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Lin C, Lane KJ, Chomitz VR, Griffiths JK, Brugge D. The Exposure Peaks of Traffic-Related Ultrafine Particles Associated with Inflammatory Biomarkers and Blood Lipid Profiles. TOXICS 2024; 12:147. [PMID: 38393242 PMCID: PMC10893127 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12020147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
In this article, we explored the effects of ultrafine particle (UFP) peak exposure on inflammatory biomarkers and blood lipids using two novel metrics-the intensity of peaks and the frequency of peaks. We used data previously collected by the Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health project from participants in the Greater Boston Area. The UFP exposure data were time-activity-adjusted hourly average concentration, estimated using land use regression models based on mobile-monitored ambient concentrations. The outcome data included C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 2 (TNF-RII), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides and total cholesterol. For each health indicator, multivariate regression models were used to assess their associations with UFP peaks (N = 364-411). After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status and education level, an increase in UFP peak exposure was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with an increase in TNF-RII and a decrease in HDL and triglycerides. Increases in UFP peaks were also significantly associated with increased IL-6 and decreased total cholesterol, while the same associations were not significant when annual average exposure was used. Our work suggests that analysis using peak exposure metrics could reveal more details about the effect of environmental exposures than the annual average metric.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Lin
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA; (C.L.); (V.R.C.); (J.K.G.)
| | - Kevin J. Lane
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA;
| | - Virginia R. Chomitz
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA; (C.L.); (V.R.C.); (J.K.G.)
| | - Jeffrey K. Griffiths
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA; (C.L.); (V.R.C.); (J.K.G.)
- Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University School of Engineering, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Doug Brugge
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
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2
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Bechle M, Millet DB, Marshall JD. Ambient NO 2 Air Pollution and Public Schools in the United States: Relationships with Urbanicity, Race-Ethnicity, and Income. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS 2023; 10:844-850. [PMID: 37840817 PMCID: PMC10569168 DOI: 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Schools may have important impacts on children's exposure to ambient air pollution, yet ambient air quality at schools is not consistently tracked. We characterize ambient air quality at home and school locations in the United States using satellite-based empirical model (i.e., land use regression) estimates of outdoor annual nitrogen dioxide (NO2). We report disparities by race-ethnicity and impoverishment status, and investigate differences by level of urbanicity. Average NO2 levels at home and school for racial-ethnic minoritized students are 18-22% higher than average (and 37-39% higher than for non-Hispanic, white students). Minoritized students are less likely than their white peers to live (0.55 times) and attend school (0.58 times) in areas below the World Health Organization's NO2 guideline. Predominantly minoritized schools (i.e., >50% minoritized students) are less likely than predominantly white schools (0.43 times) to be in locations below the guideline. Income and race-ethnicity impacts are intertwined, yet in large cities, racial disparities persist after controlling for income.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew
J. Bechle
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, 201 More Hall, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
| | - Dylan B. Millet
- Department
of Soil, Water, and Climate, University
of Minnesota, 439 Borlaug
Hall, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
| | - Julian D. Marshall
- Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, 201 More Hall, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States
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3
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Gao C, Sanchez KM, Lovinsky-Desir S. Structural and Social Determinants of Inequitable Environmental Exposures in the United States. Clin Chest Med 2023; 44:451-467. [PMID: 37517826 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccm.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
American Indian (AI)/Alaskan Natives, African Americans, and Latino Americans have disproportionally high exposure to harmful environmental conditions as a consequence of unjust laws and policies, systemic racism, residential segregation, and discrimination. In this review, we draw connections between historical policies and social movements in the United States' history that have been rooted in racism and classism, leading to social isolation and marginalization of AIs, African Americans, and Latino Americans. We then discuss the structural factors that stem from the aforementioned inequities and that contribute to the inequitable distribution of environmental hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Gao
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 3959 Broadway, CHC 7-701, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kimberly M Sanchez
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 3959 Broadway, CHC 7-701, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir
- Pulmonary Division, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, 3959 Broadway, CHC 7-701, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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4
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Chakraborty J, Aun JJ. Social Inequities in Exposure to Traffic-Related Air and Noise Pollution at Public Schools in Texas. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5308. [PMID: 37047923 PMCID: PMC10094516 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Although children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of vehicular pollution and spend significant portions of their time at school, previous studies have not examined or compared school-level social inequities in exposure to both traffic-related air and noise pollution in the same study area. We addressed this gap through a case study in Texas-the second-largest US state based on total population and number of children. Vehicular pollution exposure was measured using: (1) outdoor concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a widely used proxy for traffic-related air pollution; and (2) road noise estimates from the US Department of Transportation's National Transportation Noise Mapping Tool. These variables were linked to data on locations and sociodemographic characteristics of children enrolled in Texas public schools. We found children attending schools with the highest exposure to both NO2 and road noise (top 25%) were significantly more likely to be Black, Hispanic, and eligible for free/reduced lunches (socioeconomically deprived). Results from multivariable generalized estimating equations that control for spatial clustering and other relevant factors revealed that schools with greater NO2 exposure were significantly more likely to serve racial/ethnic minority and younger students, while schools with greater exposure to road noise were significantly more likely to serve socioeconomically deprived and older students. These findings underscore the urgent need to reduce both air pollution and noise exposure at school locations, especially in schools attended by higher proportions of socially disadvantaged children that are often additionally burdened with other challenges.
