Grantee Research Project Results

2001 Progress Report: Cardiopulmonary Effects of Metal-Containing Particulate Exposure

EPA Grant Number: R828678C002
Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R824834
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Health Effects Institute (2015 - 2020)
Center Director: Greenbaum, Daniel S.
Title: Cardiopulmonary Effects of Metal-Containing Particulate Exposure
Investigators: Christiani, David
Institution: Harvard University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: January 1, 1999 through January 31, 2004
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2000 through January 31, 2001
RFA: Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center (NUATRC) (1997) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Targeted Research , Air Quality and Air Toxics

Objective:

The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of respirable particulate matter (PM2.5) and associated metals in respiratory and cardiovascular responses in a cohort of boilermakers with and without chronic bronchitis. The experimental approach involves an epidemiological study employing a prospective, repeat-measurement design assessing several biological parameters in relation to exposure. PM2.5 levels are monitored continuously with personal Dust Trak monitors. Personal metal exposure (V, N, Cd, Mn, Cr, and Fe) will be measured daily. Boilermaker exposure to the fuel oil ash particulate will be related to the following:

• Airway inflammation, by measuring daily exhaled NO;

• Airflow obstruction–by measuring daily peak flow and weekly lung function (FEV1); and

• Cardiovascular function by measuring daily heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood pressure and weekly serum fibrinogen levels.

Workers during pre-exposure (layoff) serve as their own controls. Subjects with chronic bronchitis will be compared to non-symptomatics subjects. This project will be leveraged with funds from a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) grant.

Progress Summary:

This project was initiated under a previous grant (Grant No. R824834C002). The study is in compliance with the Institutional Review Board of the Harvard School of Public Health. Human consent procedures meet governmental guidelines. The study is in compliance with appropriate NUATRC and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) guidelines.

Boilermakers (N = 40) have been monitored both in the field, at the site of two boiler overhauls, and in the apprentice welding school. Continuous monitoring of exposure, heart rate variability, and spirometry, and exhaled nitric oxide was performed during and away from work.

This is the first prospective study to use personal PM2.5 measurements to investigate their association with changes in heart rate variability (HRV) in a young cohort, and to investigate the association of several metals contained in PM2.5 with changes in HRV. Decreases in HRV and increases in heart rate associated with environmental and occupational PM2.5 exposures have been demonstrated. Individual metals (V, Mn, Pb) concentrations have been associated with increases in the heart rate variability index. Sampling and analyses of the filters for particulate matter and metals were completed. Metals analyses in the urine are ongoing. Data analyses for the study are ongoing.

Future Activities:

The following activities will be performed in the next year:

· Correlation of analysis of metals in the urine and air samples;

· Evaluation of the association between fine particulate matter and respiratory effects (FEV1 and exhaled NO);

· Association between the metal components and respiratory end points;

· Assessment of the relationship between chronic respiratory disease and the cardiac responses to particulates; and

· Submission of the final report.

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

Publications Views

Other subproject views:	All 17 publications	6 publications in selected types	All 6 journal articles
Other center views:	All 144 publications	62 publications in selected types	All 53 journal articles

Publications

Type	Citation	Sub Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Magari SR, Hauser R, Schwartz J, Williams PL, Smith TJ, Christiani DC. Association of heart rate variability with occupational and environmental exposure to particulate air pollution. Circulation 2001;104(9):986-991.	R828678C002 (2001) R828678C002 (2003) R828678C002 (2004) R828678C002 (2005) R828678C002 (2006) R828678C002 (Final) R827353 (Final)	Abstract from PubMed Full-text: Circulation-Full Text PDF Exit Abstract: Circulation-Abstract Exit

Supplemental Keywords:

air, pollution, urban, particulate matter, PM2.5, bronchitis, metals, exposure, epidemiology, respiratory diseases., RFA, Health, Air, Scientific Discipline, HUMAN HEALTH, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Health Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, particulate matter, Biology, genetic susceptability, Environmental Chemistry, Exposure, Atmospheric Sciences, air toxics, inhaled, air quality, environmental hazard exposures, inhaled pollutants, sensitive populations, fine particles, lung inflammation, long term exposure, chemical mixtures, co-pollutants, acute lung injury, human exposure, mortality, cardiopulmonary responses, particulate exposure, National Cohort Studies, morbidity, Acute health effects, copollutant exposures, cardiac arrest, cardiotoxicity, acute exposure, chronic health effects, susceptible subpopulations, air contaminant exposure, toxics, atmospheric particulate matter, air pollution, human susceptibility, acute cardiovascular effects, airborne urban contaminants, cardiovascular disease, cardiopulmonary, human health risk, time series analysis, PM 2.5

Relevant Websites:

Previously Funded Project: R824834C002

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

1999

2000

2002 Progress Report

2003 Progress Report

Final Report

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R824834    Health Effects Institute (2015 - 2020)

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R824834C001 Air Toxics Exposures Among Teenagers in New York City and Los Angeles - A Columbia-Harvard Study (TEACH)
R824834C002 Cardiopulmonary Response to Particulate Exposure
R824834C003 VOC Exposure in an Industry Impacted Community
R824834C004 A Study of Personal Exposure to Air Toxics Among a Subset of the Residential U.S. Population (VOC Project)
R824834C005 Methods Development Project for a Study of Personal Exposures to Toxic Air Pollutants
R824834C006 Relationship Between Indoor, Outdoor and Personal Air (RIOPA)
R824834C007 Development of the "Leland Legacy" Air Sampling Pump
R824834C008 Source Apportionment of Indoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Urban Residences
R824834C009 Development of a Personal Cascade Impactor Sampler (PCIS)
R824834C010 Testing the Metals Hypothesis in Spokane
R828678C001 Air Toxics Exposures Among Teenagers in New York City and Los Angeles—A Columbia-Harvard Study (TEACH)
R828678C002 Cardiopulmonary Effects of Metal-Containing Particulate Exposure
R828678C003 VOC Exposure in an Industry Impacted Community
R828678C004 A Study of Personal Exposure to Air Toxics Among a Subset of the Residential U.S. Population (VOC Project)
R828678C005 Oxygenated Urban Air Toxics and Asthma Variability in Middle School Children: A Panel Study (ATAC–Air Toxics and Asthma in Children)
R828678C006 Relationship between Indoor, Outdoor and Personal Air (RIOPA). Part II: Analyses of Concentrations of Particulate Matter Species
R828678C007 Development of the “Leland Legacy” Air Sampling Pump
R828678C008 Source Apportionment of Indoor PAHs in Urban Residences 98-03B
R828678C009 Development of a Personal Cascade Impactor Sampler (PCIS)
R828678C010 Testing the Metals Hypothesis in Spokane
R828678C011 A Pilot Geospatial Analysis of Exposure to Air Pollutants (with Special Attention to Air Toxics) and Hospital Admissions in Harris County, Texas
R828678C012 Impact of Exposure to Urban Air Toxics on Asthma Utilization for the Pediatric Medicaid Population in Dearborn, Michigan
R828678C013 Field Validation of the Sioutas Sampler and Leland Legacy Pump – Joint Project with EPA’s Environmental Technology Validation Program (ETV)
R828678C014 Performance Evaluation of the 3M Charcoal Vapor Monitor for Monitor Low Ambient Concentrations of VOCs
R828678C015 RIOPA Database Development
R828678C016 Contributions of Outdoor PM Sources to Indoor and Personal Exposures: Analysis of PM Species Concentrations” Focused on the PM Speciation and Apportioning of Sources
R828678C017 The Short and Long-Term Respiratory Effects of Exposure to PAHs from Traffic in a Cohort of Asthmatic Children