Grantee Research Project Results
2017 Progress Report: Air Pollution Impacts on Neonatal and Early Childhood Development
EPA Grant Number: R836155C001Subproject: this is subproject number 001 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R836155
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for Research on Early Childhood Exposure and Development in Puerto Rico
Center Director: Alshawabkeh, Akram
Title: Air Pollution Impacts on Neonatal and Early Childhood Development
Investigators: MacIntosh, Helen Suh , Cordero, Jose F. , Zimmerman, Emily , Manjourides, Justin , Grashow, Rachel
Institution: Northeastern University , University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences Campus
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2019 (Extended to August 31, 2021)
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2016 through August 31,2017
RFA: Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research Centers (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health , Children's Health
Objective:
This study will provide new evidence of the impacts of air pollution on neonatal and early childhood development for infants and children living in Puerto Rico and of factors that affect susceptibility to air pollution’s harmful impacts. Researchers will do so by leveraging the success of PROTECT, our cohort study of 1800 pregnant women in Puerto Rico for whom a rich dataset of environmental, health, social, demographic, and behavioral factors is being collected. To these data, researchers will add measurements of air pollution exposures, early childhood development, and non-nutritive suck (NNS), a measure of newborn central nervous system function that has not yet been used to assess neonatal development in environmental epidemiology. Researchers will use these data to achieve three aims: (1) to assess the association of air pollution on adverse birth outcomes; (2) to determine the impact of air pollution on child development; and (3) to examine effect modification of the air pollution–adverse health relationship by social and personal factors, including socio-economic status, maternal stress, birth outcomes, other pollutant exposures, and housing characteristics.
Progress Summary:
Center for Research on Early Childhood Exposure (CRECE) researchers performed several activities needed to begin to measure fine particle (PM2.5) concentrations on a weekly basis at each of three stationary ambient monitoring (SAM) sites on the north coast of Puerto Rico. Researchers tested and subsequently purchased PM2.5 samplers together with associated equipment (such as impactors, pumps, sampling boxes, inlets, rain shields, timers, filters, flow meters, etc.). Sampling systems then were constructed to meet our specifications for weekly monitoring; this construction was complete at the beginning of March 2016.
Researchers created field logs and protocols for PM2.5 sampling, analysis, and shipping. Further, researchers pre-weighed filters for PM2.5 analysis and pre-analyzed filters using reflectance for black carbon analysis. Researchers trained field technicians on PM2.5 sampling, including instruction on sampler preparation, set up, and changes; sampling flow rate calibration; and field data entry. Researchers created a training manual complete with diagrams of the cascade impactors and detailed instructions. One week prior to the start of sampling, researchers conducted a training for field technicians at the CRECE sampling site in Manatí. After the training, the research coordinator from Northeastern University observed the first week of monitoring and ensured that the sampling adhered to the standard operating procedure.
Field technician training also included direction on the use of field logs and sample tracking. Researchers created standard operating procedures for filter installation, data management, and shipping information. The detailed field log includes sample run time, flow rates, and other notes. Researchers established a shipping protocol, whereby the field technicians store each sample within an individual Petri dish. The field team sends the filters to the research team from Northeastern University on a monthly basis. Once in Boston, filters equalize in the laboratory for 3 days before analysis. Shipping manifests include the filter ID numbers, and field logs are backed up electronically.
Puerto Rico investigators and field technicians from Northeastern University visited potential air pollution monitoring sites in Manatí, Arecibo, and Morovis. These sites were evaluated based on their (1) proximity to participant homes and distance from major PM2.5 sources; (2) site characteristics such as the lack of trees, at least 10-20 meters of open space, and the presence of a nearby electricity source; and (3) monitor placement, including whether researchers could place monitors in a secure area with inlets at least 4 feet off the ground and no taller than a 4-story building. Based on this assessment, researchers identified one site in each city that met our criteria, including CRECE’s Manatí office space, the Morovis clinic space, and the University of Este Centro Arecibo. Researchers received formal approval for the Manatí and Morovis locations in March 2016, and for the Arecibo location in November 2016. Field technicians from Northeastern worked with technicians from the University of Puerto Rico to set up the monitoring sites and to observe the first week of monitoring.