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Jung KH, Goodwin KE, Ross JM, Cai J, Chillrud SN, Perzanowski M, Perera FP, Miller RL, Lovinsky-Desir S. Characteristics of peak exposure to black carbon pollution in school, commute and home environments among school children in an urban community. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 319:120991. [PMID: 36596374 PMCID: PMC9900622 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Although real-time personal exposure monitoring devices have the ability to capture a wealth of data regarding fluctuations in pollutant levels, only a few studies have defined 'peaks' in black carbon (BC) exposure utilizing high-resolution data. Furthermore, studies to assess and characterize various features of peak exposure are very limited especially among children. A better understanding of characteristics of BC peak exposure would improve our understanding of health risks associated with BC. By capturing personal BC exposure at 5-min intervals using a real-time monitor during 24-hr monitoring periods among children in New York City (NYC), we defined 'peak characteristics' in 4 different ways across three major microenvironments (school vs. commute vs. home): 1) mean concentrations of BC across the 3 microenvironments, 2) 'peak duration' or time spent above the peak threshold (i.e., ≥1.5 μg/m3), 3) 'peak intensity' or the rate of exposure, defined as time spent above the threshold within each microenvironment divided by the total time spent in the microenvironment and 4) a novel metric of 'peak variability', defined as frequency of peaks (i.e., data points with +50% and -50% changes compared to the preceding and the subsequent data points), divided by the total time spent in the microenvironment. While peak duration was greatest at home, the intensity of peak exposure was greatest during commute hours, despite the short time spent in commute (p < 0.05). Peak variability was highest during commute, yet lowest in home environments (p < 0.05), particularly during non-sleeping hours. Children residing in a high-density urban setting spent on average, 5.4 hr per day above our peak threshold (≥1.5 μg/m3) in their everyday environments. Policies that limit children's exposure during high traffic periods and improved efforts to increase the number of vehicles using clean air technology could reduce the intensity of peaks and peak variability in children's BC exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Hwa Jung
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons , 3959 Broadway CHC 7-750, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Kathleen E Goodwin
- Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Sugeons, 630 W. 168th Stree, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - James M Ross
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Rt, 9W Palisades, New York, 10964, United States
| | - Jing Cai
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, 130 Dong'An Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Steven N Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Rt, 9W Palisades, New York, 10964, United States
| | - Matthew Perzanowski
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 722 W. 168 St., New York, NY, 10032, United States
| | - Frederica P Perera
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 722 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, NY, 10029, United States
| | - Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons , 3959 Broadway CHC 7-750, New York, NY 10032, United States.
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Querdibitty CD, Campbell J, Wetherill MS, Salvatore AL. Geographic and social economic disparities in the risk of exposure to ambient air respiratory toxicants at Oklahoma licensed early care and education facilities. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 218:114975. [PMID: 36462693 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114975] [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: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early life exposures to hazardous air pollutants has been associated with adverse asthma-related outcomes. Neighborhood-level social and economic factors play an essential role in the distribution of hazardous air pollutants and children spend a substantial amount of time at early care and education (ECE) facilities. While the indoor air quality of these facilities has been described, particularly for criteria air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds and particulate matter, little is known about the ambient air quality of ECE facilities. OBJECTIVES We conducted a cross-sectional study to estimate the ambient air quality of Oklahoma licensed ECE facilities and to explore associations between ambient air quality and select geographic predictors. METHODS We estimated ambient air quality using the total respiratory hazard quotient from the National Air Toxics Assessment according to the geographical location of licensed Oklahoma ECE facilities (N = 3184). We then determined whether urban and rural ECE facilities' air respiratory toxicant exposure risk differed by ECE facilities' neighborhood-level social and economic inequities including: 1) racial-ethnic minority community, 2) neighborhood socioeconomic status, and 3) residential segregation. RESULTS Urban ECE facilities in Hispanic segregated counties were five times more likely to be at risk of high air respiratory exposure, adjusted for integrated urban counties (p < 0.0001, 95% CI [3.824, 7.699]). Rural ECE facilities in African American segregated counties were nine times more likely to be at risk of high air respiratory toxicant exposure, adjusted for integrated rural counties (p < 0.0001, 95% CI [5.641, 15.928]). CONCLUSION We found geographically and socially disparate patterns of higher exposures to ambient air respiratory toxicants at Oklahoma ECE facilities. Safer siting policies and interventions are needed to mitigate air respiratory toxicant exposures, which may help to reduce asthma control disparities and improve respiratory health outcomes in Oklahoma ECE facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra D Querdibitty
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Area Tribal Epidemiology Center, Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
| | - Janis Campbell
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Marianna S Wetherill
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Alicia L Salvatore
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Institute for Research on Equity and Community Health (iREACH), Christiana Care, Wilmington, DE, USA; Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
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7
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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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Mortelliti CL, Banzon TM, Phipatanakul W, Vieira CZ. Environmental Exposures Impact Pediatric Asthma Within the School Environment. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2022; 42:743-760. [DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2022.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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9
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Maher BA, Gonet T, Karloukovski VV, Wang H, Bannan TJ. Protecting playgrounds: local-scale reduction of airborne particulate matter concentrations through particulate deposition on roadside ‘tredges’ (green infrastructure). Sci Rep 2022; 12:14236. [PMID: 35987916 PMCID: PMC9392798 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18509-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to traffic-related particulate air pollution has been linked with excess risks for a range of cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological health outcomes; risks likely to be exacerbated in young children attending schools adjacent to highly-trafficked roads. One immediate way of reducing airborne PM concentrations at the local (i.e., near-road community) scale is installation of roadside vegetation as a means of passive pollution abatement. Roadside vegetation can decrease airborne PM concentrations, through PM deposition on leaves, but can also increase them, by impeding airflow and PM dispersion. Critical to optimizing PM removal is selection of species with high particle deposition velocity (Vd) values, currently under-parameterised in most modelling studies. Here, the measured amounts of leaf-deposited magnetic PM after roadside greening (‘tredge’) installation, and measured reductions in playground PM, particle number and black carbon concentrations demonstrate that air quality improvements by deposition can be achieved at the local, near-road, community/playground scale. PM deposition on the western red cedar tredge removed ~ 49% of BC, and ~ 46% and 26% of the traffic-sourced PM2.5 and PM1, respectively. These findings demonstrate that roadside vegetation can be designed, installed and maintained to achieve rapid, significant, cost-effective improvement of air quality by optimising PM deposition on plant leaves.
