Grantee Research Project Results
Chronic Exposure to Particulate Matter and Cardiopulmonary Disease
EPA Grant Number: R830545Title: Chronic Exposure to Particulate Matter and Cardiopulmonary Disease
Investigators: Laden, Francine , Speizer, Frank E. , Suh, Helen H. , Camargo, Carlos , Schwartz, Joel
Current Investigators: Laden, Francine , Schwartz, Joel , Speizer, Frank E. , Suh, Helen H. , Camargo, Carlos , Puett, Robin C. , Yanosky, Jeff D.
Institution: Brigham and Women’s Hospital
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: January 20, 2003 through January 19, 2006 (Extended to January 19, 2008)
Project Amount: $933,602
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: Particulate Matter , Air Quality and Air Toxics , Human Health , Air
Description:
The objective of this study is to evaluate the association of long term exposure to air pollution with incident coronary and respiratory disease and with total mortality. The study population will be the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), an ongoing prospective cohort study of 121,700 women residing throughout the U.S. We hypothesize that the incidence of these diseases and total mortality are positively associated with air pollution and that exposure to air pollution exacerbates existing disease. We also hypothesize that the association with coronary heart disease will be greater among diabetics than nondiabetics and that consumption of antioxidants will modify the association.
Approach:
The basic approach is threefold: (1) to use existing data sources to create a model for exposure to air pollution throughout the U.S.; (2) to link the yearly average exposure to the residential addresses of the study participants; and (3) to evaluate the relative risk of the outcomes in the high compared with the low exposure areas. We will model long-term exposure to air pollution for the years 1986 through 2000 using data from the EPA's Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS), the National Emissions Trends database, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, and commercially available traffic count data. Existing ambient monitoring data from specific sites will be used to supplement this information. Residential addresses are updated every two years and will be mapped using geographic information system (GIS) software and linked to the exposure model. Incident cases of cardiovascular disease and of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and lung cancer, diagnosed during the study period, are identified routinely on the NHS biennial self-administered questionnaire. Cases are confirmed by supplemental questionnaire and review of medical records. Mortality is reported by next-of-kin and also obtained by regular searches of the National Death Index. We will estimate the relative risks of these outcomes associated with air pollution using the proportional hazards model, including adjustment for smoking, and other confounders. We will also assess interactions with comorbid diabetes and consumption of antioxidants.
Expected Results:
Although there is a substantial body of literature demonstrating the adverse health effects associated with air pollution, to date there have only been two large cohort studies of mortality. This proposed study will not only evaluate mortality but it will be the first study to prospectively evaluate cause-specific incident disease on a nationwide basis. Further, it will provide information on the extent of life shortening associated with the exposure by measuring survival and severity of disease after the first event.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 12 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 8 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
epidemiology, health effects, ambient air, particulates, susceptibility, diet., Health, RFA, Air, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, HUMAN HEALTH, Health Risk Assessment, Physical Processes, Risk Assessments, particulate matter, Exposure, Epidemiology, tropospheric ozone, Monitoring/Modeling, Bioavailability, Disease & Cumulative Effects, air toxics, Environmental Monitoring, health effects, clinical studies, sensitive populations, urban air, human exposue, pulmonary disease, chronic exposure, stratospheric ozone, atmospheric chemistry, sensitive subgroups, mortality, human exposure, measurement methods , monitoring, chronic effects, particulates, children, effects assessment, Acute health effects, cardiotoxicity, particles, cardiopulmonery responses, allergic response, air pollutants, ecological risk, ozone, ambient air, air pollution, ambient air quality, atmospheric measurements, continuous monitoring, particulate, human health risk, cardiovascular disease, acute cardiovascular effects, PM 2.5, airway disease, ambient particulates, carbon black, long-term exposure, EMPACTProgress 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.