Impact/Purpose:

Although there is ample evidence that fine airborne particles (median diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) are detrimental to human health, the importance of larger, “coarse” particles (2.5-10 μm) is less clear. Uncertainties are especially evident for chronic health effects, due to an incomplete understanding of spatial differences in coarse mass and composition. This proposal aims to characterize the spatial variability of coarse particles from natural and anthropogenic sources and examine their associations with cardiovascular and respiratory disease.

Description:

This study will provide new and critically important information on the within-city variability of coarse particles and source-specific components and their relation to cardiovascular and pulmonary disease.

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )

Start Date:03/01/2008

Completion Date:02/28/2011

Record ID: 201090

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Related Organizations:

Role :OWNER

Organization Name :COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Organization Name :CENTER FOR LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS

Mailing Address :2960 Broadway

Citation :New York

State :NY

Zip Code :10027



Role :OWNER

Organization Name :WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY

Mailing Address :P.O. Box 7373 Reynolda Sta

Citation :Winston Salem

State :NC

Zip Code :27109



Role :OWNER

Organization Name :UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

Citation :Seattle

State :WA

Zip Code :98195



Role :OWNER

Organization Name :UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

State :MN



Role :OWNER

Organization Name :NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Mailing Address :633 Clark St

Citation :Evanston

State :IL

Zip Code :60208

Project Information:

Approach :

Using the platform of the NIH/NHLBI Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort (MESA), we will develop spatially-dependent concentration estimates of coarse particles and selected components for individual participants. We will then link these estimates to the rich dataset of clinical and sub-clinical respiratory and cardiovascular health outcomes to establish concentration-effect relationships for long-term exposure to coarse pollutants. This will be performed for over 6,000 subjects, aged 50-89, that are being followed over a 5 to 11 year period as part of a MESA ancillary study, the MESA Air Pollution project, which is now studying only fine particles.

Coarse particle and selected component concentrations will be estimated using chemically speciated data and endotoxin measurements, collected concurrently outside selected participants’ homes in each of 3 cities during 2 distinct seasons. These data will be combined with geographic information, including land use, proximity to sources, and vegetative cover, to predict concentrations of coarse particles from natural and anthropogenic sources for each participant.

We will examine the relationship of long-term exposure to coarse PM with: 1) incident clinical cardiovascular events; 2) progression of sub-clinical atherosclerosis as indicated by repeated measures of carotid artery intima-media thickness and coronary artery calcification; and 3) progression of sub-clinical chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as indicated by repeated lung density measures. This work will complement the aims of the existing EPA-funded MESA Air Pollution study, which examines the long-term health effects of fine but not coarse particulate pollution.

Cost :$1,199,217.00

Project IDs:

ID Code :R833741

Project type :EPA Grant