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Ahlers NE, Lin J, Weiss SJ. WITHDRAWN: Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter during Pregnancy: Implications for Infant Telomere Length. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2023.09.17.23295692. [PMID: 37790308 PMCID: PMC10543047 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.17.23295692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
This manuscript has been withdrawn by the authors as it was submitted and made public without the full consent of all the authors. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author. The authors have an approved version for citation that is peer reviewed. Ahlers, N.E.; Lin, J.; Weiss, S.J. Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter during Pregnancy: Implications for Infant Telomere Length. Air 2024, 2, 24-37. https://doi.org/10.3390/air2010002.
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Chalvatzaki E, Chatoutsidou SE, Almeida SM, Morawska L, Lazaridis M. The Representativeness of Outdoor Particulate Matter Concentrations for Estimating Personal Dose and Health Risk Assessment of School Children in Lisbon. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20085564. [PMID: 37107846 PMCID: PMC10138915 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the suitability of outdoor particulate matter data obtained from a fixed monitoring station in estimating the personal deposited dose. Outdoor data were retrieved from a station located within the urban area of Lisbon and simulations were performed involving school children. Two scenarios were applied: one where only outdoor data were used assuming an outdoor exposure scenario, and a second one where an actual exposure scenario was adopted using the actual microenvironment during typical school days. Personal PM10 and PM2.5 dose (actual exposure scenario) was 23.4% and 20.2% higher than the ambient (outdoor exposure scenario) PM10 and PM2.5 doses, respectively. The incorporation of the hygroscopic growth in the calculations increased the ambient dose of PM10 and PM2.5 by 8.8% and 21.7%, respectively. Regression analysis between the ambient and personal dose showed no linearity with R2 at 0.07 for PM10 and 0.22 for PM2.5. On the other hand, linear regression between the ambient and school indoor dose showed no linearity (R2 = 0.01) for PM10 but moderate (R2 = 0.48) for PM2.5. These results demonstrate that ambient data must be used with caution for the representativeness of a realistic personal dose of PM2.5 while for PM10 the ambient data cannot be used as a surrogate of a realistic personal dose of school children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftheria Chalvatzaki
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece; (E.C.); (S.E.C.)
| | - Sofia Eirini Chatoutsidou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece; (E.C.); (S.E.C.)
| | - Susana Marta Almeida
- Centro de Ciências Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139.7, 2695-066 Bobadela LRS, Portugal
| | - Lidia Morawska
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Mihalis Lazaridis
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece; (E.C.); (S.E.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Pradhan B, Jayaratne R, Thompson H, Buonanno G, Mazaheri M, Nyarku M, Lin W, Pereira ML, Cyrys J, Peters A, Morawska L. Utility of outdoor central site monitoring in assessing exposure of school children to ultrafine particles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160162. [PMID: 36379336 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies investigating the association between daily particle exposure and health effects are frequently based on a single monitoring site located in an urban background. Using a central site in epidemiological time-series studies has been established based on the premises of low spatial variability of particles within the areas of interest and hence the adequacy of the central sites to monitor the exposure. This is true to a large extent in relation to larger particles (PM2.5, PM10) that are typically monitored and regulated. However, the distribution of ultrafine particles (UFP), which in cities predominantly originate from traffic, is heterogeneous. With increasing pressure to improve the epidemiology of UFP, an important question to ask is, whether central site monitoring is representative of community exposure to this size fraction of particulate matter; addressing this question is the aim of this paper. To achieve this aim, we measured personal exposure to UFP, expressed as particle number concentration (PNC), using Philips Aerasense Nanotracers (NT) carried by the participants of the study, and condensation particle counters (CPC) or scanning mobility particle sizers (SMPS) at central fixed-site monitoring stations. The measurements were conducted at three locations in Brisbane (Australia), Cassino (Italy) and Accra (Ghana). We then used paired t-tests to compare the average personal and average fixed-site PNC measured over the same 24-h, and hourly, periods. We found that, at all three locations, the 24-h average fixed-site PNC was no different to the personal PNC, when averaged over the study period and all the participants. However, the corresponding hourly averages were significantly different at certain times of the day. These were generally times spent commuting and during cooking and eating at home. Our analysis of the data obtained in Brisbane, showed that maximum personal exposure occurred in the home microenvironment during morning breakfast and evening dinner time. The main source of PNC for personal exposure was from the home-microenvironment. We conclude that the 24-h average PNC from the central-site can be used to estimate the 24-h average personal exposure for a community. However, the hourly average PNC from the central site cannot consistently be used to estimate hourly average personal exposure, mainly because they are affected by very different sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basant Pradhan
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Rohan Jayaratne
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Helen Thompson
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Giorgio Buonanno
- Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, Italy
| | - Mandana Mazaheri
- South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mawutorli Nyarku
- School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Weiwei Lin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Marcelo Luiz Pereira
- Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Santa Catarina, Department of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Brazil
| | - Josef Cyrys
- Institute of Epidemiology (EPI), Helmholtz Zentrum Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology (EPI), Helmholtz Zentrum Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany; Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Lidia Morawska
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia; Global Centre for Clean Air Research, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.
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Chen J, Jahn HJ, Sun HZ, Ning Z, Lu W, Ho KF, Ward TJ. Validity of using ambient concentrations as surrogate exposures at the individual level for fine particle and black carbon: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 312:120030. [PMID: 36037851 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Exposure measurement error is an important source of bias in epidemiological studies. We assessed the validity of employing ambient (outdoor) measurements as proxies of personal exposures at individual levels focusing on fine particles (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC)/elemental carbon (EC) on a global scale. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis and searched databases (ISI Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE®, Ovid Embase, and Ovid BIOSIS) to retrieve observational studies in English language published from 1 January 2006 until 5 May 2021. Correlation coefficients (r) between paired ambient (outdoor) concentration and personal exposure for PM2.5 or BC/EC were standardized as effect size. We used random-effects meta-analyses to pool the correlation coefficients and investigated the causes of heterogeneity and publication bias. Furthermore, we employed subgroup and meta-regression analyses to evaluate the modification of pooled estimates by potential mediators. This systematic review identified thirty-two observational studies involving 1744 subjects from ten countries, with 28 studies for PM2.5 and 11 studies for BC/EC. Personal PM2.5 exposure is more strongly correlated with ambient (outdoor) concentrations (0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-0.68) than personal BC/EC exposure (0.49, 95% CI: 0.38-0.59), with significant differences in ṝ (0.14, 95% CI: 0.03-0.25; p < 0.05). The results demonstrated that the health status of participants was a significant modifier of pooled correlations. In addition, the personal to ambient (P/A) ratio for PM2.5 and average ambient BC/EC levels were potential effect moderators of the pooled ṝ. The funnel plots and Egger's regression test indicated inevident publication bias. The pooled estimates were robust through sensitivity analyses. The results support the growing consensus that the validity coefficient of proxy measures should be addressed when interpreting results from epidemiological studies to better understand how strong health outcomes are affected by different levels of PM2.5 and their components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayao Chen
- Department of Real Estate and Construction, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Institute of Research and Innovation, The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Heiko J Jahn
- Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Kassel, Kassel, Germany
| | - Haitong Zhe Sun
- Centre for Atmospheric Science, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK
| | - Zhi Ning
- Division of Environment and Sustainability, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China
| | - Weisheng Lu
- Department of Real Estate and Construction, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kin Fai Ho
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tony J Ward
- School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
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Lim S, Bassey E, Bos B, Makacha L, Varaden D, Arku RE, Baumgartner J, Brauer M, Ezzati M, Kelly FJ, Barratt B. Comparing human exposure to fine particulate matter in low and high-income countries: A systematic review of studies measuring personal PM 2.5 exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 833:155207. [PMID: 35421472 PMCID: PMC7615091 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the adverse health effects of air pollution, researchers have advocated for personal exposure measurements whereby individuals carry portable monitors in order to better characterise and understand the sources of people's pollution exposure. OBJECTIVES The aim of this systematic review is to assess the differences in the magnitude and sources of personal PM2.5 exposures experienced between countries at contrasting levels of income. METHODS This review summarised studies that measured participants personal exposure by carrying a PM2.5 monitor throughout their typical day. Personal PM2.5 exposures were summarised to indicate the distribution of exposures measured within each country income category (based on low (LIC), lower-middle (LMIC), upper-middle (UMIC), and high (HIC) income countries) and between different groups (i.e. gender, age, urban or rural residents). RESULTS From the 2259 search results, there were 140 studies that met our criteria. Overall, personal PM2.5 exposures in HICs were lower compared to other countries, with UMICs exposures being slightly lower than exposures measured in LMICs or LICs. 34% of measured groups in HICs reported below the ambient World Health Organisation 24-h PM2.5 guideline of 15 μg/m3, compared to only 1% of UMICs and 0% of LMICs and LICs. There was no difference between rural and urban participant exposures in HICs, but there were noticeably higher exposures recorded in rural areas compared to urban areas in non-HICs, due to significant household sources of PM2.5 in rural locations. In HICs, studies reported that secondhand smoke, ambient pollution infiltrating indoors, and traffic emissions were the dominant contributors to personal exposures. While, in non-HICs, household cooking and heating with biomass and coal were reported as the most important sources. CONCLUSION This review revealed a growing literature of personal PM2.5 exposure studies, which highlighted a large variability in exposures recorded and severe inequalities in geographical and social population subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanon Lim
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK.
