Grantee Research Project Results

2001 Progress Report: Traffic Density and Human Reproductive Health

EPA Grant Number: R827352C008
Subproject: this is subproject number 008 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827352
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Southern California Children's Environmental Health Center
Center Director: McConnell, Rob Scot
Title: Traffic Density and Human Reproductive Health
Investigators: Ritz, Beate R.
Institution: University of California - Los Angeles
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: June 1, 1999 through May 31, 2005 (Extended to May 31, 2006)
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2000 through May 31, 2001
RFA: Airborne Particulate Matter (PM) Centers (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Particulate Matter , Air

Objective:

A study involving Dr. Beate Ritz of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and her colleagues on the relationship between traffic density and reproductive outcomes is underway. The study is entitled “Residential Proximity to Traffic and Adverse Birth Outcomes in Los Angeles County, California, 1994-1996.”

Conceptual hypothesis: Pregnant women who live in close proximity to traffic and are therefore exposed more heavily to primary motor vehicle emissions during pregnancy have a greater risk of delivering a low birth weight (LBW) and/or premature infant.

Operational hypothesis: Pregnant women who lived close to heavy traffic roadways, including freeways and major arterials, in Los Angeles County, CA between 1994 and 1996 had a greater risk of delivering a low birth weight and/or preterm infant, taking into account season and ambient background air pollution levels and adjusting for individual and census-tract level risk factors for adverse birth outcomes.

Progress Summary:

This project is evaluating this hypothesis by observing the association between risk of LBW and preterm birth and residential proximity to heavy traffic roadways in women who lived within Los Angeles County between 1994 and 1996 (using addresses as stated on birth certificates) taking into account season and ambient background air pollution levels and adjusting for individual and census-tract level risk factors for adverse birth outcomes.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 2 publications for this subproject

Supplemental Keywords:

airborne particulate matter, aerosol, size distribution, particle concentrator, NRC priorities, mechanism, quinones, allergens, bioaerosols, dosimetry, children’s study, indoor exposure, exposure assessment, ultrafine, fine and coarse particles, REHEX, asthma, PAHs, clinical human exposures, source-receptor, measurement error, study design, susceptible populations, geo-code, toxicology, epidemiology, regional modeling, source/receptor analysis, Southern California, Los Angeles Basin, photochemistry, meteorology, trajectory modeling, peroxides, air, geographic area, scientific discipline, health, RFA, susceptibility/sensitive population/genetic susceptibility, biology, risk assessments, genetic susceptibility, health risk assessment, biochemistry, particulate matter, environmental chemistry, mobile sources, state, aerosols, automotive exhaust, epidemiology, exposure assessment, California (CA), environmentally caused disease, engine exhaust, environmental hazard exposures, airborne urban contaminants, freeway study, allergen, indoor air, indoor air quality, allergens, particle concentrator, air quality, diesel exhaust, particulate emissions, automobiles, human health risk, toxics, human health effects, particulates, sensitive populations, toxicology, automobile exhaust, diesel exhaust particles, environmental triggers, air pollution, airway disease, atmospheric chemistry, children, automotive emissions, exposure, inhaled particles, motor vehicle emissions, asthma triggers, PM characteristics, traffic density, ambient aerosol, asthma, human exposure, PM, particle transport,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Air, Geographic Area, HUMAN HEALTH, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Health Risk Assessment, Air Pollutants, State, mobile sources, Health Effects, Environmental Monitoring, engine exhaust, ambient aerosol, asthma, motor vehicle emissions, epidemiology, human health effects, quinones, automotive emissions, particulate emissions, automobiles, automotive exhaust, air pollution, children, PAH, human exposure, PM characteristics, California (CA), allergens, indoor air quality, aerosols, atmospheric chemistry

Relevant Websites:

http://www.scpcs.ucla.edu Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R827352 Southern California Children's Environmental Health Center

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827352C001 The Chemical Toxicology of Particulate Matter
R827352C002 Pro-inflammatory and the Pro-oxidative Effects of Diesel Exhaust Particulate in Vivo and in Vitro
R827352C003 Measurement of the “Effective” Surface Area of Ultrafine and Accumulation Mode PM (Pilot Project)
R827352C004 Effect of Exposure to Freeways with Heavy Diesel Traffic and Gasoline Traffic on Asthma Mouse Model
R827352C005 Effects of Exposure to Fine and Ultrafine Concentrated Ambient Particles near a Heavily Trafficked Freeway in Geriatric Rats (Pilot Project)
R827352C006 Relationship Between Ultrafine Particle Size Distribution and Distance From Highways
R827352C007 Exposure to Vehicular Pollutants and Respiratory Health
R827352C008 Traffic Density and Human Reproductive Health
R827352C009 The Role of Quinones, Aldehydes, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and other Atmospheric Transformation Products on Chronic Health Effects in Children
R827352C010 Novel Method for Measurement of Acrolein in Aerosols
R827352C011 Off-Line Sampling of Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Respiratory Health Surveys
R827352C012 Controlled Human Exposure Studies with Concentrated PM
R827352C013 Particle Size Distributions of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the LAB
R827352C014 Physical and Chemical Characteristics of PM in the LAB (Source Receptor Study)
R827352C015 Exposure Assessment and Airshed Modeling Applications in Support of SCPC and CHS Projects
R827352C016 Particle Dosimetry
R827352C017 Conduct Research and Monitoring That Contributes to a Better Understanding of the Measurement, Sources, Size Distribution, Chemical Composition, Physical State, Spatial and Temporal Variability, and Health Effects of Suspended PM in the Los Angeles Basin (LAB)

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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.