Grantee Research Project Results
Multi-Exposure Epidemiology across the Life Course
EPA Grant Number: R836156C001Subproject: this is subproject number 001 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R836156
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Health Effects Institute (2015 - 2020)
Center Director: Greenbaum, Daniel S.
Title: Multi-Exposure Epidemiology across the Life Course
Investigators: Zanobetti, Antonella , Sandel, Megan T , Cook, John T. , Baccarelli, Andrea , Dominici, Francesca , Laden, Francine , Hart, Jamie , Schwartz, Joel , Subramanian, Sankaran
Institution: Boston University , Harvard University
EPA Project Officer: Callan, Richard
Project Period: July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2020 (Extended to June 30, 2021)
RFA: NIH/EPA Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research (2015) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health
Objective:
Specific Aim 1: Develop innovative statistical methods to estimate health effects associated with a large number of exposures (chemical stressors), while also accounting for potential confounders and interactions.
Specific Aim 2: Estimate the association between exposure to multiple chemical stressors on birth outcomes, childhood growth rates, and cardiovascular mortality.
Specific Aim 3: Study whether longitudinal changes in epigenetic profiles are associated with air pollution exposures, and how these profiles are modified by determinants of health disparities.
Approach:
Investigators from Harvard University and Boston University have assembled four unique study populations, three in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (MA), with data on health outcomes spanning from birth to death, as well as a wealth of information on potential determinants of health disparities. In Aim 1, investigators will develop innovative statistical methods to estimate health effects associated with a large number of exposures (chemical stressors), while also accounting for large number of potential confounders and interactions. In Aim 2, investigators will estimate the association between exposure to multiple chemical stressors on birth outcomes, childhood growth rates, and cardiovascular mortality. Investigators will examine effect modification by non-chemical stressors at an individual residence level, including temperatures, noise, green space, and the built environment (neighborhood walkability). Investigators will also examine effect modification by a rich host of individual-level social determinants of health disparities (e.g., age, race/ethnicity, SES). In addition, through the work of Projects 2 and 3, investigators will have access to housing features that may influence particle infiltration or indoor thermal conditions and measures of environmental health disparities, including housing, neighborhood, material hardship, and sociodemographic stressor constructs. In Aim 3, investigators will study whether longitudinal changes in epigenetic profiles are associated with air pollution exposures, and how these profiles are modified by determinants of health disparities. The successful completion of this study will address the urgent need for: 1) methods to quantify the health effects of simultaneous exposure to multiple chemical stressors; 2) identifying which non-chemical stressors and social determinants of health disparities exacerbate these effects; 3) identifying disparities in effects; and 4) elucidating potential underlying biological mechanism for environmentally driven health disparities. The knowledge produced upon the successful completion of this project will be essential in mitigating environmentally driven health disparities and improving the health of vulnerable populations and communities.
Rationale:
Several epidemiological studies have found an association between exposure to chemical stressors (such as air pollution) and non-chemical stressors (such as temperature, noise, green space, socioeconomic status [SES], race, and ethnicity), and health outcomes. However, few of these studies have: 1) estimated the health effects across the life course associated with simultaneous exposure to multiple chemical stressors; 2) characterized confounding/effect modification by non-chemical stressors and social determinants of health disparities, particularly factors such as housing conditions and food insecurity; and 3) investigated whether exposure to these chemical stressors can affect health through epigenetic modifications. Moreover, there is a need for new statistical methods that can account for the high dimensionality of the exposures, confounders, and interaction terms in order to understand the effect on health outcomes.
Progress and Final Reports:
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R836156 Health Effects Institute (2015 - 2020) Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R836156C001 Multi-Exposure Epidemiology across the Life Course
R836156C002 Exposure Disparities Related to Resident Behavior and Housing Characteristics
R836156C003 Cumulative Risk and Geospatial Health Disparities Related to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressor Exposures
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.