| | - Eridiong Bassey
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Brendan Bos
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Liberty Makacha
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK; Place Alert Labs, Department of Surveying and Geomatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe; Department of Women and Children's Health, School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, UK
| | - Diana Varaden
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR-HPRU Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Raphael E Arku
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
| | - Jill Baumgartner
- Institute for Health and Social Policy, and Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Michael Brauer
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
| | - Majid Ezzati
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK; Abdul Latif Jameel Institute for Disease and Emergency Analytics, Imperial College London, UK; Regional Institute for Population Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Frank J Kelly
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR-HPRU Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Benjamin Barratt
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, UK; NIHR-HPRU Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
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Faria T, Cunha-Lopes I, Pilou M, Housiadas C, Querol X, Alves C, Almeida SM. Children's exposure to size-fractioned particulate matter: Chemical composition and internal dose. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 823:153745. [PMID: 35150685 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153745] [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: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The health effects of the particulate matter (PM) depend not only on its aerodynamic diameter (AD) and chemical composition, but also on the time activity pattern of the individuals and on their age. The main objective of this work was to assess the exposure of children to aerosol particles by using personal instruments, to study the particle size and composition of the inhaled PM, and to estimate their transport and deposition into the human respiratory tract (HRT). The average daily PM2.5 exposure was 19 μg/m3 and the size fractions with the greatest contribution to PM2.5 concentrations were 1 < AD <2.5 μm and AD <0.25 μm. Results indicated a contribution of 9% from the mineral aerosol, 7.2% from anthropogenic sulphate, 6.7% from black carbon and 5% from anthropogenic trace elements to the daily exposure to PM2.5. The levels of mineral and marine elements increased with increasing particle size, while anthropogenic elements were present in higher concentrations in the finest particles. Particle size has been shown to influence the variability of daily dose deposited between the extrathoracic and alveolar-interstitial zones. On average, 3% of the PM deposited in the bronchial region, whereas 5% to 8% were found in the bronchiolar region. The level of physical activity had a significant contribution to the total daily dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Faria
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - I Cunha-Lopes
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M Pilou
- Thermal Hydraulics & Multiphase Flow Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Science & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR "DEMOKRITOS", Athens, Greece
| | - C Housiadas
- Thermal Hydraulics & Multiphase Flow Laboratory, Institute of Nuclear and Radiological Science & Technology, Energy & Safety, NCSR "DEMOKRITOS", Athens, Greece
| | - X Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Spanish Research Council, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Alves
- Department of Environment, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - S M Almeida
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
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Boomhower SR, Long CM, Li W, Manidis TD, Bhatia A, Goodman JE. A review and analysis of personal and ambient PM 2.5 measurements: Implications for epidemiology studies. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112019. [PMID: 34534524 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112019] [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: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In epidemiology studies, ambient measurements of PM2.5 are often used as surrogates for personal exposures. However, it is unclear the degree to which ambient PM2.5 reflects personal exposures. OBJECTIVE In order to examine potential sources of bias in epidemiology studies, we conducted a review and meta-analysis of studies to determine the extent to which short-term measurements of ambient PM2.5 levels are related to short-term measurements of personal PM2.5 levels. METHODS We conducted a literature search of studies reporting both personal and ambient measurements of PM2.5 published in the last 10 years (2009-2019) and incorporated studies published prior to 2009 from reviews. RESULTS Seventy-one studies were identified. Based on 17 studies reporting slopes, a meta-analysis revealed an overall slope of 0.56 μg/m3 (95% CI: [0.39, 0.73]) personal PM2.5 per μg/m3 increase in ambient PM2.5. Slopes for summer months were higher (slope = 0.73, 95% CI: [0.64, 0.81]) than for winter (slope = 0.46, 95% CI: [0.36, 0.57]). Based on 44 studies reporting correlations, we calculated an overall personal-ambient PM2.5 correlation of 0.63 (95% CI: [0.55, 0.71]). Correlations were stronger in studies conducted in Canada (r = 0.86, 95% CI: [0.67, 0.94]) compared to the USA (r = 0.60, 95% CI: [0.49, 0.70]) and China (r = 0.60, 95% CI: [0.46, 0.71]). Correlations also were stronger in urban areas (r = 0.53, 95% CI: [0.43, 0.62]) vs. suburban areas (r = 0.36, 95% CI: [0.21, 0.49]). SIGNIFICANCE Our results suggest a large degree of variability in the personal-ambient PM2.5 association and the potential for exposure misclassification and measurement error in PM2.5 epidemiology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Boomhower
- Gradient, One Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108, USA; Harvard Division of Continuing Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | | | - Wenchao Li
- Gradient, One Beacon Street, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
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Personal Exposure to Black Carbon, Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Dioxide in the Paris Region Measured by Portable Sensors Worn by Volunteers. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10010033. [PMID: 35051075 PMCID: PMC8779195 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Portable sensors have emerged as a promising solution for personal exposure (PE) measurement. For the first time in Île-de-France, PE to black carbon (BC), particulate matter (PM), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was quantified based on three field campaigns involving 37 volunteers from the general public wearing the sensors all day long for a week. This successful deployment demonstrated its ability to quantify PE on a large scale, in various environments (from dense urban to suburban, indoor and outdoor) and in all seasons. The impact of the visited environments was investigated. The proximity to road traffic (for BC and NO2), as well as cooking activities and tobacco smoke (for PM), made significant contributions to total exposure (up to 34%, 26%, and 44%, respectively), even though the time spent in these environments was short. Finally, even if ambient outdoor levels played a role in PE, the prominent impact of the different environments suggests that traditional ambient monitoring stations is not a proper surrogate for PE quantification.
