Grantee Research Project Results

2014 Progress Report: Effects of Stress and Traffic Pollutants on Childhood Asthma in an Urban Community

EPA Grant Number: R834579
Title: Effects of Stress and Traffic Pollutants on Childhood Asthma in an Urban Community
Investigators: Laumbach, Robert , Kipen, Howard , Ohman-Strickland, Pamela , Fiedler, Nancy , Greenwood, Molly
Current Investigators: Laumbach, Robert , Kipen, Howard , Greenberg, Molly , Fiedler, Nancy , Ohman-Strickland, Pamela
Institution: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Current Institution: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey , Ironbound Community Corporation , Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Rutgers
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: June 1, 2010 through June 30, 2014 (Extended to June 30, 2016)
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2014 through May 31,2015
Project Amount: $1,249,960
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 PI will test how chronic psychological stress modifies inflammatory and pulmonary function effects of acute exposures to traffic-related air pollutants. The primary outcomes he will evaluate are acute changes in fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), a marker of pulmonary inflammation, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), a measure of lung function. He will look a role of both psychosocial stress and air pollutant exposure individually and together in affecting FENO and FEV1.

Progress Summary:

Through May 31, 2015, 30 subjects had completed participation in data collection activities, for approximately 900 persondays of personal air pollutant exposure and asthma medications. In addition 3 healthy pilot subjects completed the protocol during the summer of 2011. The personal exposure data includes daily, 24-hr 1-minute black carbon recorded for up to 30 consecutive days, and daily 24-hr integrated nitrogen dioxide. Daily asthma status data includes thrice daily spirometry with peak flow and FEV1 and other parameters, daily exhaled nitric oxide, symptoms, and medication use. Daily time-activity logs are confirmed with GPS location coordinates with a tracker co-located with the micro-aethalometer. No serious problems or adverse events have been observed.

Along with our community partner, the Ironbound Community Corporation, we increased efforts to recruit participants via attending public meetings, health fairs, and delivering several educational meetings about asthma and other environmental public health issues in the community. We have also taken steps to increase recruitment by expanding the recruitment area to include other neighborhoods in Newark, NJ as well as in Elizabeth, NJ. Elizabeth NJ is an environmental justice community adjacent to the Newark-Elizabeth seaport that is similarly impacted by diesel truck traffic. We have developed a relationship with new community partners in Elizabeth; Brand New Day, an urban redevelopment non-profit, and the Elizabethport Presbyterian Center, which houses a federally-qualified health center. We have signed memoranda of agreement with these organizations to work together to increase awareness of impacts of environment on asthma and to help to recruit participants. We also applied for and received approval from the Elizabeth Board of Education to work with public schools in neighborhoods impacted by truck traffic.

Future Activities:

Will continue enrolling subjects and data collection, complete data analysis and reports

Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views:	All 4 publications	3 publications in selected types	All 3 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Payne-Sturges DC, Korfmacher KS, Cory-Slechta DA, Jimenez M, Symanski E, Carr Shmool JL, Dotson-Newman O, Cloughtery JE, French R, Levy JI, Laumbach R, Rodgers K, Bongiovanni R, Scammell MK. Engaging communities in research on cumulative risk and social stress-environment interactions: lessons learned from EPA's STAR Program. Environmental Justice 2015;8(6):203-212.	R834579 (2014) R834579 (Final) R834576 (Final) R834577 (Final) R834578 (Final) R834580 (Final) R834581 (Final) R834582 (Final)	Full-text from PubMed Abstract from PubMed Associated PubMed link Full-text: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers-Full Text-HTML Exit Abstract: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers-Abstract Exit Other: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Publishers-Full Text-PDF Exit

Supplemental Keywords:

Health, Scientific Discipline, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Risk Management, Health Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, Environmental Monitoring, Biology, cumulative risk, anthropogenic stress, asthma, children's health, lung disease, allergic airway disease, airway disease, air pollution, ambient particle health effects, airshed modeling, allergens, inhalation study, exposure assessment, Health, Scientific Discipline, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Health Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, Biology, Risk Management, Environmental Monitoring, asthma, lung disease, airshed modeling, children's health, cumulative risk, allergens, ambient particle health effects, air pollution, human health risk, inhalation study, allergic airway disease, airway disease, anthropogenic stress

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

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.