Grantee Research Project Results
2013 Progress Report: Effects of Stress and Traffic Pollutants on Childhood Asthma in an Urban Community
EPA Grant Number: R834579Title: Effects of Stress and Traffic Pollutants on Childhood Asthma in an Urban Community
Investigators: Laumbach, Robert , Kipen, Howard , Greenberg, Molly , Fiedler, Nancy , Ohman-Strickland, Pamela , Fan, Tina
Current Investigators: Laumbach, Robert , Kipen, Howard , Greenberg, Molly , Fiedler, Nancy , Ohman-Strickland, Pamela
Institution: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey , Ironbound Community Corporation , Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Current Institution: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey , Ironbound Community Corporation , Robert Wood Johnson Medical School , Rutgers
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: June 1, 2010 through June 30, 2014 (Extended to June 30, 2016)
Project Period Covered by this Report: June 1, 2013 through May 31,2014
Project Amount: $1,249,960
RFA: Understanding the Role of Nonchemical Stressors and Developing Analytic Methods for Cumulative Risk Assessments (2009) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health
Objective:
The PI will test how chronic psychological stress modifies inflammatory and pulmonary function effects of acute exposures to traffic-related air pollutants. The primary outcomes to be evaluated are acute changes in fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), a marker of pulmonary inflammation, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), a measure of lung function. The roles of both psychosocial stress and air pollutant exposure will be looked at individually and together in affecting FENO and FEV1.
Progress Summary:
Through May 31, 2014, 22 subjects have completed participation in data collection activities for approximately 700 person-days of personal air pollutant exposure and asthma medications. In addition, three healthy pilot subjects completed the protocol during the summer of 2011. The personal exposure data includes daily, 24-hour 1-minute black carbon recorded for up to 30 consecutive days, and daily 24-hour integrated nitrogen dioxide. Daily asthma status data includes thrice daily spirometry with peak flow and FEV1 and other parameters, daily exhaled nitric oxide, symptoms, and medication use. Daily time-activity logs are confirmed with GPS location coordinates with a tracker co-located with the micro-aethalometer. No serious problems or adverse events have been observed.
Along with our community partner, the Ironbound Community Corporation, we increased efforts to recruit participants via attending public meetings, health fairs, and delivering six educational meetings about asthma in the community. We also have taken steps to increase recruitment by expanding the recruitment area to include other neighborhoods in Newark, NJ, as well as in Elizabeth, NJ. Elizabeth, NJ, is an environmental justice community adjacent to the Newark-Elizabeth seaport that is similarly impacted by diesel truck traffic. We have developed a relationship with new community partners in Elizabeth—Brand New Day, an urban re-development non-profit, and the Elizabethport Presbyterian Center, which houses a federally-qualified health center. We have signed memoranda of agreement with these organizations to work together to increase awareness of impacts of environment on asthma and to help to recruit participants. We also applied for and received approval from the Elizabeth Board of Education to work with public schools in neighborhoods impacted by truck traffic.
Future Activities:
Will continue enrolling subjects and collecting data.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 4 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Health, Scientific Discipline, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Risk Management, Health Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, Environmental Monitoring, Biology, cumulative risk, anthropogenic stress, asthma, children's health, lung disease, allergic airway disease, airway disease, air pollution, ambient particle health effects, airshed modeling, allergens, inhalation study, exposure assessmentProgress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe 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
- Final Report
- 2015 Progress Report
- 2014
- 2012 Progress Report
- 2011 Progress Report
- 2010 Progress Report
- Original Abstract
3 journal articles for this project