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Stinson B, Laguerre A, Gall ET. Per-Person and Whole-Building VOC Emission Factors in an Occupied School with Gas-Phase Air Cleaning. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:3354-3364. [PMID: 35130699 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c06767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Using real-time measurements of CO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air handler of an occupied middle school, we quantified source strengths for 249 VOCs and apportioned the source to the building, occupants and their activities, outdoor air, or recirculation air. For VOCs quantified in this study, there is a source to the outdoors of 8.6 ± 1.8 g/h in building exhaust air, of which 5.9 ± 1.7 g/h can be attributed to indoor sources (the building and occupants and their activities). The corresponding whole-building area emission factor from indoor sources is 1020 ± 300 μg/(m2 h), including reactive VOCs like isoprene and monoterpenes (33 ± 5.1 and 29 ± 5.7 μg/(m2 h), respectively). Per-person emission factors are calculated for compounds associated with occupants and their activities, e.g., monoterpenes are emitted at a rate of 280 ± 80 μg/(person h). The air handler included carbon scrubbing, reducing supply air concentrations of 125 compounds by 38 ± 19% (mean ± std. dev.) with a net removal of 2.4 ± 0.4 g/h of organic compounds from the building. This carbon scrubber reduces steady-state indoor concentrations of organics by 65 μg/m3 and the contribution of indoor sources of VOCs to the outdoor environment by ∼40%. These data inform the design and operation of buildings to reduce human exposure to VOCs inside buildings. These data indicate the potential for gas-phase air cleaning to improve both indoor air quality and reduce VOC emissions from buildings to the outdoor environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Stinson
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Portland State University, 1930 Southwest 4th Avenue, Suite 400, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
| | - Aurélie Laguerre
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Portland State University, 1930 Southwest 4th Avenue, Suite 400, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
| | - Elliott T Gall
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Portland State University, 1930 Southwest 4th Avenue, Suite 400, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
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11
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Chakraborty J. Children's exposure to vehicular pollution: Environmental injustice in Texas, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112008. [PMID: 34492280 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Distributive environmental justice research on children's exposure to vehicular pollution is underdeveloped and few empirical studies have been conducted in the US. This study seeks to address this gap by examining if socially disadvantaged children are disproportionately located in public school districts burdened by higher vehicular pollution in Texas-the second largest US state based on population size. Vehicular pollution exposure is measured using two variables: (1) an index developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency that combines traffic proximity and volume; and (2) outdoor concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a widely used proxy for traffic-related air pollution. These variables are linked to school district level data on socio-demographic characteristics of children obtained from the latest American Community Survey. Statistical analysis is based on multivariable generalized estimating equations that account for spatial clustering of school districts. Results reveal significantly greater traffic proximity and NO2 exposure in Texas school districts with higher percentages of children, after controlling for clustering, population density, and other socio-demographic factors. Districts exposed to higher levels of traffic proximity and NO2 exposure also contain significantly greater proportions of racial/ethnic minority, foreign-born, disabled, and socioeconomically vulnerable children. These findings highlight the urgent need to develop mitigation strategies for reducing vehicular pollution exposure, especially in districts with higher proportions of socially disadvantaged students that could be additionally burdened with limited resources. School districts represent a policy relevant analytic unit since school district boards can act as advocates for the environmental health of children and implement mitigation strategies for reducing pollution exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayajit Chakraborty
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Avenue, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
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12
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Pacheco SE, Guidos G, Annesi-Maesano I, Pawankar R, Amato GD, Latour-Staffeld P, Urrutia-Pereira M, Kesic MJ, Hernandez ML. Climate Change and Global Issues in Allergy and Immunology. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2021; 148:1366-1377. [PMID: 34688774 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The steady increase in global temperatures, resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels and the accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHG), continues to destabilize all ecosystems worldwide. Although annual emissions must halve by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050 to limit some of the most catastrophic impacts associated with a warming planet, the world's efforts to curb GHG emissions fall short of the commitments made in the 2015 Paris Agreement (1). To this effect, July 2021 was recently declared the hottest month ever recorded in 142 years (2). The ramifications of these changes on global temperatures are complex and further promote outdoor air pollution, pollen exposure, and extreme weather events. Besides worsening respiratory health, air pollution, promotes atopy and susceptibility to infections. The GHG effects on pollen affect the frequency and severity of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Changes in temperature, air pollution, and extreme weather events exert adverse multisystemic health effects and disproportionally affect disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. This article is an update for allergists and immunologists about the health impacts of climate change, already evident in our daily practices. It is also a call to action and advocacy, including integrating climate change-related mitigation, education, and adaptation measures to protect our patients and avert further injury to our planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Pacheco
- Professor of Pediatrics, University of Texas McGovern Medical School, MSB3.228, Houston, Texas 77030.
| | - Guillermo Guidos
- Professor of Immunology, School of Medicine, ENMH, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City
| | - Isabella Annesi-Maesano
- Deputy Director of Institute Desbrest of Epiddemioloy and Public Health, INSERM and Montpellier University, Montpellier, France
| | - Ruby Pawankar
- Professor, Division of Allergy, Dept. of Pediatrics, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gennaro D' Amato
- Fellow and Honorary member of EAACI, FAAAAI, FERS. , Chairman Committee World Allergy Organization on "Aerobiology, Climate change, Biodiversity and Allergy"; Division of Respiratory Diseases and Allergy, High Specialty Hospital A. Cardarelli, Naples
| | - Patricia Latour-Staffeld
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Distinguished Graduate Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña, Medical director of Centro Avanzado De Alergia y Asma Santo Domingo, President Latin American Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Associate Professor School of Medicine Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Ureña, Dominican Republic
| | | | - Matthew J Kesic
- Campbell University, Physician Assistant Program, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 4150 US HWY 421 South, Lillington, NC 27546
| | - Michelle L Hernandez
- Professor of Pediatrics Division of Allergy & Immunology Director, Clinical Research Unit, Children's Research Institute, UNC School of Medicine, 5008C Mary Ellen Jones Building, 116 Manning Drive, CB #7231 Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7231
