New York City. Health Place 2018; 54:92-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Martenies SE, Batterman SA. Effectiveness of Using Enhanced Filters in Schools and Homes to Reduce Indoor Exposures to PM 2.5 from Outdoor Sources and Subsequent Health Benefits for Children with Asthma. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:10767-10776. [PMID: 30141330 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Filters can reduce indoor concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5), but their benefits have not been well-characterized. This study investigates exposure, health, and cost impacts of high efficiency filters in homes and schools, focusing on the asthma-related outcomes. Reductions in indoor exposures to PM2.5 from outdoor sources with enhanced filters (e.g., MERV 12) are estimated using probabilistic indoor air quality models, and avoided health impacts are quantified using health impact assessment. These methods are applied using data from Detroit, Michigan, an urban region with elevated asthma rates. Replacing inefficient filters with enhanced filters in schools would reduce the PM2.5-attributable asthma burden by 13% annually, with higher benefits for more efficient filters. Marginal costs average $63 per classroom or $32 per child with asthma per year. In homes, using efficient furnace filters or air cleaners yields 11 to 16% reductions in the asthma burden with an annualized marginal costs of $151-494 per household. Additional benefits include reductions in health risk for adults and lower exposures to other contaminants such as PM from indoor sources. On the basis of the included health outcomes, efficient filters in schools in particular is a potentially cost-efficient way to reduce the asthma-related health burden for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena E Martenies
- Environmental and Radiological Sciences , Colorado State University , 1681 Campus Delivery , Fort Collins , Colorado 80523 , United States
| | - Stuart A Batterman
- Environmental Health Sciences , University of Michigan School of Public Health , 1415 Washington Heights , Ann Arbor , Michigan 48109 , United States
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Spatial Patterns in Rush-Hour vs. Work-Week Diesel-Related Pollution across a Downtown Core. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15091968. [PMID: 30201856 PMCID: PMC6164514 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15091968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in monitoring and modelling of intra-urban variation in multiple pollutants, few studies have attempted to separate spatial patterns by time of day, or incorporated organic tracers into spatial monitoring studies. Due to varying emissions sources from diesel and gasoline vehicular traffic, as well as within-day temporal variation in source mix and intensity (e.g., rush-hours vs. full-day measures), accurately assessing diesel-related air pollution within an urban core can be challenging. We allocated 24 sampling sites across downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2.8 km2) to capture fine-scale variation in diesel-related pollutants, and to compare these patterns by sampling interval (i.e., “rush-hours” vs. “work-week” concentrations), and by season. Using geographic information system (GIS)-based methods, we allocated sampling sites to capture spatial variation in key traffic-related pollution sources (i.e., truck, bus, overall traffic densities). Programmable monitors were used to collect integrated work-week and rush-hour samples of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), trace elements, and diesel-related organics (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hopanes, steranes), in summer and winter 2014. Land use regression (LUR) models were created for PM2.5, BC, total elemental carbon (EC), total organic carbon (OC), elemental (Al, Ca, Fe), and organic constituents (total PAHs, total hopanes), and compared by sampling interval and season. We hypothesized higher pollution concentrations and greater spatial contrast in rush-hour, compared to full work-week samples, with variation by season and pollutant. Rush-hour sampling produced slightly higher total PM2.5 and BC concentrations in both seasons, compared to work-week sampling, but no evident difference in spatial patterns. We also found substantial spatial variability in most trace elements and organic compounds, with comparable spatial patterns using both sampling paradigms. Overall, we found higher concentrations of traffic-related trace elements and organic compounds in rush-hour samples, and higher concentrations of coal-related elements (e.g., As, Se) in work-week samples. Mean bus density was the strongest LUR predictor in most models, in both seasons, under each sampling paradigm. Within each season and constituent, the bus-related terms explained similar proportions of variance in the rush-hour and work-week samples. Rush-hour and work-week LUR models explained similar proportions of spatial variation in pollutants, suggesting that the majority of emissions may be produced during rush-hour traffic across downtown. Results suggest that rush-hour emissions may predominantly shape overall spatial variance in diesel-related pollutants.
