Grantee Research Project Results

2001 Progress Report: Health Effects

EPA Grant Number: R827355C002
Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827355
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Water Environment and Reuse Foundation's National Center for Resource Recovery and Nutrient Management
Center Director: Olabode, Lola
Title: Health Effects
Investigators: Koenig, Jane Q.
Current Investigators: Koenig, Jane Q. , Lippmann, Morton , Sheppard, Lianne (Elizabeth) A. , Larson, Timothy V. , Jansen, Karen , Allen, Ryan , Mar, Therese , Lumley, Thomas
Institution: University of Washington , Washington State University
Current Institution: University of Washington
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: June 1, 1999 through May 31, 2004 (Extended to May 31, 2006)
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2001 through May 31, 2002
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Airborne Particulate Matter (PM) Centers (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Particulate Matter , Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air

Objective:

The objectives of this research project are to: (1) identify health outcomes that are associated with particulate matter (PM) exposures; and (2) investigate associations with PM air pollution in the Pacific Northwest and signs of aggravation of asthma. The primary goal for Year 3 of the project has been to begin examining associations between exposure assessment variables and health outcomes in the panel subjects. We have findings to present for exhaled nitric oxide and lung function in children with asthma and heart rate variability and blood outcomes in elderly subjects with cardiovascular disease.

Progress Summary:

Nitric oxide may be an important indicator of asthma aggravation in children with asthma. We measured exhaled NO (eNO) in children's homes, in children aged 6-12 years with mild to moderate asthma. In the eNO study, nine children were steroid treated and seven children were steroid naïve. Exhaled breath measurements were collected offline into an NO inert and impermeable Mylar balloon for up to 10 consecutive days. NO was measured with a chemiluminescent nitrogen oxide monitor using a protocol developed by Karen Jansen, based on ATS guidelines. We used a linear mixed-effects model with random intercept to test for within-subject associations between eNO and PM2.5 values estimated from gravimetric samples outside each home, from personal samplers and from the average of three community sites. In this pilot study, we found that a 10 µg/m³ increase in PM2.5 outside the home was associated with a 5.6 (2.26-7.38) ppb increase in eNO. These preliminary findings suggest that eNO may be an effective, noninvasive method for estimating lung inflammation in epidemiological studies of health effects of air pollution.

Pulmonary function values were measured daily in the children with asthma and analyzed by Carol Trenga. Significant associations were observed for a 10 µg/m³ increase in outdoor, indoor, and personal PM2.5 and decreases in peak expiratory flow and mid expiratory flow, only in the children who were not using corticosteroid medications. Additional analyses of data from the children with asthma are ongoing, and several manuscripts are expected.

Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured in the elderly subjects during 20-minute daily home visits, including a 5-minute paced breathing protocol. Jeffrey Sullivan examined associations between short-term indoor and outdoor hourly nephelometer readings with variations in HRV. A total of 256 observations were made in 46 subjects (19 with cardiovascular disease, 17 with respiratory disease, and 10 who were healthy). Multivariate analysis using a linear-mixed model with random intercepts that controlled for temperature, relative humidity, and medication use found that a 10 µg/m³ increase in outdoor fine PM lagged by 1 hour was associated with a 35 percent decrease in the median of the log-transformed, high-frequency power in the cardiovascular patients. Smaller effects were seen with a 4-hour lag; no significance was observed with a 24-hour lag. HRV in the healthy subjects and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was not associated with fine PM. Blood was drawn from many of the elderly subjects on every third day of the 10-day monitoring session. Serum was analyzed for fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), and D-dimer. We found a 60 percent increase in median CRP values for a 10 µg/m³ increase in outdoor PM2.5. The HRV data emphasize the usefulness of continuous PM monitoring to allow examination of short-term (less than 24-hour) effects.

The Health Effects group has spent considerable time and effort improving the eNO collection and analysis system and has conducted a pilot study of the feasibility of the use of breath condensate as a health outcome measure in panel studies. One pilot study with nine subjects with asthma found that it is possible to detect measurable levels of 8-isoprostane, a known marker of airway inflammation, in the breath condensate samples.

We also conducted two analyses of air pollution and asthma aggravation in children. Therese Mar found a strong association between respiratory symptoms and PM2.5 in children in Spokane who were observed over a 2-year period with an average of 478 days of observation. One manuscript that describes these results has been submitted. Jonathan Schildcrout analyzed the relationship between symptoms and rescue medication use in children in eight cities that participated in the Childhood Asthma Management Program (CAMP). Although an earlier analysis in Seattle alone showed a significant association between the risk of asthma symptoms and both PM2.5 and carbon monoxide, no significant associations were seen in this larger study. A manuscript describing these results is under review by the CAMP data coordinating center.