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Jung KH, Goodwin KE, Perzanowski MS, Chillrud SN, Perera FP, Miller RL, Lovinsky-Desir S. Personal Exposure to Black Carbon at School and Levels of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide in New York City. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:97005. [PMID: 34495741 PMCID: PMC8425518 DOI: 10.1289/ehp8985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schools are often located near traffic sources, leading to high levels of exposure to traffic-related air pollutants, including black carbon (BC). Thus, the school environment could play in a significant role in the adverse respiratory health of children. OBJECTIVES Our objective was to determine associations between personal BC levels at school and airway inflammation [i.e., fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)] in school-age children. We hypothesized that higher school BC (SBC) would be associated with higher FeNO. METHODS Children 9-14 years of age in New York City (NYC) (n=114) wore BC monitors for two 24-h periods over a 6-d sampling period, repeated 6 months later. SBC was defined as the average personal BC concentrations measured during NYC school hours (i.e., 0830-1430 hours). FeNO was measured following each 24-h BC monitoring period. Multivariable linear regression in generalized estimating equation models were used to examine associations between SBC and FeNO. Results are presented as percentage difference (PD) in FeNO. RESULTS Personal BC at school was associated with higher FeNO (PD=7.47% higher FeNO per 1-μg/m3 BC (95% CI: 1.31, 13.9), p=0.02]. Compared with BC exposure during school, a smaller PD in FeNO was observed in association with BC exposure while commuting to and from school [PD=6.82% (95% CI: 0.70, 13.3), p=0.03]. Personal BC in non-school environments and residential BC were not associated with FeNO (p>0.05). A significant association between personal BC at school and FeNO was observed among children with seroatopy who did not have asthma [PD=21.5% (95% CI: 4.81, 40.9), p=0.01]. DISCUSSION Schools may be important sources of BC exposure that contribute to airway inflammation in school-age children. Our results provide rationale for interventions that target improved air quality in urban schools and classrooms. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8985.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Hwa Jung
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kathleen E. Goodwin
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Matthew S. Perzanowski
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Steven N. Chillrud
- Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Frederica P. Perera
- Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rachel L. Miller
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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Hashad K, Gu J, Yang B, Rong M, Chen E, Ma X, Zhang KM. Designing roadside green infrastructure to mitigate traffic-related air pollution using machine learning. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 773:144760. [PMID: 33940702 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Communities located in near-road environments are exposed to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), causing adverse health effects. While roadside vegetation barriers can help mitigate TRAP, their effectiveness to reduce TRAP is influenced by site-specific conditions. To test vegetation designs using direct field measurements or high-fidelity numerical simulations is often infeasible since urban planners and local communities often lack the access and expertise to use those tools. There is a need for a fast, reliable, and easy-to-use method to evaluate vegetation barrier designs based on their capacity to mitigate TRAP. In this paper, we investigated five machine learning (ML) methods, including linear regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), XGBoost (XGB), and neural networks (NN), to predict size-resolved and locationally dependent particle concentrations downwind of various vegetation barrier designs. Data from 83 computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations was used to train and test the ML models. We developed downwind region-specific models to capture the complexity of this problem and enhance the overall accuracy. Our feature space was composed of variables that can be feasibly obtained such as vegetation width, height, leaf area index (LAI), particle size, leaf area density (LAD) and wind speed at different heights. RF, NN, and XGB performed well with a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) of 6-7% and an average test R2 value >0.91, while SVM and LR had an NRMSE of approximately 13% and an average test R2 value of 0.56. Using feature selection, vegetation dimensions and particle size had the highest influence in predicting pollutant concentrations. The ML models developed can help create tools to aid local communities in developing mitigation strategies to address TRAP problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Hashad
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Jiajun Gu
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Bo Yang
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Morena Rong
- Department of Computer Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Edric Chen
- Department of Computer Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Xiaoxin Ma
- Department of Computer Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - K Max Zhang
- Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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Requia WJ, Roig HL, Schwartz JD. Schools exposure to air pollution sources in Brazil: A nationwide assessment of more than 180 thousand schools. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 763:143027. [PMID: 33129521 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence demonstrates that children at schools who are exposed to increased concentrations of air pollutants may have a higher risk for several health problems, including cognitive deficits. In this paper we estimate the exposure to air pollution sources at 186,080 schools in Brazil. Specifically, we accounted for the exposure to three proxies of air pollution source emissions, including distance to roadways, the extent of roadways within a buffer around each school, and the number of wildfire occurrences within a buffer around each school. About 25% of the Brazilian schools evaluated in our study are located within a distance ≤250 m of a major roadway, have ≥2 km of roadway within a buffer of 1 km, and have ≥7 wildfires records within a buffer of 10 km. Our results indicate significant prevalence ratio of these schools exposed to air pollution sources when we stratified the analyses by socioeconomic factors, including geographic (public schools had an increased likelihood of being exposed), economic (low-income areas had an increased likelihood of being exposed), health (overall, areas with low public health status had an increased likelihood of being exposed), and educational conditions (overall, areas with low educational indicator had an increased likelihood of being exposed). For example, we estimated that private schools were 15% (95% CI: 13-17%) less likely to be located within 250 m of a major roadway compared with public schools; schools in areas with low child mortality were 35% (95% CI: 34-37%) less likely to be within 250 m of a major roadway; and schools in regions with low expected years of schooling were 25% (95% CI: 22-28%) more likely to be located within 250 m of a major roadway. The analysis of the spatial patterns shows that a substantial number of schools (36-54%, depending on the air pollution source) has a positive autocorrelation, suggesting that exposure level at these schools are similar to their neighbors. Estimating children's exposure to air pollutants at school is crucial for future public policies to develop effective environmental, transportation, educational, and urban planning interventions that may protect students from exposure to environmental hazards and improve their safety, health, and learning performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weeberb J Requia
- School of Public Policy and Government, Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
| | - Henrique L Roig
- Geoscience Institute, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Joel D Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
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Rosário Filho NA, Urrutia-Pereira M, D'Amato G, Cecchi L, Ansotegui IJ, Galán C, Pomés A, Murrieta-Aguttes M, Caraballo L, Rouadi P, Chong-Neto HJ, Peden DB. Air pollution and indoor settings. World Allergy Organ J 2021; 14:100499. [PMID: 33510831 PMCID: PMC7806792 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Indoor environments contribute significantly to total human exposure to air pollutants, as people spend most of their time indoors. Household air pollution (HAP) resulting from cooking with polluting ("dirty") fuels, which include coal, kerosene, and biomass (wood, charcoal, crop residues, and animal manure) is a global environmental health problem. Indoor pollutants are gases, particulates, toxins, and microorganisms among others, that can have an impact especially on the health of children and adults through a combination of different mechanisms on oxidative stress and gene activation, epigenetic, cellular, and immunological systems. Air pollution is a major risk factor and contributor to morbidity and mortality from major chronic diseases. Children are significantly affected by the impact of the environment due to biological immaturity, prenatal and postnatal lung development. Poor air quality has been related to an increased prevalence of clinical manifestations of allergic asthma and rhinitis. Health professionals should increase their role in managing the exposure of children and adults to air pollution with better methods of care, prevention, and collective action. Interventions to reduce household pollutants may promote health and can be achieved with education, community, and health professional involvement.