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Singla S, Bansal D, Misra A, Raheja G. Towards an integrated framework for air quality monitoring and exposure estimation-a review. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2018; 190:562. [PMID: 30167891 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6940-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
For the health and safety of the public, it is essential to measure spatiotemporal distribution of air pollution in a region and thus monitor air quality in a fine-grain manner. While most of the sensing-based commercial applications available until today have been using fixed environmental sensors, the use of personal devices such as smartphones, smartwatches, and other wearable devices has not been explored in depth. These kinds of devices have an advantage of being with the user continuously, thus providing an ability to generate accurate and well-distributed spatiotemporal air pollution data. In this paper, we review the studies (especially in the last decade) done by various researchers using different kinds of environmental sensors highlighting related techniques and issues. We also present important studies of measuring impact and emission of air pollution on human beings and also discuss models using which air pollution inhalation can be associated to humans by quantifying personal exposure with the use of human activity detection. The overarching aim of this review is to provide novel and key ideas that have the potential to drive pervasive and individual centric and yet accurate pollution monitoring techniques which can scale up to the future needs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Archan Misra
- Singapore Management University, Singapore, Singapore
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Martenies SE, Milando CW, Batterman SA. Air pollutant strategies to reduce adverse health impacts and health inequalities: a quantitative assessment for Detroit, Michigan. AIR QUALITY, ATMOSPHERE, & HEALTH 2018; 11:409-422. [PMID: 30220936 PMCID: PMC6136662 DOI: 10.1007/s11869-017-0543-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The development of air quality management (AQM) strategies provides opportunities to improve public health and reduce health inequalities. This study evaluates health and inequality impacts of alternate SO2 control strategies in Detroit, MI, a designated non-attainment area. Control alternatives include uniform reductions across sources, ranking approaches based on total emissions and health impacts per ton of pollutant emitted, and optimizations that meet concentration and health goals. Using dispersion modeling and quantitative health impact assessment (HIA), these strategies are evaluated in terms of ambient concentrations, health impacts, and the inequality in health risks. The health burden attributable to SO2 emissions in Detroit falls primarily among children and includes 70 hospitalizations and 6,000 asthma-related respiratory symptom-days annually, equivalent to 7 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The health burden disproportionately falls on Hispanic/Latino residents, residents with less than a high school diploma, and foreign-born residents. Control strategies that target smaller facilities near exposed populations provide the greatest benefit in terms of the overall health burden reductions and the inequality of attributable health risk; conventional strategies that target the largest emission sources can increase inequality and provide only modest health benefits. The assessment is novel in using spatial analyses that account for urban scale gradients in exposure, demographics, vulnerability, and population health. We show that quantitative HIA methods can be used to develop AQM strategies that simultaneously meet environmental, public health, and environmental justice goals, advancing AQM beyond its current compliance-oriented focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena E. Martenies
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chad W. Milando
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Stuart A. Batterman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Liévanos RS. Retooling CalEnviroScreen: Cumulative Pollution Burden and Race-Based Environmental Health Vulnerabilities in California. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15040762. [PMID: 29659481 PMCID: PMC5923804 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15040762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 04/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The California Community Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen) advances research and policy pertaining to environmental health vulnerability. However, CalEnviroScreen departs from its historical foundations and comparable screening tools by no longer considering racial status as an indicator of environmental health vulnerability and predictor of cumulative pollution burden. This study used conceptual frameworks and analytical techniques from environmental health and inequality literature to address the limitations of CalEnviroScreen, especially its inattention to race-based environmental health vulnerabilities. It developed an adjusted measure of cumulative pollution burden from the CalEnviroScreen 2.0 data that facilitates multivariate analyses of the effect of neighborhood racial composition on cumulative pollution burden, net of other indicators of population vulnerability, traffic density, industrial zoning, and local and regional clustering of pollution burden. Principal component analyses produced three new measures of population vulnerability, including Latina/o cumulative disadvantage that represents the spatial concentration of Latinas/os, economic disadvantage, limited English-speaking ability, and health vulnerability. Spatial error regression analyses demonstrated that concentrations of Latinas/os, followed by Latina/o cumulative disadvantage, are the strongest demographic determinants of adjusted cumulative pollution burden. Findings have implications for research and policy pertaining to cumulative impacts and race-based environmental health vulnerabilities within and beyond California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoul S Liévanos
- Department of Sociology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1291, USA.