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Ahlers NE, Weiss SJ. Exposure to particulate matter, prenatal depressive symptoms and HPA axis dysregulation. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07166. [PMID: 34141927 PMCID: PMC8187961 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of depression during pregnancy is on the rise, affecting women's well-being and their children's health outcomes. Preliminary studies suggest that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may play a role in development of depressive symptoms. In addition, pollution has been linked to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, our brain's primary stress response system. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of air pollution exposure during pregnancy to prenatal depressive symptoms. We also evaluated whether cortisol, the hormonal endpoint of HPA activation, mediated the relationship between exposure to pollution and prenatal depression. METHODS Women were recruited in obstetric clinics during their third trimester of pregnancy. They completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depression and provided salivary samples at 4 times during the day for 2 days. Four measures of cortisol were calculated from salivary assays: average cortisol level, cortisol awakening response (CAR), diurnal cortisol slope (DCS), and area under the curve (AUCG). We acquired data on particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm (PM2.5) or less within each woman's residential area from public records of the air quality control district. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the aims. RESULTS Increased prenatal exposure to PM2.5 across pregnancy was associated with more severe depressive symptoms during the 3rd trimester (β = 0.14, p = 0.02). Greater PM2.5 exposure also had significant relationships with both higher cortisol AUCG (β = 15.933, p = 0.005) and average cortisol levels (β = 0.018, p = 0.023) among women. However, no cortisol parameter appeared to mediate the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest pregnancy may be a critical window of sensitivity to PM2.5 exposure that escalates depression risk and induces activation of the HPA axis, evidenced in greater overall cortisol concentration. Further research is needed to identify mechanisms underlying the effects of particulate matter, especially potential methylation of glucocorticoid or serotonin transporter genes that may elicit changes in both depression and the stress response system. In addition, assessment of depression appears warranted for pregnant women in regions known for high pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina E. Ahlers
- Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sandra J. Weiss
- Department of Community Health Systems, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Li N, Xu C, Liu Z, Li N, Chartier R, Chang J, Wang Q, Wu Y, Li Y, Xu D. Determinants of personal exposure to fine particulate matter in the retired adults - Results of a panel study in two megacities, China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 265:114989. [PMID: 32563807 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between outdoor, indoor, and personal PM2.5 exposure in the retired adults and explore the effects of potential determinants in two Chinese megacities. A longitudinal panel study was conducted in Nanjing (NJ) and Beijing (BJ), China, and thirty-three retired non-smoking adults aged 43-86 years were recruited in each city. Repeated measurements of outdoor-indoor-personal PM2.5 concentrations were measured for five consecutive 24-h periods during both heating and non-heating seasons using real-time and gravimetric methods. Time-activity and household characteristics were recorded. Mixed-effects models were applied to analyze the determinants of personal PM2.5 exposure. In total, 558 complete sets of collocated 24-h outdoor-indoor-personal PM2.5 concentrations were collected. The median 24-h personal PM2.5 exposure concentrations ranged from 43 to 79 μg/m3 across cities and seasons, which were significantly greater than their corresponding indoor levels (ranging from 36 to 68 μg/m3, p < 0.001), but significantly lower than outdoor levels (ranging from 43 to 95 μg/m3, p < 0.001). Indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations were the strongest determinants of personal exposures in both cities and seasons, with RM2 ranging from 0.814 to 0.915 for indoor and from 0.698 to 0.844 for outdoor PM2.5 concentrations, respectively. The personal-outdoor regression slopes varied widely among seasons, with a pronounced effect in BJ (NHS: 0.618 ± 0.042; HS: 0.834 ± 0.023). Ventilation status, indoor PM2.5 sources, personal characteristics, and meteorological factors, were also found to influence personal exposure levels. The city and season-specific models developed here are able to account for 89%-93% of the variance in personal PM2.5 exposure. A LOOCV analysis showed an R2 (RMSE) of 0.80-0.90 (0.21-0.36), while a 10-fold CV analysis demonstrated a R2 (RMSE) of 0.83-0.90 (0.20-0.35). By incorporating potentially significant determinants of personal exposure, this modeling approach can improve the accuracy of personal PM2.5 exposure assessment in epidemiologic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Chunyu Xu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Zhe Liu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Ning Li
- Nanjing Jiangning Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, 211100, China
| | - Ryan Chartier
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, United States
| | - Junrui Chang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Qin Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yaxi Wu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Yunpu Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Dongqun Xu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 100021, China.
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Wang X, Tian J, Li Z, Lai J, Huang X, He Y, Ye Z, Li G. Relationship between different particle size fractions and all-cause and cause-specific emergency ambulance dispatches. Environ Health 2020; 19:69. [PMID: 32552755 PMCID: PMC7301562 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00619-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence on the relationship between different particle size fractions and emergency ambulance dispatches (EAD) remains limited and sparse. METHODS We collected daily data of EAD, ambient air pollution and meteorological data from 2014 to 2018 in Guangzhou, China. We used a generalized additive model with covariate adjustments to estimate the associations between different particle size fractions and EAD related to all-cause, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases. Several subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed. RESULTS Significant associations were observed between PM2.5, PM2.5-10, PM10 and EADs. A 10 μg/m3 increase of PM2.5, PM2.5-10, and PM10 was associated with an increase of 0.98% (95% CI: 0.67, 1.28%), 2.06% (95% CI: 1.44, 2.68%), and 0.75% (95%CI: 0.53, 0.96%) in all-cause EAD, with an increase of 0.69% (95% CI: 0.00, 1.39%), 2.04% (95% CI: 0.64, 3.45%), and 0.60% (95%CI: 0.11,1.10%) in cardiovascular-related EAD, and an increase of 1.14% (95% CI: 0.25, 2.04%), 2.52% (95% CI: 0.72, 4.35%), and 0.89% (95%CI: 0.25,1.52%) in respiratory-related EAD at lag03, respectively. The results were robust in subgroup and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed that PM2.5, PM2.5-10 and PM10 were significantly related with risks of all-cause and cause-specific EAD. More evidence of high quality may be needed to further support our results in this ecological study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Wang
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Methodology (CCEM), Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junzhang Tian
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Methodology (CCEM), Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziyi Li
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Methodology (CCEM), Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Lai
- Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Methodology (CCEM), Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongcong He
- Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zebing Ye
- Department of Cardiology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Guowei Li
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Methodology (CCEM), Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Health research methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, 1280 Main St West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada.
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Evangelopoulos D, Katsouyanni K, Keogh RH, Samoli E, Schwartz J, Barratt B, Zhang H, Walton H. PM 2.5 and NO 2 exposure errors using proxy measures, including derived personal exposure from outdoor sources: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 137:105500. [PMID: 32018132 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of proxy exposure estimates for PM2.5 and NO2 in air pollution studies instead of personal exposures, introduces measurement error, which can produce biased epidemiological effect estimates. Most studies consider total personal exposure as the gold standard. However, when studying the effects of ambient air pollution, personal exposure from outdoor sources is the exposure of interest. OBJECTIVES We assessed the magnitude and variability of exposure measurement error by conducting a systematic review of the differences between personal exposures from outdoor sources and the corresponding measurements for ambient concentrations in order to increase understanding of the measurement error structures of the pollutants. DATA SOURCES AND ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We reviewed the literature (ISI Web of Science, Medline, 2000-2016) for English language studies (in any age group in any location (NO2) or Europe and North America (PM2.5)) that reported repeated measurements over time both for personal and ambient PM2.5 or NO2 concentrations. Only a few studies reported personal exposure from outdoor sources. We also collected data for infiltration factors and time-activity patterns of the individuals in order to estimate personal exposures from outdoor sources in every study. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS Studies using modelled rather than monitored exposures were excluded. Type of personal exposure monitor was assessed. Random effects meta-analysis was conducted to quantify exposure error as the mean difference between "true" and proxy measures. RESULTS Thirty-two papers for PM2.5 and 24 for NO2 were identified. Outdoor sources were found to contribute 44% (range: 33-55%) of total personal exposure to PM2.5 and 74% (range: 57-88%) to NO2. Overall estimates of personal exposure (24-hour averages) from outdoor sources were 9.3 μg/m3 and 12.0 ppb for PM2.5 and NO2 respectively, while the corresponding difference between these exposures and the ambient concentrations (i.e. the measurement error) was 5.72 μg/m3 and 7.17 ppb. Our findings indicated also higher error variability for NO2 than PM2.5. Large heterogeneity was observed which was not explained sufficiently by geographical location or age group of the study sample. LIMITATIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS Relying only on information available in published studies led to some limitations: the contribution of outdoor sources to total personal exposure for NO2 had to be inferred, individual variation in exposure misclassification was unavailable and instrument error could not be addressed. The larger magnitude and variability of errors for NO2 compared with PM2.5 has implications for biases in the health effect estimates of multi-pollutant epidemiological models. Results suggest that further research is needed regarding personal exposure studies and measurement error bias in epidemiological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Evangelopoulos
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK.
| | - Klea Katsouyanni
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Ruth H Keogh
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Evangelia Samoli
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Str, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ben Barratt
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Hanbin Zhang
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Heather Walton
- NIHR HPRU Health Impact of Environmental Hazards, Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences, King's College London, UK
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13
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Chen XC, Ward TJ, Cao JJ, Lee SC, Chow JC, Lau GNC, Yim SHL, Ho KF. Determinants of personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in adult subjects in Hong Kong. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 628-629:1165-1177. [PMID: 30045539 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Personal monitoring for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was conducted for adults (48 subjects, 18-63years of age) in Hong Kong during the summer and winter of 2014-2015. All filters were analyzed for PM2.5 mass and constituents (including carbonaceous aerosols, water-soluble ions, and elements). We found that season (p=0.02) and occupation (p<0.001) were significant factors affecting the strength of the personal-ambient PM2.5 associations. We applied mixed-effects models to investigate the determinants of personal exposure to PM2.5 mass and constituents, along with within- and between-individual variance components. Ambient PM2.5 was the dominant predictor of (R2=0.12-0.59, p<0.01) and the largest contributor (>37.3%) to personal exposures for PM2.5 mass and most components. For all subjects, a one-unit (2.72μg/m3) increase in ambient PM2.5 was associated with a 0.75μg/m3 (95% CI: 0.59-0.94μg/m3) increase in personal PM2.5 exposure. The adjusted mixed-effects models included information extracted from individual's activity diaries as covariates. The results showed that season, occupation, time indoors at home, in transit, and cleaning were significant determinants for PM2.5 components in personal exposure (R2β=0.06-0.63, p<0.05), contributing to 3.0-70.4% of the variability. For one-hour extra time spent at home, in transit, and cleaning an average increase of 1.7-3.6% (ammonium, sulfate, nitrate, sulfur), 2.7-12.3% (elemental carbon, ammonium, titanium, iron), and 8.7-19.4% (ammonium, magnesium ions, vanadium) in components of personal PM2.5 were observed, respectively. In this research, the within-individual variance component dominated the total variability for all investigated exposure data except PM2.5 and EC. Results from this study indicate that performing long-term personal monitoring is needed for examining the associations of mass and constituents of personal PM2.5 with health outcomes in epidemiological studies by describing the impacts of individual-specific data on personal exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Cui Chen
- Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tony J Ward
- School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Jun-Ji Cao
- Key Laboratory of Aerosol, SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China; Institute of Global Environmental Change, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shun-Cheng Lee
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Judith C Chow
- Key Laboratory of Aerosol, SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China; Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, NV 89512-1095, USA
| | - Gabriel N C Lau
- Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Steve H L Yim
- Department of Geography and Resource Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kin-Fai Ho
- Institute of Environment, Energy and Sustainability, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Key Laboratory of Aerosol, SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China.