Future Activities:

We will complete the health effects analyses for health endpoints included in the intensive indoor outdoor and personal exposure assessment study. These include exhaled nitric oxide, blood pressure, heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation, symptom rating data, medical use, and possibly diet information and breath condensate analysis.

Journal Articles on this Report : 5 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other subproject views:	All 27 publications	18 publications in selected types	All 18 journal articles
Other center views:	All 209 publications	113 publications in selected types	All 109 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Sub Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Claiborn CS, Finn D, Larson TV, Koenig JQ. Windblown dust contributes to high PM2.5 concentrations. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 2000;50(8):1440-1445.	R827355 (2004) R827355 (Final) R827355C002 (2001) R827355C003 (1999) R827355C008 (Final)	Abstract from PubMed Full-text: Taylor&Francis-Full Text PDF Exit Abstract: Taylor&Francis-Abstract Exit
Journal Article	Mar TF, Norris GA, Koenig JQ, Larson TV. Associations between air pollution and mortality in Phoenix, 1995-1997. Environmental Health Perspectives 2000;108(4):347-353.	R827355 (2004) R827355 (Final) R827355C002 (1999) R827355C002 (2001) R827355C002 (Final)	Full-text from PubMed Abstract from PubMed Associated PubMed link Full-text: EHP-Full Text HTML Exit Other: EHP-Full Text PDF Exit
Journal Article	Norris G, Larson T, Koenig J, Claiborn C, Sheppard L, Finn D. Asthma aggravation, combustion, and stagnant air. Thorax 2000;55(6):466-470.	R827355 (2004) R827355 (Final) R827355C002 (1999) R827355C002 (2001)	Full-text from PubMed Abstract from PubMed Associated PubMed link Full-text: Thorax-Full Text PDF Exit Abstract: Thorax-Abstract and Full Text HTML Exit
Journal Article	Trenga CA, Koenig JQ, Williams PV. Dietary antioxidants and ozone-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness in adults with asthma. Archives of Environmental Health 2001;56(3):242-249.	R827355 (Final) R827355C002 (2001)	Abstract from PubMed Abstract: Taylor & Francis - Abstract Exit
Journal Article	Yu O, Sheppard L, Lumley T, Koenig JQ, Shapiro GG. Effects of ambient air pollution on symptoms of asthma in Seattle-area children enrolled in the CAMP study. Environmental Health Perspectives 2000;108(12):1209-1214.	R827355 (Final) R827355C002 (2001) R827355C002 (Final)	Full-text from PubMed Abstract from PubMed

Supplemental Keywords:

ambient particles, fine particles, combustion, health, exposure, biostatistics, susceptibility., Health, RFA, Air, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Waste, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Health Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, State, particulate matter, genetic susceptability, Environmental Chemistry, Incineration/Combustion, Epidemiology, indoor air, Northwest, Biochemistry, Toxicology, air toxics, environmental hazard exposures, air quality, health risks, Human Health Risk Assessment, health effects, combustion contaminants, incineration, indoor air quality, sensitive populations, aerosols, California (CA), age dependent response, asthma, ambient aerosol, combustion emissions, elderly, risk assessment, atmospheric chemistry, mortality, human exposure, cardiopulmonary responses, animal model, morbidity, combustion, allergens, children, exposure, particulates, ambient particle health effects, toxics, biostatistics, particle transport, ambient air, air pollutants, atmospheric aerosols, cardiovascular disease, human health risk, air pollution, human health effects, human susceptibility, ambient air quality, airway disease, cardiopulmonary response, inhalation, exposure assessment, exposure and effects

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R827355 Water Environment and Reuse Foundation's National Center for Resource Recovery and Nutrient Management

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827355C001 Epidemiologic Study of Particulate Matter and Cardiopulmonary Mortality
R827355C002 Health Effects
R827355C003 Personal PM Exposure Assessment
R827355C004 Characterization of Fine Particulate Matter
R827355C005 Mechanisms of Toxicity of Particulate Matter Using Transgenic Mouse Strains
R827355C006 Toxicology Project -- Controlled Exposure Facility
R827355C007 Health Effects Research Core
R827355C008 Exposure Core
R827355C009 Statistics and Data Core
R827355C010 Biomarker Core
R827355C011 Oxidation Stress Makers

Top of Page

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.