Filter data are reviewed for quality control, and field technicians use flow meters to record the flow before and after each filter is sampled. Sampled filters with flow rate change beyond 10% are marked void. Filters also are marked void in the case of damage or disrupted sampling time caused by city power outages. Two power outages affected four filters in November and December, but normal sampling resumed the following week.
Laboratory analysis of weekly fine particle concentrations (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) is conducted monthly. Field technicians in Boston analyze filters first for PM2.5 concentrations and then for BC by reflectance to preserve sample integrity. Once analyzed, the samples are stored in individual Petri dishes in a temperature-controlled balance room. To effectively utilize resources, XRF analysis will commence in July 2017, once at least 150 samples have been collected. Analyses of the weekly concentrations of air pollution from the start of sampling through January 2017 reveal that the pollutant concentrations at each site are correlated for both PM2.5 (r=0.83) and BC (r=0.73).
Researchers compared our data with historical air pollution data in Puerto Rico to further assess air pollution exposures. Researchers downloaded and processed data from EPA Air Data, comparing PM2.5 daily mean concentrations across the island. Researchers also downloaded and processed data for SO2, NO2, ozone, and lead, and compared concentrations at locations across the island to characterize local air pollution. In March 2017, researchers obtained permission to analyze historical filters from the Department of Public Health in Puerto Rico. Once researchers receive the filters from the research team in Puerto Rico, researchers plan to measure PM2.5 and conduct both reflectance and XRF analyses. These analyses will further our progress in assessing air pollution exposures and their association with adverse gestational and birth outcomes.
Health Measures: The custom NNS cart has been built, tested, and sent to Puerto Rico. Members of the CRECE team have been trained on how to perform the NNS test in young infants. In March 2017, yearly calibration of our pressure transducer was successfully conducted at Northeastern University and the device has been sent back to Puerto Rico to start data collection. Testing and protocols for NNS are finalized, with these protocols reviewed, amended, and submitted to IRB. As specified on our amended IRB, researchers plan to perform NNS testing at Visit 1 between 4-6 weeks of life. Once this amendment has been approved, NNS data collection will commence.
Researchers continue to fine-tune our neurodevelopmental measures to reflect what is feasible within our follow-up window without burdening the children, while still collecting the most salient measures. To this end researchers have held developmental conference calls and various lab visits with neurodevelopmental experts. Also, a clinical office space, where researchers will complete the follow-up testing, has been established.
Future Activities:
During the next reporting period, researchers plan to continue to collect air pollution and child health data, as described in our original proposal. Specifically, researchers plan to:
- Continue the week-long integrated air pollution sampling at three sites within Northern Puerto Rico.
- Analyze collected air pollution samples for PM2.5, BC, and metals.
- Analyze historical PM2.5 and PM10 filters collected by Puerto Rico Department of Environmental Protection for BC and metals.
- Begin measurement of NNS data during the 4-6 week follow-up visit once our amendment has been approved, and continue the assessment of child development.
- Continue assessment of child development. Note that to date, the BDI has been completed on 113 participants. Researchers will continue to recruit and refine our neurodevelopment sequence in an effort to optimize our participants’ time and to ensure the most appropriate data are yielded for every follow-up session.
- Examine the association between historical air pollution concentrations and adverse birth outcomes using birth outcome and maternal characteristics data from PROTECT.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 2 publications for this subprojectSupplemental Keywords:
air pollution, metals, neurodevelopment, adverse birth outcomesProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractMain Center Abstract and Reports:
R836155 Center for Research on Early Childhood Exposure and Development in Puerto Rico Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R836155C001 Air Pollution Impacts on Neonatal and Early Childhood Development
R836155C002 Toxicogenomics-based Mechanistic Multimedia Exposure Assessment and Child Development
R836155C003 Biomarker Epidemiology of In Utero Environmental Exposures and Child Development
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
Main Center: R836155
68 publications for this center
47 journal articles for this center