Grantee Research Project Results
2013 Progress Report: Effects-Based Cumulative Risk Assessment in a Low-Income Urban Community near a Superfund Site
EPA Grant Number: R834577Title: Effects-Based Cumulative Risk Assessment in a Low-Income Urban Community near a Superfund Site
Investigators: Levy, Jonathan , Korrick, Susan A. , Hammitt, James K. , Subramanian, S V , Fuentes, Freddie , Sexton, Ken , Ezzati, Majid , Rosario, Maria , French, Robert
Current Investigators: Levy, Jonathan , Korrick, Susan A. , Fabian, Maria Patricia , Ayala, Arlene , Pina, Jordan , Peters, Junenette , Rosario, Maria , French, Robert
Institution: Boston University , NorthStar Learning Centers , Channing Laboratory
Current Institution: Boston University , NorthStar Learning Centers
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: September 1, 2010 through February 28, 2014 (Extended to February 28, 2015)
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2012 through August 31,2013
Project Amount: $749,662
RFA: Understanding the Role of Nonchemical Stressors and Developing Analytic Methods for Cumulative Risk Assessments (2009) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health
Objective:
The study's primary objective is to develop and apply novel statistical and analytical methods for cumulative risk assessment, focusing on a low-income community (New Bedford, MA) living near a Superfund site. We are focusing on specific neurobehavioral and cardiovascular outcomes, ADHD-like behavior and blood pressure and we are considering contributions of multiple chemical stressors to these outcomes in the presence of significant non-chemical stressors. We are leveraging data from public databases and an ongoing birth cohort study in the New Bedford area to predict exposures as a function of individual and neighborhood characteristics. Those exposures are then linked with dose-response functions for key chemical and non-chemical stressors, providing health risk characterization with geospatial and demographic variability. The models will be built and outputs will be communicated to community partners in a manner that informs future studies or intervention strategies.
Progress Summary:
Future Activities:
In the final year of our project, we plan for a few key activities. We will focus on integration of the synthetic census with the structural equation models, yielding the final estimates of exposures and cumulative risks. Beyond the manuscripts submitted to date, we anticipate additional manuscripts to be prepared and submitted, focusing on the results of the cumulative risk assessments for ADHD-like behavior and for hypertension, as well as conceptual approaches for synthesizing epidemiological findings in a multi-stressor environment. We will also engage in extensive outreach and communication efforts in New Bedford as our publications are accepted and our findings are in place.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 20 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
ADHD, blood pressure, cadmium, cumulative risk assessment, lead, mercury, non-chemical stressor, PCBs, SuperfundRelevant Websites:
BU professor undertakes New Bedford-wide public health study Exit
New website to address cumulative harm on communities and the environment Exit
NorthStar Learning Centers Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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.