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14
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Tsui HC, Chen CH, Wu YH, Chiang HC, Chen BY, Guo YL. Lifetime exposure to particulate air pollutants is negatively associated with lung function in non-asthmatic children. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 236:953-961. [PMID: 29153727 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.10.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary function is known to be affected by acute and subacute exposure to ambient air pollution. However, the impacts of lifetime exposure to air pollution on the pulmonary function of children have been inconsistent. The present study investigated the impact of lifetime residential exposure to intermediate levels of air pollution on the pulmonary function of schoolchildren. METHODS In 2011, a survey of children aged 6-15 years was conducted in 44 schools in Taiwan. Atopic history, residential history, and environmental factors were recorded. Spirograms were obtained from a random sample of children without asthma. A total of 535 girls and 481 boys without a history of asthma were enrolled. Lifetime residential exposure to air pollutants, including particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO), was estimated using the kriging method, based on monitored data from the Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the association between lifetime air pollution exposure and pulmonary function, after adjustment for potential confounders and recent exposure. RESULTS After adjustment for 7-day average air pollutant levels, a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10 was related to reductions in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (-2.00%; 95% confidence interval [CI] -3.09% to -0.90%), forced vital capacity (-1.86%; CI: -2.96% to -0.75%), and maximal midexpiratory flow (-2.28%; CI: -4.04% to -0.51%). These associations were independent of the other pollutants. CONCLUSION Lifetime exposure to 25-85 μg/m3 of PM10 has negative impacts on the pulmonary function of children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Chang Tsui
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Hsien Chen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Hsuan Wu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Che Chiang
- National Institute of Environmental Health Science, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Yu Chen
- Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yue Leon Guo
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University (NTU) College of Medicine and NTU Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; National Institute of Environmental Health Science, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
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15
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Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in PM 2.5 in Zhejiang Province. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15040583. [PMID: 29587346 PMCID: PMC5923625 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15040583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The spatiotemporal characteristics and human health risks of 12 heavy metals (Al, As, Be, Cd, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and Tl) in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Zhejiang Province were investigated. The annual average PM2.5 concentration was 58.83 µg/m3 in 2015 in Zhejiang. Element contents in PM2.5 varied greatly with the season and locations. Al, Pb, and Mn were the most abundant elements among the studied metal(loid)s in PM2.5. The non-carcinogenic risks of the 12 elements through inhalation and dermal contact exposure were lower than the safe level for children and adults. However, there were potential non-carcinogenic risks of Tl, As, and Sb for children and Tl for adults through ingestion exposure. The carcinogenic risks from As, Be, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Ni through inhalation exposure were less than the acceptable level (1 × 10−4) for children and adults. Pb may carry a potential carcinogenic risk for both children and adults through ingestion. More attention should be paid to alleviate non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks posed by particle-bound toxic elements through ingestion exposure.
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16
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Borlée F, Yzermans CJ, Aalders B, Rooijackers J, Krop E, Maassen CBM, Schellevis F, Brunekreef B, Heederik D, Smit LAM. Air Pollution from Livestock Farms Is Associated with Airway Obstruction in Neighboring Residents. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2017; 196:1152-1161. [DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201701-0021oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Floor Borlée
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - C. Joris Yzermans
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Bernadette Aalders
- Netherlands Expertise Centre for Occupational Respiratory Disorders, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jos Rooijackers
- Netherlands Expertise Centre for Occupational Respiratory Disorders, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Esmeralda Krop
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Catharina B. M. Maassen
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - François Schellevis
- Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Vrije Universiteit, University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and
| | - Bert Brunekreef
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Dick Heederik
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Lidwien A. M. Smit
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
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17
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Stingone JA, Luben TJ, Carmichael SL, Aylsworth AS, Botto LD, Correa A, Gilboa SM, Langlois PH, Nembhard WN, Richmond-Bryant J, Shaw GM, Olshan AF. Maternal Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide, Intake of Methyl Nutrients, and Congenital Heart Defects in Offspring. Am J Epidemiol 2017; 186:719-729. [PMID: 28520847 PMCID: PMC5610640 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwx139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 10/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Nutrients that regulate methylation processes may modify susceptibility to the effects of air pollutants. Data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (United States, 1997-2006) were used to estimate associations between maternal exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), dietary intake of methyl nutrients, and the odds of congenital heart defects in offspring. NO2 concentrations, a marker of traffic-related air pollution, averaged across postconception weeks 2-8, were assigned to 6,160 nondiabetic mothers of cases and controls using inverse distance-squared weighting of air monitors within 50 km of maternal residences. Intakes of choline, folate, methionine, and vitamins B6 and B12 were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Hierarchical regression models, which accounted for similarities across defects, were constructed, and relative excess risks due to interaction were calculated. Relative to women with the lowest NO2 exposure and high methionine intake, women with the highest NO2 exposure and lowest methionine intake had the greatest odds of offspring with a perimembranous ventricular septal defect (odds ratio = 3.23, 95% confidence interval: 1.74, 6.01; relative excess risk due to interaction = 2.15, 95% confidence interval: 0.39, 3.92). Considerable departure from additivity was not observed for other defects. These results provide modest evidence of interaction between nutrition and NO2 exposure during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette A. Stingone
- Correspondence to Dr. Jeanette A. Stingone, Icahn School of Medicine, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, One Gustave Levy Place, Box 1057 New York, NY 10029 (e-mail: )
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18
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Pedde M, Szpiro AA, Adar SD. Traffic Congestion as a Risk Factor for Mortality in Near-Road Communities: A Case-Crossover Study. Am J Epidemiol 2017; 186:564-572. [PMID: 28520888 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwx130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Existing epidemiologic research on traffic largely neglects localized fluctuations. We leveraged finely resolved congestion data to investigate short-term associations with mortality in communities near roadways. We identified all nonaccidental, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and respiratory deaths (2009-2013) within 1 km of a highway in the Puget Sound region of Washington State. Using a case-crossover design, we examined the association of congestion 0-150 m, 151-300 m, and 301-1,000 m upwind of a decedent's home with mortality, adjusting for meteorology, holidays, and influenza activity. Among 9,449 deaths, we observed higher odds of cerebrovascular and respiratory mortality with greater upwind congestion, especially congestion near the decedent's home. For each 10-minute-km increase in upwind congestion within 150 m, the odds of cerebrovascular mortality were 1.08 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88, 1.33); within 151-300 m, the odds of cerebrovascular mortality were 1.05 (95% CI: 0.98, 1.12) times higher. We observed similar patterns for respiratory mortality, with 1.06 (95% CI: 0.76, 1.50) times higher odds of death with greater upwind congestion within 150 m and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.10) times higher odds within 151-300 m. No increased odds of mortality were observed at greater distances, for overall mortality, or with downwind congestion. Unexpectedly, lower odds of cardiovascular mortality were suggested with greater congestion. This work demonstrates the use of nontraditional data to characterize the impacts of near-road exposures.