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43
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Liévanos RS. Retooling CalEnviroScreen: Cumulative Pollution Burden and Race-Based Environmental Health Vulnerabilities in California. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018. [PMID: 29659481 DOI: 10.3390/ijerphl5040762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The California Community Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen) advances research and policy pertaining to environmental health vulnerability. However, CalEnviroScreen departs from its historical foundations and comparable screening tools by no longer considering racial status as an indicator of environmental health vulnerability and predictor of cumulative pollution burden. This study used conceptual frameworks and analytical techniques from environmental health and inequality literature to address the limitations of CalEnviroScreen, especially its inattention to race-based environmental health vulnerabilities. It developed an adjusted measure of cumulative pollution burden from the CalEnviroScreen 2.0 data that facilitates multivariate analyses of the effect of neighborhood racial composition on cumulative pollution burden, net of other indicators of population vulnerability, traffic density, industrial zoning, and local and regional clustering of pollution burden. Principal component analyses produced three new measures of population vulnerability, including Latina/o cumulative disadvantage that represents the spatial concentration of Latinas/os, economic disadvantage, limited English-speaking ability, and health vulnerability. Spatial error regression analyses demonstrated that concentrations of Latinas/os, followed by Latina/o cumulative disadvantage, are the strongest demographic determinants of adjusted cumulative pollution burden. Findings have implications for research and policy pertaining to cumulative impacts and race-based environmental health vulnerabilities within and beyond California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoul S Liévanos
- Department of Sociology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1291, USA.
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44
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Stapleton EM, O’Shaughnessy PT, Locke SJ, Altmaier RW, Hofmann JN, Beane Freeman LE, Thorne PS, Jones RR, Friesen MC. A task-based analysis of black carbon exposure in Iowa farmers during harvest. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2018; 15:293-304. [PMID: 29286870 PMCID: PMC6114936 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2017.1422870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Diesel exhaust has been associated with adverse human health effects. Farmers are often exposed to diesel exhaust; however, their diesel exposure has not been well characterized. In this descriptive study, we measured black carbon concentrations as a proxy for diesel exhaust exposure in 16 farmers over 20 sampling days during harvest in southeast Iowa. Farmers wore a personal aethalometer which measured real-time black carbon levels throughout the working day, and their activities were recorded by a field researcher. Black carbon concentrations were characterized for each farmer, and by activity, vehicle fuel type, and microenvironment. Overall, 574 discrete tasks were monitored with a median task duration of 5.5 min. Of these tasks, 39% involved the presence of a diesel vehicle. Farmers' daily black carbon geometric mean exposures ranged from 0.1-2.3 µg/m3, with a median daily geometric mean of 0.3 µg/m3. The highest black carbon concentrations were measured on farmers who used or worked near diesel vehicles (geometric mean ranged from 0.5 µg/m3 while harvesting to 4.9 µg/m3 during animal work). Higher geometric means were found for near vs. far proximity to diesel-fueled vehicles and equipment (2.9 vs. 0.3 µg/m3). Indoor, bystander proximity to diesel-operated vehicles resulted in the highest geometric mean black carbon concentrations (18 µg/m3). Use of vehicles with open cabs had higher mean black carbon concentrations than closed cabs (2.1-3.2 vs. 0.4-0.9 µg/m3). In summary, our study provided evidence that farmers were frequently exposed to black carbon associated with diesel-related activities at levels above urban ambient concentrations in their daily work during harvest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma M. Stapleton
- University of Iowa, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Patrick T. O’Shaughnessy
- University of Iowa, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy, , Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, 145 N. Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242
| | - Sarah J. Locke
- National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Ralph W. Altmaier
- University of Iowa, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jonathan N. Hofmann
- National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Laura E. Beane Freeman
- National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Peter S. Thorne
- University of Iowa, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Rena R. Jones
- National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Melissa C. Friesen
- National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD, USA
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45
