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ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PERSONAL FACTORS IN THE INITIATION OF ASTHMA IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN: MICA STUDY
Citation:
OZKAYNAK, H. A., M. M. JOHNSON, J. E. GALLAGHER, E. E. HUDGENS, AND L. M. NEAS. ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PERSONAL FACTORS IN THE INITIATION OF ASTHMA IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN: MICA STUDY. Presented at World Asthma Meeting, Istanbul, TURKEY, June 22 - 25, 2007.
Impact/Purpose:
The overall objective of this research is to develop, apply, and evaluate a human exposure model for predicting population exposures to the components of particulate matter (PM) identified as potential toxic agents contributing to adverse health effects.
Description:
A number of environmental and personal factors have already been associated with the development and exacerbation of childhood asthma, but many aspects of this association require further research. The Mechanistic Indicators of Childhood Asthma (MICA) is an epidemiologic study that is being conducted by the U.S. EPA in order to advance our current understanding of various risk factors and triggers of childhood asthma. This study is gathering and analyzing information during 2006-2009 on biological markers of exposure, early effect, and susceptibility from 100 asthmatic and 100 non-asthmatic children recruited from the Detroit, Michigan Metropolitan area. MICA study participants provide questionnaire data, exhaled nitric oxide and lung function measurements, as well as indoor dust, blood, urine and other biological specimens that are analyzed for various markers of exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The air monitoring component of MICA (MICA-air) utilizes a participant-based approach in which passive samplers are deployed by parents to collect indoor and outdoor measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), VOCs, PAHs and naphthalene. Monitoring data generated by MICA-air will facilitate evaluation and refinement of current exposure assessment techniques, while the participant-based strategy may provide a cost-effective approach to exposure assessment that can be applied in future community health studies on asthma and other conditions. This presentation provides an overview of the study design, recruitment results and initial findings from the air monitoring component.