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Key Words
- AR, allergic rhinitis
- Air pollutants
- BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage
- CO, carbon monoxide
- CO2, carbon dioxide
- COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- DEPs, diesel exhaust particles
- Environmental pollution
- FEV1, forced expiratory volume
- FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide
- GM-CSF, granulocyte and macrophage growth stimulating factor
- GST, glutathione S-transferase
- HAP, household air pollution
- HEPA, High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance
- ILC2, innate lymphoid cells
- Indoor air pollution
- NCD, non-communicable disease
- NO, nitric oxide
- NO2, nitrogen dioxide
- O3, ozone
- PAH, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
- PM, particulate matter
- PMNs, polymorphonuclear leukocytes
- Pollution
- SO2, sulfur dioxide
- TRAP, Traffic-related air pollution
- TSLP, thymic stromal lymphopoietin
- VOCs, volatile organic compounds
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Gennaro D'Amato
- Division of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases, High Specialty Hospital A. Cardarelli, School of Specialization in Respiratory Diseases, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Cecchi
- Centre of Bioclimatology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; SOS Allergy and Clinical Immunology, USL Toscana Centro Prato, Italy
| | | | - Carmen Galán
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, International Campus of Excellence on Agrifood (ceiA3), University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Anna Pomés
- Basic Research, Indoor Biotechnologies, Inc, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | | | - Luis Caraballo
- Institute for Immunological Research, University of Cartagena, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Philip Rouadi
- Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Eye and Ear University Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Herberto J. Chong-Neto
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - David B. Peden
- UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Das S, Chellam S. Estimating light-duty vehicles' contributions to ambient PM 2.5 and PM 10 at a near-highway urban elementary school via elemental characterization emphasizing rhodium, palladium, and platinum. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 747:141268. [PMID: 32799023 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The primary objective of this research is to accurately estimate light-duty vehicles' (LDVs') emissions of PM2.5 and PM10 over the course of a year within the property line of an inner-city school located adjacent to a heavily-trafficked interstate highway by measuring platinum group elements (PGEs - Rh, Pd, and Pt) along with 49 other major and trace elements. Amongst PGEs, ambient Pd concentrations were the highest, averaging 11 pg/m3 in PM10 and 4.0 pg/m3 in PM2.5 followed by Pt (3.5 pg/m3 in PM10 and 1.4 pg/m3 in PM2.5), and Rh (1.6 pg/m3 in PM10 and 0.52 pg/m3 in PM2.5). Simultaneous three-component variations in Rh, Pd, and Pt in both PM size classes at this surface site closely matched the composition of (i) a mixed random lot of recycled autocatalysts obtained from numerous LDVs and (ii) PM inside a proximal underwater tunnel open only to light-duty vehicles. Additionally, quantitative estimates of LDV contributions to ambient PM calculated by chemical mass balance modeling (CMB) were strongly correlated with PGE abundances. Therefore, PGEs predominantly originated from gasoline-driven motor vehicles validating them as unique LDV tracers. Further, CMB estimated that vehicles contributed 37% on average (12-67%) to PM10 and 49% on average (25-73%) to PM2.5. Evidence is also presented for a subset of other trace metals; i.e. Cu, As, Mo, Cd, and Sb to also be relatively strong LDV tracers. Results highlight the importance of measuring PGEs in addition to numerous other elements in PM to accurately apportion aerosols emanating from LDVs, which will better isolate public health and environmental impacts associated with the transportation sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Das
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - Shankararaman Chellam
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America; Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843, United States of America.
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Kaufman JD, Elkind MSV, Bhatnagar A, Koehler K, Balmes JR, Sidney S, Burroughs Peña MS, Dockery DW, Hou L, Brook RD, Laden F, Rajagopalan S, Bishop Kendrick K, Turner JR. Guidance to Reduce the Cardiovascular Burden of Ambient Air Pollutants: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2020; 142:e432-e447. [PMID: 33147996 DOI: 10.1161/cir.0000000000000930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In 2010, the American Heart Association published a statement concluding that the existing scientific evidence was consistent with a causal relationship between exposure to fine particulate matter and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and that fine particulate matter exposure is a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Since the publication of that statement, evidence linking air pollution exposure to cardiovascular health has continued to accumulate and the biological processes underlying these effects have become better understood. This increasingly persuasive evidence necessitates policies to reduce harmful exposures and the need to act even as the scientific evidence base continues to evolve. Policy options to mitigate the adverse health impacts of air pollutants must include the reduction of emissions through action on air quality, vehicle emissions, and renewable portfolio standards, taking into account racial, ethnic, and economic inequality in air pollutant exposure. Policy interventions to improve air quality can also be in alignment with policies that benefit community and transportation infrastructure, sustainable food systems, reduction in climate forcing agents, and reduction in wildfires. The health care sector has a leadership role in adopting policies to contribute to improved environmental air quality as well. There is also potentially significant private sector leadership and industry innovation occurring in the absence of and in addition to public policy action, demonstrating the important role of public-private partnerships. In addition to supporting education and research in this area, the American Heart Association has an important leadership role to encourage and support public policies, private sector innovation, and public-private partnerships to reduce the adverse impact of air pollution on current and future cardiovascular health in the United States.
