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Environmental & Psychosocial Contributors to Learning Disparities
Citation:
Ruiz, J., EricS Hall, N. Tulve, J. Quackenboss, M. Snyder, P. Juarez, AND F. Tylavsky. Environmental & Psychosocial Contributors to Learning Disparities. 2014 International Symposium on Minority Health & Health Disparities, National Harbor, MD, December 01 - 03, 2014.
Impact/Purpose:
The National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) Human Exposure and Atmospheric Sciences Division (HEASD) conducts research in support of EPA mission to protect human health and the environment. HEASD research program supports Goal 1 (Clean Air) and Goal 4 (Healthy People) of EPA strategic plan. More specifically, our division conducts research to characterize the movement of pollutants from the source to contact with humans. Our multidisciplinary research program produces Methods, Measurements, and Models to identify relationships between and characterize processes that link source emissions, environmental concentrations, human exposures, and target-tissue dose. The impact of these tools is improved regulatory programs and policies for EPA.
Description:
Purpose: Studies suggest early traffic-related pollution exposures (TRPEs) adversely impact cognitive development (COGDEV). Since racial differences do not explain the widening achievement gap, determining TRPE contributions is warranted. Study objectives were to (1) assess the impact of early postnatal TRPE on general cognitive ability (GCA) at 2 years; (2) evaluate the additive influence of prenatal psychosocial stressors; (3) predict their contribution to racial disparities in COGDEV. Methods: Individual (GCA), psychosocial (domestic violence, social support) and demographic variables were obtained from an existing birth cohort (http://candlestudy.org/). Traffic, crime and vacancy rate data were obtained from local county departments. TRPEs were assessed using traffic density and residential proximity to major roads. The association between TRPE and GCA was examined using non-spatial and spatial analyses, adjusting for covariates. Results: Lower GCAs corresponded with urban areas with higher prevalence of black children, low income, and higher vacancy rates. These same variables also correlated with increased risk of near roadway exposure (NRE) (<500 meters). NRE children scored ~4 points lower than non-NRE children (P<0.05). After covariate adjustments, no significant associations were identified. Trends of negative association emerged between traffic density and GCA for black children with stratified analysis (P<0.10). Discussion/Conclusion: TRPEs may adversely affect early COGDEV, especially for children from disadvantaged urban areas. However, TRPE effects don’t fully explain lower GCAs. Possible spatial clustering indicates that more research focused on community-specific effects examining elements from both social and built environments may help explain the observed disparity and inform decisions on creating healthier child-specific environments.