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Pant P, Habib G, Marshall JD, Peltier RE. PM 2.5 exposure in highly polluted cities: A case study from New Delhi, India. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 156:167-174. [PMID: 28349881 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Revised: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Personal exposure (PE) to air pollutants is driven by a combination of pollutant concentrations in indoor and outdoor environments, and time-activity pattern of individuals. The objectives of this study were to estimate personal exposure to PM2.5 and black carbon (BC), and assess the representability of ambient air quality monitoring stations to serve as surrogates for PE in New Delhi. Personal exposure to air pollutants (PM2.5-PE and BCPE) was measured using portable, battery-operated instruments (PM2.5- pDR1500 and BC- microAethalometer AE51) in a small cohort of healthy adults (n=12 in summer, n=6 in winter) with no occupational exposure. Average PM2.5-PE and BCPE (µg/m3) were 53.9±136 and 3.71±4.29 respectively, in summer and 489.2±209.2 and 23.3±14.9 respectively, in winter. Activities associated with highest exposure levels were cooking and indoor cleaning for PM2.5, and commuting for BC. Within transport microenvironments, autorickshaws were found to be the most polluted, and lowest BC exposure was registered in public buses. Comparison of fixed-site ambient monitoring data showed a higher correlation with personal exposure dataset in winter compared to summer (r2 of 0.51 (winter) and 0.21 (summer); 51% (winter) and 20% (summer)). This study highlights the need for detailed assessment of PE to air pollutants in Indian cities, and calls for a denser network of monitoring stations for better exposure assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Pant
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, 171 Goessmann, 686 North Pleasant St, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
| | - Gazala Habib
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India.
| | - Julian D Marshall
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, USA.
| | - Richard E Peltier
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, 171 Goessmann, 686 North Pleasant St, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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20
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Xia R, Zhou G, Zhu T, Li X, Wang G. Ambient Air Pollution and Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Beijing, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:E423. [PMID: 28420118 PMCID: PMC5409624 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14040423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Air pollutants are associated with cardiovascular death; however, there is limited evidence of the effects of different pollutants on out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) in Beijing, China. We aimed to investigate the associations of OHCAs with the air pollutants PM2.5-10 (coarse particulate matter), PM2.5 (particles ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O₃) between 2013 and 2015 using a time-stratified case-crossover study design. We obtained health data from the nationwide emergency medical service database; 4720 OHCA cases of cardiac origin were identified. After adjusting for relative humidity and temperature, the highest odds ratios of OHCA for a 10 μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 were observed at Lag Day 1 (1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.10), with strong associations with advanced age (aged ≥70 years) (1.09; 95% CI: 1.05-1.13) and stroke history (1.11; 95% CI: 1.06-1.16). PM2.5-10 and NO₂ also showed significant associations with OHCAs, whereas SO₂, CO, and O₃ had no effects. After simultaneously adjusting for NO₂ and SO₂ in a multi-pollutant model, PM2.5 remained significant. The effects of PM2.5 in the single-pollutant models for cases with hypertension, respiratory disorders, diabetes mellitus, and heart disease were higher than those for cases without these complications; however, the differences were not statistically significant. The results support that elevated PM2.5 exposure contributes to triggering OHCA, especially in those who are advanced in age and have a history of stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruixue Xia
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Hospital, Health Sciences Centre, Peking University, 8 Xishiku Rd., Beijing 100034, China.
| | - Guopeng Zhou
- Department of Hospital Information, First Hospital, Health Sciences Centre, Peking University, 8 Xishiku Rd., Beijing 100034, China.
| | - Tong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering and Centre for Environment and Health, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Xueying Li
- Department of Hospital Information, First Hospital, Health Sciences Centre, Peking University, 8 Xishiku Rd., Beijing 100034, China.
| | - Guangfa Wang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Hospital, Health Sciences Centre, Peking University, 8 Xishiku Rd., Beijing 100034, China.
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21
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Chen XC, Jahn HJ, Engling G, Ward TJ, Kraemer A, Ho KF, Chan CY. Characterization of ambient-generated exposure to fine particles using sulfate as a tracer in the Chinese megacity of Guangzhou. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 580:347-357. [PMID: 27955968 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 09/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Total personal exposures can differ from the concentrations measured at stationary ambient monitoring sites. To provide further insight into factors affecting exposure to particles, chemical tracers were used to separate total personal exposure into its ambient and non-ambient components. Simultaneous measurements of ambient and personal exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) were conducted in eight districts of Guangzhou, a megacity in South China, during the winter of 2011. Considerable significant correlations (Spearman's Rho, rs) between personal exposures and ambient concentrations of sulfate (SO42-; rs>0.68) were found in contrast to elemental carbon (EC; rs>0.37). The average fraction of personal SO42- to ambient SO42- resulting in an adjusted ambient exposure factor of α=0.72 and a slope of 0.73 was determined from linear regression analysis when there were minimal indoor sources of SO42-. From all data pooled across the districts, the estimated average ambient-generated and non-ambient-generated exposure to PM2.5 were 55.3μg/m3 (SD=23.4μg/m3) and 18.1μg/m3 (SD=29.1μg/m3), respectively. A significant association was found between ambient-generated exposure and ambient PM2.5 concentrations (Pearson's r=0.51, p<0.001). As expected, the non-ambient generated exposure was not related to the ambient concentrations. This study highlights the importance of both ambient and non-ambient components of total personal exposure in the megacity of Guangzhou. Our results support the use of SO42- as a tracer of personal exposure to PM2.5 of ambient origin in environmental and epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Cui Chen
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Heiko J Jahn
- Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Guenter Engling
- Division of Atmospheric Sciences, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Tony J Ward
- School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Alexander Kraemer
- Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Kin-Fai Ho
- The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chuen-Yu Chan
- Key Laboratory of Aerosol, SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an, China
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Gurram S, Stuart AL, Pinjari AR. Impacts of travel activity and urbanicity on exposures to ambient oxides of nitrogen and on exposure disparities. AIR QUALITY, ATMOSPHERE, & HEALTH 2015; 8:97-114. [PMID: 25741390 PMCID: PMC4338342 DOI: 10.1007/s11869-014-0275-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 06/17/2014] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Daily exposures to ambient oxides of nitrogen were estimated here for residents of Hillsborough County, FL. The 2009 National Household Travel Survey provided geocoded data on fixed activity locations during each person-day sampled. Routes between activity locations were calculated from transportation network data, assuming the quickest travel path. To estimate daily exposure concentrations for each person-day, the exposure locations were matched with diurnally and spatially varying ambient pollutant concentrations derived from CALPUFF dispersion model results. The social distribution of exposures was analyzed by comparing frequency distributions of grouped daily exposure concentrations and by regression modeling. To investigate exposure error, the activity-based exposure estimates were also compared with estimates derived using residence location alone. The mean daily activity-based exposure concentration for the study sample was 17 μg/m3, with values for individual person-day records ranging from 7.0 to 43 μg/m3. The highest mean exposure concentrations were found for the following groups: black (20 μg/m3), below poverty (18 μg/m3), and urban residence location (22 μg/m3). Urban versus rural residence was associated with the largest increase in exposure concentration in the regression (8.3 μg/m3). Time in nonresidential activities, including travel, was associated with an increase of 0.2 μg/m3 per hour. Time spent travelling and at nonresidential locations contributed an average of 6 and 24 %, respectively, to the daily estimate. A mean error of 3.6 %, with range from -64 to 58 %, was found to result from using residence location alone. Exposure error was highest for those who travel most, but lowest for the sociodemographic subgroups with higher mean exposure concentrations (including blacks and those from below poverty households). This work indicates the importance of urbanicity to social disparities in activity-based air pollution exposures. It also suggests that exposure error due to using residence location may be smaller for more exposed groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sashikanth Gurram
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
| | - Amy Lynette Stuart
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612 USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
- School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Abdul Rawoof Pinjari
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA