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Howard EJ, Vesper SJ, Guthrie BJ, Petty CR, Ramdin VA, Sheehan WJ, Gaffin JM, Permaul P, Lai PS, Bartnikas LM, Cunningham A, Hauptman M, Gold DR, Baxi SN, Phipatanakul W. Asthma Prevalence and Mold Levels in US Northeastern Schools. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE 2020; 9:1312-1318. [PMID: 33091637 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma is among the most common chronic diseases of children in the United States (US). Mold exposures have been linked to asthma development and exacerbation. In homes, mold exposures have been quantified using the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI), and higher home ERMI values have been linked to occupant asthma. OBJECTIVE In this analysis of the School Inner-City Asthma Study (SICAS), we aimed to evaluate the ERMI's applicability to measuring mold in schools compared with homes and to examine the prevalence of asthma in relationship to students' demographics and the physical characteristics of school buildings. METHODS Northeastern US schools (n = 32) and homes (n = 33) were selected, and the 36 ERMI molds were quantified in a dust sample from each classroom (n = 114) or home. School building characteristics data were collected from SICAS. Asthma prevalence and student demographics data were obtained from government websites. Linear regression and mixed models were fit to assess the association of the current asthma prevalence and physical characteristics of the school, make-up of the student body, and the ERMI metric. RESULTS Levels of outdoor group 2 molds were significantly (P < .01) greater in schools compared with homes. The presence of air-conditioning in school buildings correlated significantly (P = .02) with lower asthma prevalence. CONCLUSION The prevalence of asthma in student bodies is associated with many factors in schools and homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evin J Howard
- Bouvé College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass
| | - Stephen J Vesper
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Barbara J Guthrie
- Bouvé College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass
| | - Carter R Petty
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Valeria A Ramdin
- Bouvé College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Northeastern University, Boston, Mass
| | - William J Sheehan
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Jonathan M Gaffin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Perdita Permaul
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Immunology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Peggy S Lai
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Lisa M Bartnikas
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Amparito Cunningham
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Marissa Hauptman
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Region 1 New England Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Boston, Mass
| | - Diane R Gold
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Mass
| | - Sachin N Baxi
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
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Laguerre A, George LA, Gall ET. High-Efficiency Air Cleaning Reduces Indoor Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Alters Indoor Air Chemistry in a Near-Roadway School. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:11798-11808. [PMID: 32841011 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Schools in proximity to roadways expose students to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). We investigate impacts of air-cleaning on indoor TRAP levels and indoor chemistry in a renovated school adjacent an interstate highway. We monitor air pollutants pre- and post-renovation and quantify efficiency of particle (MERV8 and 16 filters) and gas (functionalized activated carbon) air-cleaning. Time-resolved measurements show air-cleaning systems are effective, with in situ particle removal efficiency >94% across 10 nm to 10 μm. Activated carbon removed BTEX and NO2 with variability in removal efficiency. Over eight months of monitoring, NO2 removal efficiency was 96% initially and decreased to 61%; and BTEX removal efficiency was >80% or increased to >80%. Air-cleaning reduced indoor TRAP to below or near urban background. Air-cleaning systems suppressed indoor chemistry by reducing indoor levels of oxidants (NO2, O3) and reactive organics of indoor origin. When the air cleaning system was inactive, our data show that indoor SOA formation within the school was elevated. Loss rates of NO2 and O3 through the air-cleaning system were ∼1.5-2.4 h-1 and ∼2.3 h-1, respectively. Air-cleaning was 83% and 69% efficient, respectively, in removing monoterpenes and isoprene. By suppressing precursors, scaling calculations show air-cleaning prevented ∼3.4 mg/h of indoor SOA formation due to indoor ozone-monoterpene chemistry. For comparison, we estimate that filtration removed ∼130 mg/h of PM0.01-0.3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Laguerre
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Portland State University, 1930 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 400, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
| | - Linda A George
- Department of Environmental Science and Management, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
| | - Elliott T Gall
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Portland State University, 1930 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 400, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
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Abstract
The school is a complex microenvironment of indoor allergens, pollutants, and other exposures. The school represents an occupational model for children and exposures in this environment have a significant health effect. Current research establishes an association between school exposure and asthma morbidity in children. This review will focus on common school environmental exposures (cockroach, rodents, cat, dog, classroom pets, dust mite, fungus, and pollution) and their impact on children with allergies and asthma. Understanding and evaluation of school-based environments is needed to help guide school-based interventions. School-based interventions have the potential for substantial benefit to the individual, school, community, and public health. However, there is a paucity data on school-based environmental interventions and health outcomes. The studies performed to date are small and cross-sectional with no control for home exposures. Randomized controlled school-based environmental intervention trials are needed to assess health outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of these interventions. The School Inner-City Asthma Intervention Study (SICAS 2), a NIH/NIAID randomized controlled clinical trial using environmental interventions modeled from successful home-based interventions, is currently underway with health outcome results pending. If efficacious, these interventions could potentially help further guide school-based interventions potentially with policy implications. In the meanwhile, the allergist/immunologist can continue to play a vital role in improving the quality of life in children with allergies and asthma at school through the use of the ADA policy and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as well as encouraging adoption of toolkits to build successful school-based asthma programs and asthma-friendly schools.
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Nardone A, Casey JA, Morello-Frosch R, Mujahid M, Balmes JR, Thakur N. Associations between historical residential redlining and current age-adjusted rates of emergency department visits due to asthma across eight cities in California: an ecological study. Lancet Planet Health 2020; 4:e24-e31. [PMID: 31999951 PMCID: PMC10018700 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-5196(19)30241-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma disproportionately affects communities of colour in the USA, but the underlying factors for this remain poorly understood. In this study, we assess the role of historical redlining as outlined in security maps created by the Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC), the discriminatory practice of categorising neighbourhoods on the basis of perceived mortgage investment risk, on the burden of asthma in these neighbourhoods. METHODS We did an ecological study of HOLC risk grades and asthma exacerbations in California using the security maps available for the following eight cities: Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, and Stockton. Each census tract was categorised into one of four risk levels (A, B, C, or D) on the basis of the location of population-weighted centroids on security maps, with the worst risk level (D) indicating historical redlining. We obtained census tract-level rates of emergency department visits due to asthma from CalEnviroScreen 3.0. We assessed the relationship between risk grade and log-transformed asthma visit rates between 2011 and 2013 using ordinary least squares regression. We included potential confounding variables from the 2010 Census and CalEnviroScreen 3.0: diesel exhaust particle emissions, PM2·5, and percent of the population living below 2 times the federal poverty level. We also built random intercept and slope models to assess city-level variation in the relationship between redlining and asthma. FINDINGS In the 1431 census tracts assessed (64 [4·5%] grade A, 241 [16·8%] grade B, 719 [50·2%] grade C, and 407 [28·4%] grade D), the proportion of the population that was non-Hispanic black and Hispanic, the percentage of the population living in poverty, and diesel exhaust particle emissions all significantly increased as security map risk grade worsened (p<0·0001). The median age-adjusted rates of emergency department visits due to asthma were 2·4 times higher in census tracts that were previously redlined (median 63·5 [IQR 34·3] visits per 10 000 residents per year [2011-13]) than in tracts at the lowest risk level (26·5 [18·4]). In adjusted models, redlined census tracts were associated with a relative risk of 1·39 (95% CI 1·21-1·57) in rates of emergency department visits due to asthma compared with that of lowest-risk census tracts. INTERPRETATION Historically redlined census tracts have significantly higher rates of emergency department visits due to asthma, suggesting that this discriminatory practice might be contributing to racial and ethnic asthma health disparities. FUNDING National Heart Lung Blood Institute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Nardone