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Weinberger KR, Kinney PL, Robinson GS, Sheehan D, Kheirbek I, Matte TD, Lovasi GS. Levels and determinants of tree pollen in New York City. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2018; 28:119-124. [PMID: 28000684 PMCID: PMC5479752 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2016.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to allergenic tree pollen is a risk factor for multiple allergic disease outcomes. Little is known about how tree pollen levels vary within cities and whether such variation affects the development or exacerbation of allergic disease. Accordingly, we collected integrated pollen samples at uniform height at 45 sites across New York City during the 2013 pollen season. We used these monitoring results in combination with adjacent land use data to develop a land use regression model for tree pollen. We evaluated four types of land use variables for inclusion in the model: tree canopy, distributed building height (a measure of building volume density), elevation, and distance to water. When included alone in the model, percent tree canopy cover within a 0.5 km radial buffer explained 39% of the variance in tree pollen (1.9% increase in tree pollen per one-percentage point increase in tree canopy cover, P<0.0001). The inclusion of additional variables did not improve model fit. We conclude that intra-urban variation in tree canopy is an important driver of tree pollen exposure. Land use regression models can be used to incorporate spatial variation in tree pollen exposure in studies of allergic disease outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate R. Weinberger
- Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA
| | - Patrick L. Kinney
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Guy S. Robinson
- Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station, Fordham University, Armonk, New York, 10504, USA
- Department of Natural Sciences, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, New York, NY, 10023, USA
| | - Daniel Sheehan
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Iyad Kheirbek
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Thomas D. Matte
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Environmental Surveillance and Policy, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Gina S. Lovasi
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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Abstract
Nearly 3 billion people are exposed to household air pollution emitted from inefficient cooking and heating stoves, and almost the entire global population is exposed to detectable levels of outdoor air pollution from traffic, industry, and other sources. Over 3 million people die annually of ischemic heart disease or stroke attributed to air pollution, more than from traditional cardiac risk factors such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, or smoking. Clinicians have a role to play in reducing the burden of pollution-attributable cardiovascular disease. However, there currently exists no clear clinical approach to this problem. Here, we provide a blueprint for an evidence-based clinical approach to assessing and mitigating cardiovascular risk from exposure to air pollution. We begin with a discussion of the global burden of pollution-attributable cardiovascular disease, including a review of the mechanisms by which particulate matter air pollution leads to cardiovascular outcomes. Next, we offer a simple patient-screening tool using known risk factors for pollution exposure. We then discuss approaches to quantifying air pollution exposures and cardiovascular risk, including the development of risk maps for clinical catchment areas. We review a collection of interventions for household and outdoor air pollution, which clinicians can tailor to patients and populations at risk. Finally, we identify future research needed to quantify pollution exposures and validate clinical interventions. Overall, we demonstrate that clinicians can be empowered to mitigate the global burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B Hadley
- Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (M.B.H.)
| | - Jill Baumgartner
- Institute for Health and Social Policy and Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Quebec, Montreal, Canada (J.B.)
| | - Rajesh Vedanthan
- Institute for Health and Social Policy and Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Quebec, Montreal, Canada (J.B.)
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47
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Reid CE, Clougherty JE, Shmool JLC, Kubzansky LD. Is All Urban Green Space the Same? A Comparison of the Health Benefits of Trees and Grass in New York City. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14111411. [PMID: 29156551 PMCID: PMC5708050 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14111411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Living near vegetation, often called “green space” or “greenness”, has been associated with numerous health benefits. We hypothesized that the two key components of urban vegetation, trees and grass, may differentially affect health. We estimated the association between near-residence trees, grass, and total vegetation (from the 2010 High Resolution Land Cover dataset for New York City (NYC)) with self-reported health from a survey of NYC adults (n = 1281). We found higher reporting of “very good” or “excellent” health for respondents with the highest, compared to the lowest, quartiles of tree (RR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.06–1.44) but not grass density (relative risk (RR) = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.86–1.17) within 1000 m buffers, adjusting for pertinent confounders. Significant positive associations between trees and self-reported health remained after adjustment for grass, whereas associations with grass remained non-significant. Adjustment for air pollutants increased beneficial associations between trees and self-reported health; adjustment for parks only partially attenuated these effects. Results were null or negative using a 300 m buffer. Findings imply that higher exposure to vegetation, particularly trees outside of parks, may be associated with better health. If replicated, this may suggest that urban street tree planting may improve population health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen E Reid
- Department of Geography, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
| | - Jane E Clougherty
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Jessie L C Shmool
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA.
