Grantee Research Project Results
School-Based Study of Complex Environmental Exposures and Related Health Effects in Children Part A - Exposure
EPA Grant Number: R825813Title: School-Based Study of Complex Environmental Exposures and Related Health Effects in Children Part A - Exposure
Investigators: Sexton, Ken , Greaves, Ian , Church, Timothy , Adgate, John L. , Ramachandran, Gurumurthy
Current Investigators: Sexton, Ken , Greaves, Ian , Church, Timothy , Adgate, John L. , Tweedie, Richard L. , Ramachandran, Gurumurthy
Institution: University of Minnesota
Current Institution: University of Minnesota , The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: March 1, 1998 through March 1, 2001 (Extended to January 25, 2003)
Project Amount: $899,264
RFA: Issues in Human Health Risk Assessment (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health
Description:
The objectives of this study are to (1) document complex exposure patterns involving multiple acute exposures and exposures to chemical mixtures for school children (K - 5) from two low-income, racially diverse neighborhoods in Minneapolis, (2) examine temporal variability by monitoring complex exposures three times over a twelve-month period, (3) apportion the relative contribution to measured personal exposure of outdoor community air, air inside the child's school, and air inside the child's residence, (4) evaluate the relationship between measured exposures and internal dose using biological markers of exposure in blood and urine, and (5) compare children's exposures between a new school designed to enhance indoor air quality and an older school with more traditional architecture, mechanical systems, and furnishings.
Approach:
This study will measure children's exposures to volatile organic chemicals, metals, environmental tobacco smoke, PAHs, and pesticides using a combination of measurement methods, including outdoor, in-home, in-school, personal, and human tissue monitoring. The target population is 800 children attending elementary school in two low-income neighborhoods in south Minneapolis (5% Native American, 15% Asian Americans, 65% African American, 15% white).
Expected Results:
The results from this study will provide critical scientific facts about complex, multipathway exposures for poor, inner-urban children; a key factor in making more informed and reasonable decisions about comparative and cumulative risks. Findings will furnish important scientific building blocks necessary to shift risk assessments toward a more broad-based approach and away from a narrow focus on single chemicals and exposure pathways. Ultimately, realsitic health risk assessments for this vulnerable segment of the population depend on obtaining accurate and precise measuremnts of actual exposures to environmental toxicants.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 5 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 5 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Children, Exposure, Risk Assessment, Comparative Risk Assessment, Cumulative Risk Assessment, Chemical Mixtures, Indoor Air Pollution, Exposure Assessment, Volatile Organic Chemicals, Environmental Tobacco Smoke, PAHs, Metals, Pesticides,, RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Air, Toxics, air toxics, Environmental Chemistry, pesticides, Epidemiology, Chemistry, VOCs, Risk Assessments, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Children's Health, indoor air, genetic susceptability, school based study, pesticide exposure, cumulative risk, sensitive populations, multiple acute exposures, exposure and effects, adolescents, multiple acute exposure, indoor exposure, health risks, measuring childhood exposure, exposure, chemical mixtures, Human Health Risk Assessment, air pollution, children, PAH, assessment of exposure, human exposure, minorities, cigarette smoke, environmental toxicant, environmental stressors, exposure pathways, harmful environmental agents, toxic environmental contaminants, indoor air quality, tobacco smoke, acute exposure, heavy metals, school-based study, environmental hazard exposures, metalsProgress 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.