- University of California Berkeley-University of California San Francisco Joint Medical Program, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Joan A Casey
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Mahasin Mujahid
- School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - John R Balmes
- University of California Berkeley-University of California San Francisco Joint Medical Program, Berkeley, CA, USA; School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Neeta Thakur
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Hauptman M, Gaffin JM, Petty CR, Sheehan WJ, Lai PS, Coull B, Gold DR, Phipatanakul W. Proximity to major roadways and asthma symptoms in the School Inner-City Asthma Study. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2020; 145:119-126.e4. [PMID: 31557500 PMCID: PMC6949366 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.08.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traffic proximity has been associated with adverse respiratory health outcomes. Less is known about the combined impact of residential and school exposures on pediatric asthma. OBJECTIVE We sought to use spatial analysis methodology to analyze residential and school proximity to major roadways and pediatric asthma morbidity. METHODS The School Inner-City Asthma Study (n = 350) recruited school-aged children with asthma. Each participant's school and home addresses were geocoded, and distances from major roadways were measured to calculate a composite measure accounting for both home and school traffic exposure. Generalized estimating equation models were clustered by subject and adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, environmental tobacco smoke, controller medication, upper respiratory tract infections, and seasonality. RESULTS The majority of participants (62%) attended schools within 100 m from major roadways, and 40% also resided within 100 m of major roadways. In multivariate analyses major roadway proximity was independently associated with increased asthma symptom days. At greater than the threshold of 100 m, children had 29% less odds of a symptom day over the past 2 weeks for each 100-m increase in distance from a major roadway (odds ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.58-0.87; P < .01). Children farther from a major roadway also had significantly less reported health care use (odds ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.47-0.85; P < .01) and were significantly less likely to have poor asthma control (odds ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.69-0.94; P < .01). There was not a meaningful association between distance to a major roadway and lung function outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Proximity to a major roadway, a composite measure of home and school exposure but primarily driven by home exposure, was associated with greater asthma morbidity. More studies are needed to evaluate the independent effect of school distance to a roadway on asthma morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Hauptman
- Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Region 1 New England Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Jonathan M Gaffin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of Respiratory Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Carter R Petty
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children's Hospital, and the Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - William J Sheehan
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Peggy S Lai
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Mass; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Brent Coull
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Mass
| | - Diane R Gold
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Mass; Division of Respiratory Epidemiology, Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Mass
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass.
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The Association Between Obesity, Socio-Economic Status, and Neighborhood Environment: A Multi-Level Analysis of Spokane Public Schools. J Community Health 2019; 45:41-47. [PMID: 31392604 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-019-00714-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Socio economic inequities in obesity have been attributed to individuals' psychosocial and behavioral characteristics. School environment, where children spend a large part of their day, may play an important role in shaping their health. This study aims to assess whether prevalence of overweight and obesity among elementary school students was associated with the school's social and built environments. Analyses were based on 28 public elementary schools serving a total of 10,327 children in the city of Spokane, Washington. Schools were classified by percentage of students eligible for free and reduced meals (FRM). Crime rates, density of arterial roads, healthy food access, and walkability were computed in a one-mile walking catchment around schools to characterize their surrounding neighborhood. In the unadjusted multilevel logistic regression analyses, age, sex, percentage of students eligible for FRM, crime, walkability, and arterial road exposure were individually associated with the odds of being overweight or obese. In the adjusted model, the odds of being overweight or obese were higher with age, being male, and percentage of students eligible for FRM. The results call for policies and programs to improve the school environment, students' health, and safety conditions near schools.
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25
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School exposure and asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2019; 120:482-487. [PMID: 29407419 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2018.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive overview of common school exposures and the association between school exposures and pediatric asthma morbidity. DATA SOURCES A comprehensive literature review was performed using PubMed. STUDY SELECTIONS Full-length, peer-reviewed studies published in English were considered for review. In vivo, in vitro, and animal studies were excluded. Studies of school exposure to cockroach, mouse, dust mite, dog, cat, molds, pollution, and endotoxin associated with asthma and asthma morbidity were considered. RESULTS The current literature establishes an association between school exposure and pediatric asthma morbidity. There is a need for ongoing research to evaluate the effects of school-based environmental interventions on asthma morbidity. CONCLUSION It is evident that the indoor school environment is a significant reservoir of allergens, molds, pollutants, and endotoxin and that there is an association between school exposure and pediatric asthma morbidity. School-based interventions have the potential for substantial individual, community, and public health benefit. It is important that researchers continue to study the health effects associated with school exposures and assess cost-effectiveness of multifaceted school-based interventions.
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Naja AS, Permaul P, Phipatanakul W. Taming Asthma in School-Aged Children: A Comprehensive Review. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2018; 6:726-735. [PMID: 29747980 PMCID: PMC5953205 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2018.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and the leading cause of childhood morbidity as measured by school absences, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. Multiple factors play a role in the development, treatment and prevention of childhood asthma including racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities, both the home and school environments, and medication use. The goals of this review are to summarize these aspects of asthma in school-aged children and to present an updated review of medications as it relates to treatment strategies that will help in the care of these children. We conclude that phenotypic heterogeneity and appropriate environmental assessments and interventions are important considerations in the management of childhood asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Salaheddine Naja
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Perdita Permaul
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, Mass
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
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Nardone A, Neophytou AM, Balmes J, Thakur N. Ambient Air Pollution and Asthma-Related Outcomes in Children of Color of the USA: a Scoping Review of Literature Published Between 2013 and 2017. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2018; 18:29. [PMID: 29663154 PMCID: PMC6198325 DOI: 10.1007/s11882-018-0782-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Given racial disparities in ambient air pollution (AAP) exposure and asthma risk, this review offers an overview of the literature investigating the ambient air pollution-asthma relationship in children of color between 2013 and 2017. RECENT FINDINGS AAP is likely a key contributor to the excess burden of asthma in children of color due to pervasive exposure before birth, at home, and in school. Recent findings suggest that psychosocial stressors may modify the relationship between AAP and asthma. The effect of AAP on asthma in children of color is likely modulated by multiple unique psychosocial stressors and gene-environment interactions. Although children of color are being included in asthma studies, more research is still needed on impacts of specific criteria pollutants throughout the life course. Additionally, future studies should consider historical factors when analyzing current exposure profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Nardone