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Goldberg HJ, Holguin F. Carbon Monoxide in Small Doses—A Good Thing? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2013; 188:1187-8. [DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201309-1615ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Farhat N, Ramsay T, Jerrett M, Krewski D. Short-Term Effects of Ozone and PM<sub>2.5</sub> on Mortality in 12 Canadian Cities. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.4236/jep.2013.412a1003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Le HQ, Batterman SA, Wirth JJ, Wahl RL, Hoggatt KJ, Sadeghnejad A, Hultin ML, Depa M. Air pollutant exposure and preterm and term small-for-gestational-age births in Detroit, Michigan: long-term trends and associations. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2012; 44:7-17. [PMID: 22314199 PMCID: PMC4331339 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2012.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2011] [Revised: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 01/06/2012] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Studies in a number of countries have reported associations between exposure to ambient air pollutants and adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm birth (PTB) and, less commonly, small for gestational age (SGA). Despite their growing number, the available studies have significant limitations, e.g., incomplete control of temporal trends in exposure, modest sample sizes, and a lack of information regarding individual risk factors such as smoking. No study has yet examined large numbers of susceptible individuals. We investigated the association between ambient air pollutant concentrations and term SGA and PTB outcomes among 164,905 singleton births in Detroit, Michigan occurring between 1990 and 2001. SO(2), CO, NO(2), O(3) and PM(10) exposures were used in single and multiple pollutant logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (OR) for these outcomes, adjusted for the infant's sex and gestational age, the mother's race, age group, education level, smoking status and prenatal care, birth season, site of residence, and long-term exposure trends. Term SGA was associated with CO levels exceeding 0.75ppm (OR=1.14, 95% confidence interval=1.02-1.27) and NO(2) exceeding 6.8ppb (1.11, 1.03-1.21) exposures in the first month, and with PM(10) exceeding 35μg/m(3) (1.22, 1.03-1.46) and O(3) (1.11, 1.02-1.20) exposure in the third trimester. PTB was associated with SO(2) (1.07, 1.01-1.14) exposure in the last month, and with (hourly) O(3) exceeding 92ppb (1.08, 1.02-1.14) exposure in the first month. Exposure to several air pollutants at modest concentrations was associated with adverse birth outcomes. This study, which included a large Black population, suggests the importance of the early period of pregnancy for associations between term SGA with CO and NO(2), and between O(3) with PTB; and the late pregnancy period for associations between term SGA and O(3) and PM(10), and between SO(2) with PTB. It also highlights the importance of accounting for individual risk factors such as maternal smoking, maternal race, and long-term trends in air pollutant levels and adverse birth outcomes in evaluating relationships between pollutant exposures and adverse birth outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hien Q. Le
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Julia J. Wirth
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Robert L. Wahl
- Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Katherine J. Hoggatt
- University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- VA Greater Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Mary Lee Hultin
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Michael Depa
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Lansing, MI, USA
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Branis M, Linhartova M. Association between unemployment, income, education level, population size and air pollution in Czech cities: evidence for environmental inequality? A pilot national scale analysis. Health Place 2012; 18:1110-4. [PMID: 22632903 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2011] [Revised: 04/17/2012] [Accepted: 04/28/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
We analyzed differentials in exposure to SO(2), PM(10) and NO(2) among Czech urban populations categorized according to education level, unemployment rate, population size and average annual salary. Altogether 39 cities were included in the analysis. The principal component analysis revealed two factors explaining 72.8% of the data variability. The first factor explaining 44.7% of the data variability included SO(2), PM(10), low education level and high unemployment, documenting that inhabitants with unfavorable socioeconomic status mainly reside in smaller cities with higher concentration levels of combustion-related air pollutants. The second factor explaining 28.1% of the data variability included NO(2), high salary, high education level and large population, suggesting that large cities with residents with higher socioeconomic status are exposed to higher levels of traffic-related air pollution. We conclude that, after more than a decade of free-market economy, the Czech Republic, a former Soviet satellite with a centrally planned economy, displays signs of a certain kind of environmental inequality, since environmental hazards are unevenly distributed among the Czech urban populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Branis
- Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Science, Institute for Environmental Studies, Albertov 6, 128 43 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
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Ghosh R, Joad J, Benes I, Dostal M, Sram RJ, Hertz-Picciotto I. Ambient nitrogen oxides exposure and early childhood respiratory illnesses. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2012; 39:96-102. [PMID: 22208747 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2011] [Revised: 09/09/2011] [Accepted: 10/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Acute respiratory infections are common in children below 5 years and recent studies suggest a possible link with air pollution. In this study, we investigated the association between ambient nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) and bronchitis or upper airway inflammation. This longitudinal study was conducted in Teplice and Prachatice districts, Czech Republic. Children were followed from birth to 4.5 years of age. Data were compiled from medical records at delivery and at follow up, and from self-administered questionnaires from the same two time points. Air pollution monitoring data were used to estimate exposure over five different averaging periods ranging from three to 45 days prior to an episode. To quantify the association between exposure and outcome, while accounting for repeated measure correlation we conducted logistic regression analysis using generalized estimating equations. During the first 2 years of life, the adjusted rate ratio for bronchitis associated with interquartile increase in the 30-day average NO(x) was 1.31 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07, 1.61] and for two to 4.5 year olds, it was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.49). The 14-day exposure also had stable association across both age groups: below 2 years it was 1.25 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.47) and for two to 4.5 years it was 1.21 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.39). The association between bronchitis and NO(x) increased with child's age in the under 2 years group, which is a relatively novel finding. The results demonstrate an association between NO(x) and respiratory infections that are sufficiently severe to come to medical attention. The evidence, if causal, can be of public health concern because acute respiratory illnesses are common in preschool children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Ghosh
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Delgado-Saborit JM. Use of real-time sensors to characterise human exposures to combustion related pollutants. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 14:1824-37. [DOI: 10.1039/c2em10996d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Cattaneo A, Taronna M, Consonni D, Angius S, Costamagna P, Cavallo DM. Personal exposure of traffic police officers to particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and benzene in the city of Milan, Italy. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2010; 7:342-351. [PMID: 20379897 DOI: 10.1080/15459621003729966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to quantify the personal exposure of traffic police officers to particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. The contributions of some behavioral, occupational, and meteorological determinants of exposure also were evaluated. Personal exposure to airborne contaminants was measured on 130 selected volunteers in four seasonal sampling sessions. CO was measured with high sampling frequency. A time-activity diary was completed by traffic police officers during their work shift. Mean (median) personal exposure levels of carbon monoxide, respirable particles (PM(resp)), and benzene were 3.51 (3.22) mg/m(3), 128 (115) microg/m(3) and 11.5 (9.6) microg/m(3), respectively. The highest ambient mean levels of PM(resp), CO, and benzene were found during cold seasons. Measurements taken where traffic is directed, schools are guarded, and other outdoor tasks are performed showed the highest median CO concentrations. As expected, wind decreased exposure to CO and benzene. Exposure was not significantly affected by active tobacco smoke. A key finding was that airborne concentrations determined by fixed measurement stations reported in other studies greatly underestimated traffic officers' exposure to airborne contaminants. The proximity to an emission source determined by the occupational activity was the factor that most affected exposure. For this reason, fixed stations are poor predictors of roadside exposures to airborne pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Cattaneo
- Università degli Studi di Milano, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Milan, Italy.
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Estimating error in using ambient PM2.5 concentrations as proxies for personal exposures: a review. Epidemiology 2010; 21:215-23. [PMID: 20087191 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0b013e3181cb41f7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several methods have been used to account for measurement error inherent in using ambient concentration of particulate matter < 2.5 microm/m(3) (PM(2.5)) as a proxy for personal exposure. Such methods commonly rely on the estimated correlation between ambient and personal PM(2.5) concentrations (r). However, studies of r have not been systematically and quantitatively assessed for publication bias or heterogeneity. METHODS We searched 7 electronic reference databases for studies of the within-participant correlation between ambient and personal PM(2.5). RESULTS We identified 567 candidate studies, 18 (3%) of which met inclusion criteria and were abstracted. The studies were published between 1999 and 2008, representing 619 nonsmoking participants aged 6-93 years in 17 European and North American cities. Correlation coefficients (median 0.54; range 0.09-0.83) were based on a median of 8 ambient-personal PM(2.5) pairs per participant (range 5-20) collected over 27-547 days. Overall, there was little evidence for publication bias (funnel plot symmetry tests: Begg's log-rank test, P 0.9; Egger's regression asymmetry test, P 0.2). However, strong evidence for heterogeneity was noted (Cochran's Q test for heterogeneity, P = 0.001). European locales, eastern longitudes in North America, higher ambient PM(2.5) concentrations, higher relative humidity, and lower between-participant variation in r were associated with increased r. CONCLUSIONS Characteristics of participants, studies, and the environments in which they are conducted may affect the accuracy of ambient PM2.5 as a proxy for personal exposure.
