Grantee Research Project Results
Relating Cardiovascular Disease Risk to Ambient Air Pollutants Using Geographic Information Systems Technology and Bayesian Neural Networks: The AHSMOG Study
EPA Grant Number: R830547Title: Relating Cardiovascular Disease Risk to Ambient Air Pollutants Using Geographic Information Systems Technology and Bayesian Neural Networks: The AHSMOG Study
Investigators: Knutsen, Synnove F. , Beeson, Larry , Ghamsary, Mark , Soret, Samuel
Institution: Loma Linda University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: February 1, 2003 through December 31, 2006 (Extended to January 31, 2009)
Project Amount: $964,436
RFA: Epidemiologic Research on Health Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter and Other Air Pollutants (2002) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health , Particulate Matter , Air
Description:
1. To assess the long-term effects of particulate and gaseous pollutants on risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease (CHD), during 23 years follow-up (1977-1999) using the unique data from the AHSMOG Study.
2. To assess the long-term effects of ambient air pollutants on risk of fatal and non-fatal CHD among sensitive subgroups (e.g., prevalent CVD, hypertensives, diabetics, elderly).
3. To assess the long-term effects of mixed pollutants on the endpoints in objectives 1 and 2.
4. To investigate the effect of lag-times on the ambient air pollution-CVD association.
5. To explore new methods for exposure assessment and analysis.
Approach:
1. Utilize data from the existing AHSMOG Study, which has been updated through March 2000 through the current EPA STAR Grant (R-82799801-0). This data includes monthly indices of air pollutants to zip code centroids, monthly residence and work location histories, outcome assessment (CHD, fatal and non-fatal) and assessment of relevant confounders (smoking, environmental tobacco smoke, diet, exercise, etc).
2. Develop new indices of ambient air pollutants for the individual subjects in the AHSMOG Study using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology and stochastic models that include error estimates of the indices.
3. Develop non-linear statistical models using Bayesian neural networks to develop alternative analytical strategies for modeling the relationship between different ambient air pollutants and risk of CHD where several pollutants and latent (unobserved) and missing values can be incorporated.
4. Compare new methods developed under approaches 2 and 3 to the classic or conventional methods previously used in the AHSMOG Study.
Expected Results:
The proposed new methods for assessing ambient air pollution and for analysis using GIS technology and Bayesian neural networks will enhance the ability to estimate health effects associated with ambient air pollution. For public health, more accurate estimates of health risks will aid in setting standards for acceptable levels of ambient air pollutants.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 25 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 4 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
ambient air, mixed pollutants, CHD, GIS, Geostatistics, Bayes, neural networks, particulates, oxidants, gases, epidemiology., RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Air, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, particulate matter, Health Risk Assessment, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Risk Assessments, Disease & Cumulative Effects, Biochemistry, Environmental Statistics, genetic susceptability, Biology, Risk Assessment, ambient air quality, elderly adults, health effects, sensitive populations, health risk analysis, air pollutants, long term exposure, acute lung injury, Bayesian approach, cardiovascular vulnerability, Bayesian neural networks, Bayesian method, exposure, air pollution, chronic health effects, particulate exposure, susceptibility, statistical models, human exposure, sensitive subjects, Acute health effects, elderly, GIS, sensitive subgroups, mortality, cardiotoxicity, tobacco smoke, age dependent response, cumulative effects, cardiopulmonery responses, respiratory, exposure assessment, environmental hazard exposures, toxics, human health risk, cardiovascular diseaseProgress and Final Reports:
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.
Project Research Results
- Final Report
- 2007 Progress Report
- 2006 Progress Report
- 2005 Progress Report
- 2004 Progress Report
- 2003 Progress Report
4 journal articles for this project