| | - Laura D Kubzansky
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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48
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Martenies SE, Milando CW, Williams GO, Batterman SA. Disease and Health Inequalities Attributable to Air Pollutant Exposure in Detroit, Michigan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14101243. [PMID: 29048385 PMCID: PMC5664744 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14101243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The environmental burden of disease is the mortality and morbidity attributable to exposures of air pollution and other stressors. The inequality metrics used in cumulative impact and environmental justice studies can be incorporated into environmental burden studies to better understand the health disparities of ambient air pollutant exposures. This study examines the diseases and health disparities attributable to air pollutants for the Detroit urban area. We apportion this burden to various groups of emission sources and pollutants, and show how the burden is distributed among demographic and socioeconomic subgroups. The analysis uses spatially-resolved estimates of exposures, baseline health rates, age-stratified populations, and demographic characteristics that serve as proxies for increased vulnerability, e.g., race/ethnicity and income. Based on current levels, exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) are responsible for more than 10,000 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per year, causing an annual monetized health impact of $6.5 billion. This burden is mainly driven by PM2.5 and O3 exposures, which cause 660 premature deaths each year among the 945,000 individuals in the study area. NO2 exposures, largely from traffic, are important for respiratory outcomes among older adults and children with asthma, e.g., 46% of air-pollution related asthma hospitalizations are due to NO2 exposures. Based on quantitative inequality metrics, the greatest inequality of health burdens results from industrial and traffic emissions. These metrics also show disproportionate burdens among Hispanic/Latino populations due to industrial emissions, and among low income populations due to traffic emissions. Attributable health burdens are a function of exposures, susceptibility and vulnerability (e.g., baseline incidence rates), and population density. Because of these dependencies, inequality metrics should be calculated using the attributable health burden when feasible to avoid potentially underestimating inequality. Quantitative health impact and inequality analyses can inform health and environmental justice evaluations, providing important information to decision makers for prioritizing strategies to address exposures at the local level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena E Martenies
- Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Chad W Milando
- Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Guy O Williams
- Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, 4750 Woodward Ave., Suite 415, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
| | - Stuart A Batterman
- Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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49
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Mohit B, Rosen Z, Muennig PA. The impact of urban speed reduction programmes on health system cost and utilities. Inj Prev 2017; 24:262-266. [PMID: 28814569 DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2017-042340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vehicle speed changes impact the probability of injuring a pedestrian in ways that differ from the way that it impacts the probability of a collision or of death. Therefore, return on investment in speed reduction programmes has complex and unpredictable manifests. The objective of this study is to analyse the impact of motor vehicle speed reduction on the collision-related morbidity and mortality rates of urban pedestrians. METHODS AND FINDINGS We created a simple way to estimate the public health impacts of traffic speed changes using a Markov model. Our outcome measures include the cost of injury, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained and probability of death and injury due to a road traffic collision. Our two-way sensitivity analysis of speed, both before the implementation of a speed reduction programme and after, shows that, due to key differences in the probability of injury compared with the probability of death, speed reduction programmes may decrease the probability of death while leaving the probability of injury unchanged. The net result of this difference may lead to an increase in injury costs due to the implementation of a speed reduction programme. We find that even small investments in speed reductions have the potential to produce gains in QALYs. CONCLUSIONS Our reported costs, effects and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios may assist urban governments and stakeholders to rethink the value of local traffic calming programmes and to implement speed limits that would shift the trade-off to become between minor injuries and no injuries, rather than severe injuries and fatalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babak Mohit
- Center for Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zohn Rosen
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Peter A Muennig
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA
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50
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Amini H, Hosseini V, Schindler C, Hassankhany H, Yunesian M, Henderson SB, Künzli N. Spatiotemporal description of BTEX volatile organic compounds in a Middle Eastern megacity: Tehran Study of Exposure Prediction for Environmental Health Research (Tehran SEPEHR). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 226:219-229. [PMID: 28432965 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The spatiotemporal variability of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Tehran, Iran, is not well understood. Here we present the design, methods, and results of the Tehran Study of Exposure Prediction for Environmental Health Research (Tehran SEPEHR) on ambient concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, m-xylene, o-xylene (BTEX), and total BTEX. To date, this is the largest study of its kind in a low- and middle-income country and one of the largest globally. We measured BTEX concentrations at five reference sites and 174 distributed sites identified by a cluster analytic method. Samples were taken over 25 consecutive 2-weeks at five reference sites (to be used for temporal adjustments) and over three 2-week campaigns in summer, winter, and spring at 174 distributed sites. The annual median (25th-75th percentile) for benzene, the most carcinogenic of the BTEX species, was 7.8 (6.3-9.9) μg/m3, and was higher than the national and European Union air quality standard of 5 μg/m3 at approximately 90% of the measured sites. The estimated annual mean concentrations of BTEX were spatially highly correlated for all pollutants (Spearman rank coefficient 0.81-0.98). In general, concentrations and spatial variability were highest during the summer months, most likely due to fuel evaporation in hot weather. The annual median of benzene and total BTEX across the 35 sites in the Tehran regulatory monitoring network (7.7 and 56.8 μg/m3, respectively) did a reasonable job of approximating the additional 144 city-wide sites (7.9 and 58.7 μg/m3, respectively). The annual median concentrations of benzene and total BTEX within 300 m of gas stations were 9.1 and 67.3 μg/m3, respectively, and were higher than sites outside this buffer. We further found that airport did not affect annual BTEX concentrations of sites within 1 km. Overall, the observed ambient concentrations of toxic VOCs are a public health concern in Tehran.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heresh Amini
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vahid Hosseini
- Mechanical Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Christian Schindler
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Masud Yunesian
- Center for Air Pollution Research (CAPR), Institute for Environmental Research (IER), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sarah B Henderson
- Environmental Health Services, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nino Künzli
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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