- University of California, San Francisco-University of California Berkeley Joint Medical Program, Berkeley, USA
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Andreas M Neophytou
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - John Balmes
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Neeta Thakur
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
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Carrillo G, Perez Patron MJ, Johnson N, Zhong Y, Lucio R, Xu X. Asthma prevalence and school-related hazardous air pollutants in the US-México border area. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 162:41-48. [PMID: 29278810 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.11.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2017] [Revised: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and has been linked to high levels of ambient air pollution and certain hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Outdoor pollutants such as benzene, released by car emissions, and organic chemicals found in diesel exhaust, as well as particles and irritant gases, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3), contribute to an increased prevalence of respiratory diseases such as asthma. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to: 1) conduct a screening survey to identify high risk for asthma among school-age children in Hidalgo County, and, 2) study the potential health impact of school-related exposure to HAPs pertaining to asthma risk. METHODS We carried out a quantitative cross-sectional study combining a school-based asthma screening survey across 198 schools in Hidalgo County, Texas, with information on school neighborhood environments, including census tract-level information on hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and socioeconomic status (SES) in the respective school neighborhoods. HAPs levels were assessed based on the EPA 2011 National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) while SES information was assessed using data from the 2010-2014 American Community Survey. RESULTS 2930 students completed the asthma screening survey and results showed an overall asthma prevalence of 9.4%, slightly higher than the national and state prevalence. Participants in the 14-18 years old age group showed a much higher asthma prevalence of 16.7%. When assessing school-neighborhood characteristics, our results revealed no significant differences in asthma prevalence across census tracts with different SES levels. For HAPs, in the single-pollutant model, chlorine levels showed a significant linear trend for prevalence of asthma (p=0.03) while hydrochloric acid had a marginally significant linear trend (p=0.08). The association with chlorine remained significant in the multi-pollutant model. CONCLUSIONS Asthma prevalence among school-age children in Hidalgo County, Texas, is 9.4%, which is slightly higher than the state rate, especially among young adults, ages 14-18 years who had an asthma rate of 16.7%. Results support an association between exposures to school-neighborhood HAPs and risk for pediatric asthma, especially as related to chlorine. No significant effects of school-level SES on asthma risk were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genny Carrillo
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health. Texas A&M University Health Science Center, TAMU 1266, 212 Adriance Lab Road, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Maria J Perez Patron
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health. Texas A&M University Health Science Center, TAMU 1266, 212 Adriance Lab Road, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Natalie Johnson
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health. Texas A&M University Health Science Center, TAMU 1266, 212 Adriance Lab Road, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
| | - Yan Zhong
- Statistics Department at Texas A&M University, TAMU 3143, 155 Ireland Street, College Station, TX 7784, USA.
| | - Rose Lucio
- Texas A&M University Health Science Center, School of Public Health - McAllen Campus, 2101 South McColl Road, McAllen, TX 78503, USA.
| | - Xiaohui Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health. Texas A&M University Health Science Center, TAMU 1266, 212 Adriance Lab Road, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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Permaul P, Phipatanakul W. School Environmental Intervention Programs. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2018; 6:22-29. [PMID: 29310758 PMCID: PMC5773264 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to indoor allergens and pollutants plays a significant part in the development of asthma and its associated morbidity. Inner-city children with asthma are disproportionately affected by these exposures with increased asthma morbidity. Although years of previous research have linked exposures in the urban home environment with significant childhood asthma disease, many of these allergens are also present in inner-city school environments. Therefore, evaluation of the school environment of patients with asthma is also essential. School-based environmental interventions may offer benefit for this problem and has the potential to help many children with asthma at once in a cost-effective manner. It is important that environmental health researchers continue to assess which interventions are most practical and result in the greatest measurable improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perdita Permaul
- Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass.
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30
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Recent advances in environmental controls outside the home setting. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2016; 16:135-41. [PMID: 26859366 DOI: 10.1097/aci.0000000000000250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW It has been well studied that aeroallergen, mold, and airborne pollutant exposure in the inner-city home environment is associated with significant childhood asthma morbidity. Although the home environment has been extensively studied, the school environment is less well understood. RECENT FINDINGS In this article, we discuss the relationship between environmental exposures within the school and daycare environment and pediatric asthma morbidity and novel environmental interventions designed to help mitigate pediatric asthma morbidity. SUMMARY Studies assessing environmental exposures outside the home environment and interventions to mitigate these exposures have the potential to reduce pediatric asthma morbidity. Further study in this area should focus on the complex cost benefit analyses of environmental interventions outside the home setting, while controlling for the home environment.
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Brockmeyer S, D'Angiulli A. How air pollution alters brain development: the role of neuroinflammation. Transl Neurosci 2016; 7:24-30. [PMID: 28123818 PMCID: PMC5017593 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2016-0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The present review synthesizes lines of emerging evidence showing how several samples of children populations living in large cities around the world suffer to some degree neural, behavioral and cognitive changes associated with air pollution exposure. The breakdown of natural barriers warding against the entry of toxic particles, including the nasal, gut and lung epithelial barriers, as well as widespread breakdown of the blood-brain barrier facilitatethe passage of airborne pollutants into the body of young urban residents. Extensive neuroinflammation contributes to cell loss within the central nervous system, and likely is a crucial mechanism by which cognitive deficits may arise. Although subtle, neurocognitive effects of air pollution are substantial, apparent across all populations, and potentially clinically relevant as early evidence of evolving neurodegenerative changes. The diffuse nature of the neuroinflammation risk suggests an integrated neuroscientific approach incorporating current clinical, cognitive, neurophysiological, radiological and epidemiologic research. Neuropediatric air pollution research requires extensive multidisciplinary collaborations to accomplish the goal of protecting exposed children through multidimensional interventions having both broad impact and reach. While intervening by improving environmental quality at a global scale is imperative, we also need to devise efficient strategies on how the neurocognitive effects on local pediatric populations should be monitored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Brockmeyer
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies (Child Studies), 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Amedeo D'Angiulli
- Department of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies (Child Studies), 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
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Hauptman M, Phipatanakul W. The school environment and asthma in childhood. Asthma Res Pract 2015; 1:12. [PMID: 26523228 PMCID: PMC4627718 DOI: 10.1186/s40733-015-0010-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, we discuss the relationship between environmental exposures within the school environment and pediatric asthma morbidity. This article will conclude by reviewing novel school based asthma education and therapeutic programs and environmental interventions designed to help mitigate pediatric asthma morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa Hauptman
- Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
- Region 1 New England Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Boston, MA USA
- Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115 USA
| | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
- Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115 USA
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