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Darrow LA, Klein M, Flanders WD, Waller LA, Correa A, Marcus M, Mulholland JA, Russell AG, Tolbert PE. Ambient air pollution and preterm birth: a time-series analysis. Epidemiology 2009; 20:689-98. [PMID: 19478670 PMCID: PMC3780365 DOI: 10.1097/ede.0b013e3181a7128f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An emerging body of evidence suggests that ambient levels of air pollution during pregnancy are associated with preterm birth. METHODS To further investigate these relationships we used vital record data to construct a retrospective cohort of 476,489 births occurring between 1994 and 2004 in 5 central counties of metropolitan Atlanta. Using a time-series approach, we examined aggregated daily counts of preterm birth in relation to ambient levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, particulate matter <10 microm in diameter (PM10), particulate matter <2.5 microm in diameter (PM2.5), and speciated PM measurements. Daily pollutant levels in 5-county Atlanta were characterized using a population-weighted spatial average of air quality monitors in the study area. We also examined ambient concentrations at individual monitors in analyses limited to mothers with residential geocodes within 4 miles of each monitor. Relationships between average pollution levels during 3 gestational windows of interest were modeled using Poisson generalized linear models. Results were adjusted for seasonal and long-term time trends. RESULTS Although most results were null, there were 3 positive associations between ambient pollution levels and preterm birth in the 4-mile capture-area analyses. Daily preterm birth rates were associated with average NO2 concentrations in the preceding 6 weeks and with average PM2.5 sulfate and PM2.5 water-soluble metal concentrations in the preceding week. CONCLUSIONS Results provide limited support for late-pregnancy effects of ambient air pollution on preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyndsey A Darrow
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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32
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Strickland MJ, Klein M, Darrow LA, Flanders WD, Correa A, Marcus M, Tolbert PE. The issue of confounding in epidemiological studies of ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes. J Epidemiol Community Health 2009; 63:500-4. [PMID: 19228684 DOI: 10.1136/jech.2008.080499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Relationships between ambient air pollution levels during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes have been investigated using one of three analytic approaches: ambient pollution levels have been contrasted over space, time or both space and time. Although the three approaches share a common goal, to estimate the causal effects of pollution on pregnancy outcomes, they face different challenges with respect to confounding. METHODS A framework based on counterfactual effect definitions to examine issues related to confounding in spatial, temporal, and spatial-temporal analyses of air pollution and pregnancy outcomes is presented, and their implications for inference are discussed. RESULTS In spatial analyses, risk factors that are spatially correlated with pollution levels are confounders; the primary challenges relate to the availability and validity of risk factor measurements. In temporal analyses, where smooth functions of time are commonly used to control for confounding, concerns relate to the adequacy of control and the possibility that abrupt changes in risk might be systematically related to pollution levels. Spatial-temporal approaches are subject to challenges faced in both spatial and temporal analyses. CONCLUSION Each approach faces different challenges with respect to the likely sources of confounding and the ability to control for that confounding because of differences in the type, availability, and quality of information required. Thoughtful consideration of these differences should help investigators select the analytic approach that best promotes the validity of their research.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Strickland
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
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Parker JD, Akinbami LJ, Woodruff TJ. Air pollution and childhood respiratory allergies in the United States. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2009; 117:140-7. [PMID: 19165401 PMCID: PMC2627858 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.11497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2008] [Accepted: 09/30/2008] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood respiratory allergies, which contribute to missed school days and other activity limitations, have increased in recent years, possibly due to environmental factors. OBJECTIVE In this study we examined whether air pollutants are associated with childhood respiratory allergies in the United States. METHODS For the approximately 70,000 children from the 1999-2005 National Health Interview Survey eligible for this study, we assigned between 40,000 and 60,000 ambient pollution monitoring data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, depending on the pollutant. We used monitors within 20 miles of the child's residential block group. We used logistic regression models, fit with methods for complex surveys, to examine the associations between the reporting of respiratory allergy or hay fever and annual average exposure to particulate matter < or = 2.5 microm in diameter (PM2.5), PM < or = 10 microm in diameter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide and summer exposure to ozone, controlling for demographic and geographic factors. RESULTS Increased respiratory allergy/hay fever was associated with increased summer O3 levels [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) per 10 ppb = 1.20; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-1.26] and increased PM2.5 (AOR per 10 microg/m3 = 1.23; 95% CI, 1.10-1.38). These associations persisted after stratification by urban-rural status, inclusion of multiple pollutants, and definition of exposures by differing exposure radii. No associations between the other pollutants and the reporting respiratory allergy/hay fever were apparent. CONCLUSIONS These results provide evidence of adverse health for children living in areas with chronic exposure to higher levels of O3 and PM2.5 compared with children with lower exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer D Parker
- National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland 20782, USA.
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Lipfert FW, Wyzga RE. On exposure and response relationships for health effects associated with exposure to vehicular traffic. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2008; 18:588-99. [PMID: 18322450 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2008.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2007] [Accepted: 01/07/2008] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
This work examines various metrics and models that have been used to estimate long-term health effects of exposure to vehicular traffic. Such health impacts may include effects of air pollution due to emissions of combustion products and from vehicle or roadway wear, of noise, stress, or from socioeconomic effects associated with preferred residential locations. Both categorical and continuous exposure metrics are considered, typically for distances between residences and roadways, or for traffic density or intensity. It appears that continuous measures of exposure tend to yield lower risk estimates that are also more precise than categorical measures based on arbitrary criteria. The selection of appropriate exposure increments to characterize relative risks is also important in comparing pollutants and other agents. Confounding and surrogate variables are also important issues, since studies of traffic proximity or density cannot identify the specific agents related to traffic exposures that might be responsible for the various health endpoints that have been implicated. Studies based on ambient air quality measurements are necessarily restricted to species for which data are available, some of which may be serving as markers for the actual agents of harm. Studies based on modeled air quality are limited by the accuracy of mobile source emission inventories, which may not include poorly maintained (high emitting) vehicles. Additional exposure modeling errors may result from precision limitations of geocoding methods. Studies of the health effects of traffic are progressing from establishing the existence of relationships to describing them in more detail, but effective remedies or control strategies have generally not yet been proposed in the context of these epidemiological studies. Resolution of these dose-response uncertainties is important for the development of effective public health strategies for the future.
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Yu CH, Morandi MT, Weisel CP. Passive dosimeters for nitrogen dioxide in personal/indoor air sampling: a review. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2008; 18:441-51. [PMID: 18446185 PMCID: PMC4429295 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2008.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2007] [Accepted: 02/21/2008] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Accurate measurement of nitrogen dioxide concentrations in both outdoor and indoor environments, including personal exposures, is a fundamental step for linking atmospheric nitrogen dioxide levels to potential health and ecological effects. The measurement has been conducted generally in two ways: active (pumped) sampling and passive (diffusive) sampling. Diffusion samplers, initially developed and used for workplace air monitoring, have been found to be useful and cost-effective alternatives to conventional pumped samplers for monitoring ambient, indoor and personal exposures at the lower concentrations found in environmental settings. Since the 1970s, passive samplers have been deployed for ambient air monitoring in urban and rural sites, and to determine personal and indoor exposure to NO2. This article reviews the development of NO2 passive samplers, the sampling characteristics of passive samplers currently available, and their application in ambient and indoor air monitoring and personal exposure studies. The limitations and advantages of the various passive sampler geometries (i.e., tube, badge, and radial type) are also discussed. This review provides researchers and risk assessors with practical information about NO2 passive samplers, especially useful when designing field sampling strategies for exposure and indoor/outdoor air sampling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Ho Yu
- Exposure Science Division, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Maria T. Morandi
- School of Public Health, University of Texas HCS, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Clifford P. Weisel
- Exposure Science Division, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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Nethery E, Teschke K, Brauer M. Predicting personal exposure of pregnant women to traffic-related air pollutants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2008; 395:11-22. [PMID: 18334266 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2008.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2007] [Revised: 12/18/2007] [Accepted: 01/23/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
As epidemiological studies report associations between ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes, it is important to understand determinants of exposures among pregnant women. We measured (48-h, personal exposure) and modeled (using outdoor ambient monitors and a traffic-based land-use regression model) NO, NO(2), fine particle mass and absorbance in 62 non-smoking pregnant women in Vancouver, Canada on 1-3 occasions during pregnancy (total N=127). We developed predictive models for personal measurements using modeled ambient concentrations and individual determinants of exposure. Geometric mean exposures of personal samples were relatively low (GM (GSD) NO=37 ppb (2.0); NO(2)=17 ppb (1.6); 'soot', as filter absorbance=0.8 10(-5) m(-1) (1.5); PM(2.2)=10 microg m(-3) (1.6)). Having a gas stove (vs. electric stove) in the home was associated with exposure increases of 89% (NO), 44% (NO(2)), 20% (absorbance) and 35% (fine PM). Interpolated concentrations from outdoor fixed-site monitors were associated with all personal exposures except NO(2). Land-use regression model estimates of outdoor air pollution were associated with personal NO and NO(2) only. The effects of outdoor air pollution on personal samples were consistent, with and without adjustment for other individual determinants (e.g. gas stove). These findings improve our understanding of sources of exposure to air pollutants among pregnant women and support the use of outdoor concentration estimates as proxies for exposure in epidemiologic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Nethery
- School of Environmental Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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Craig L, Brook JR, Chiotti Q, Croes B, Gower S, Hedley A, Krewski D, Krupnick A, Krzyzanowski M, Moran MD, Pennell W, Samet JM, Schneider J, Shortreed J, Williams M. Air pollution and public health: a guidance document for risk managers. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2008; 71:588-698. [PMID: 18569631 DOI: 10.1080/15287390801997732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
This guidance document is a reference for air quality policymakers and managers providing state-of-the-art, evidence-based information on key determinants of air quality management decisions. The document reflects the findings of five annual meetings of the NERAM (Network for Environmental Risk Assessment and Management) International Colloquium Series on Air Quality Management (2001-2006), as well as the results of supporting international research. The topics covered in the guidance document reflect critical science and policy aspects of air quality risk management including i) health effects, ii) air quality emissions, measurement and modeling, iii) air quality management interventions, and iv) clean air policy challenges and opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine Craig
- Network for Environmental Risk Assessment and Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
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Sarnat JA, Wilson WE, Strand M, Brook J, Wyzga R, Lumley T. Panel discussion review: session 1--exposure assessment and related errors in air pollution epidemiologic studies. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2007; 17 Suppl 2:S75-S82. [PMID: 18079768 DOI: 10.1038/sj.jes.7500621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2007] [Accepted: 09/12/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Examining the validity of exposure metrics used in air pollution epidemiologic models has been a key focus of recent exposure assessment studies. The objective of this work has been, largely, to determine what a given exposure metric represents and to quantify and reduce any potential errors resulting from using these metrics in lieu of true exposure measurements. The current manuscript summarizes the presentations of the co-authors from a recent EPA workshop, held in December 2006, dealing with the role and contributions of exposure assessment in addressing these issues. Results are presented from US and Canadian exposure and pollutant measurement studies as well as theoretical simulations to investigate what both particulate and gaseous pollutant concentrations represent and the potential errors resulting from their use in air pollution epidemiologic studies. Quantifying the association between ambient pollutant concentrations and corresponding personal exposures has led to the concept of defining attenuation factors, or alpha. Specifically, characterizing pollutant-specific estimates for alpha was shown to be useful in developing regression calibration methods involving PM epidemiologic risk estimates. For some gaseous pollutants such as NO2 and SO2, the associations between ambient concentrations and personal exposures were shown to be complex and still poorly understood. Results from recent panel studies suggest that ambient NO2 measurements may, in some locations, be serving as surrogates to traffic pollutants, including traffic-related PM2.5, hopanes, steranes, and oxidized nitrogen compounds (rather than NO2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Sarnat
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
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Kim JY, Burnett RT, Neas L, Thurston GD, Schwartz J, Tolbert PE, Brunekreef B, Goldberg MS, Romieu I. Panel discussion review: session two--interpretation of observed associations between multiple ambient air pollutants and health effects in epidemiologic analyses. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2007; 17 Suppl 2:S83-9. [PMID: 18079769 DOI: 10.1038/sj.jes.7500623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2007] [Accepted: 06/26/2007] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution epidemiologic research has often utilized ambient air concentrations measured from centrally located monitors as a surrogate measure of exposure to these pollutants. Associations between these ambient concentrations and health outcomes such as lung function, hospital admissions, and mortality have been examined in short- and long-term cohort studies as well as in time-series and case-crossover studies. The issues related to interpreting the observed associations of ambient air pollutants with health outcomes were discussed at the US EPA sponsored workshop on December 13 and 14, 2006 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. The second session of this workshop focused on the following topics: (1) statistical methodology and study designs that may improve understanding of multipollutant health effects; (2) ambient concentrations as surrogate measures of pollutant mixtures; and (3) source-focused epidemiologic research. New methodology and approaches to better distinguish the effects of individual pollutants include multicity hierarchical modeling and the use of case-crossover analysis to control for copollutants. An alternative approach is to examine the mixture as a whole using principal component analysis. Another important consideration is to what extent the observed health associations are attributable to individual pollutants, which are often from common sources and are correlated, versus the pollutant mixtures that the pollutants are representing. For example, several ambient air concentrations, such as particulate matter mass, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide, may be serving as surrogate measures of motor vehicle exhaust. Source apportionment analysis is one method that may allow further advancement in understanding the source components that contribute to multipollutant health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee Young Kim
- National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
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Adar SD, Kaufman JD. Cardiovascular disease and air pollutants: evaluating and improving epidemiological data implicating traffic exposure. Inhal Toxicol 2007; 19 Suppl 1:135-49. [PMID: 17886061 DOI: 10.1080/08958370701496012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that traffic-related pollutants play a role in the observed associations between air pollution and adverse cardiovascular health effects. The contribution of traffic to individual exposures is difficult to quantify in traditional epidemiological studies, however, and researchers have employed various approaches in attempt to isolate its effects. Many investigators have employed ambient measurements such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, or black carbon as surrogates for traffic in studying associations with health outcomes. Source-apportionment techniques also have been used in a few studies to identify associations with the mixture of pollutants from specific origins, including traffic. In other studies, estimates of traffic near a person's home have predicted cardiovascular endpoints, and local traffic levels have modified the effect of regional air pollution. More recently, studies have linked changes in cardiovascular health to time spent in traffic. In this article, we review the epidemiological evidence regarding the impact of traffic-related pollution on cardiovascular diseases and examine the different techniques used to examine this important research question. We conclude with a discussion of the future directions being used in ongoing epidemiological studies to identify the cardiovascular health impacts of traffic.
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Affiliation(s)
- S D Adar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105-8123, USA.
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Ren C, Tong S. Temperature modifies the health effects of particulate matter in Brisbane, Australia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2006; 51:87-96. [PMID: 16967305 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-006-0054-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2005] [Revised: 06/24/2006] [Accepted: 06/29/2006] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
A few epidemiological studies have examined whether there was an interactive effect between temperature and ambient particulate matter on cardiorespiratory morbidity and mortality, but the results were inconsistent. The present study used three time-series approaches to explore whether maximum temperature modified the impact of ambient particulate matter less than 10 microm in diameter (PM(10)) on daily respiratory hospital admissions, cardiovascular hospital admissions, respiratory emergency visits, cardiovascular emergency visits, non-external cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in Brisbane between 1996 and 2001. The analytical approaches included a bivariate response surface model, a non-stratification parametric model and a stratification parametric model. Results show that there existed a statistically significant interaction between PM(10) and temperature on most health outcomes at various lags. PM(10) exhibited more adverse health effects on warm days than cold days. The choice of the degree of freedom for smoothers to adjust for confounders and the selection of arbitrary cut-offs for temperature affected the interaction estimates to a certain extent, but did not change the overall conclusion. The results imply that it is important to control and reduce the emission of air particles in Brisbane, particularly when temperature increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cizao Ren
- School of Public Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia.
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Kim D, Sass-Kortsak A, Purdham JT, Dales RE, Brook JR. Sources of personal exposure to fine particles in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. JOURNAL OF THE AIR & WASTE MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (1995) 2005; 55:1134-46. [PMID: 16187583 DOI: 10.1080/10473289.2005.10464710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Individuals are exposed to particulate matter from both indoor and outdoor sources. The aim of this study was to compare the relative contributions of three sources of personal exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) by using chemical tracers. The study design incorporated repeated 24-hr personal exposure measurements of air pollution from 28 cardiac-compromised residents of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Each study participant wore the Rupprecht & Patashnick ChemPass Personal Sampling System 1 day a week for a maximum of 10 weeks. During their individual exposure measurement days the subjects reported to have spent an average of 89% of their time indoors. Particle phase elemental carbon, sulfate, and calcium personal exposure data were used in a mixed-effects model as tracers for outdoor PM2.5 from traffic-related combustion, regional, and local crustal materials, respectively. These three sources were found to contribute 13% +/- 10%, 17% +/- 16%, and 7% +/- 6% of PM2.5 exposures. The remaining fraction of the personal PM2.5 is hypothesized to be predominantly related to indoor sources. For comparison, central site outdoor PM2.5 measurements for the same dates as personal measurements were used to construct a receptor model using the same three tracers. In this case, traffic-related combustion, regional, and local crustal materials were found to contribute 19% +/- 17%, 52% +/- 22%, and 10% +/- 7%, respectively. Our results indicate that the three outdoor PM2.5 sources considered are statistically significant contributors to personal exposure to PM2.5. Our results also suggest that among the Toronto subjects, who spent a considerable amount of time indoors, exposure to outdoor PM2.5 includes a greater relative contribution from combustion sources compared with outdoor PM2.5 measurements where regional sources are the dominant contributor.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kim
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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