Grantee Research Project Results

Novel Estimates of Pollutant Mixtures and Pediatric Health in Two Birth Cohorts

EPA Grant Number: R834799C003
Subproject: this is subproject number 003 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R834799
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: The Southeastern Center for Air Pollution and Epidemiology: Multiscale Measurements and Modeling of Mixtures
Center Director: Tolbert, Paige
Title: Novel Estimates of Pollutant Mixtures and Pediatric Health in Two Birth Cohorts
Investigators: Strickland, Matthew J , Russell, Armistead G. , Mulholland, James , Waller, Lance , Darrow, Lyndsey , Klein, Mitchel , Guensler, Randy , Davis, Robert , Liu, Yang
Current Investigators: Strickland, Matthew J , Russell, Armistead G. , Chang, Howard , Mulholland, James , Waller, Lance , Darrow, Lyndsey , Klein, Mitchel , Guensler, Randy , Liu, Yang
Institution: Emory University , Georgia Institute of Technology
Current Institution: Emory University , Georgia Institute of Technology , University of Nevada - Reno
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2016
RFA: Clean Air Research Centers (2009) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health , Air

Objective:

In utero and early life experiences affect physiological development and can influence sensitivity to environmental factors throughout life. In this project we will explore the interplay between certain early life events, characterizations of air pollutant mixtures developed as part of the Center’s Mixtures Characterization Toolkit, and a range of pediatric health outcomes using two large, population-based birth cohorts.

Approach:

One cohort consists of roughly 2.3 million Georgia birth records that have been geocoded and linked with pediatric emergency department visits by staff at the Georgia Department of Human Resources. Using this statewide birth cohort, we will investigate acute effects of air pollution mixtures on respiratory health outcomes and ear infections in children, and we will assess whether children who were born premature or low birth weight are more sensitive to ambient air pollutant concentrations than their counterparts. Further, we will use the statewide birth cohort to investigate whether ambient air pollutant mixtures during pregnancy are associated with the risk of preterm delivery or reduced birth weight. The second birth cohort is comprised of children who were members of the Kaiser Permanente Georgia Health Maintenance Organization in metropolitan Atlanta. In this birth cohort, where comprehensive medical and residential histories are available for each study subject, we will examine whether air pollutant mixtures during the first year of life are associated with the incidence of childhood asthma.

Expected Results:

This project will advance the science of atmospheric modeling [addressing Research Question 2 (RQ 2) in the Request for Applications], and it will provide strong evidence regarding the susceptibility of the developing fetus and children to ambient air pollutant mixtures (RQ3). Permeating through the project is a strong focus on pollutant mixtures (RQ 5), which includes novel methods for both atmospheric and epidemiologic modeling, and a rigorous approach to data analysis that includes characterization of pollutant lag effects and concentration-response relationships (RQ 4). If our analyses suggest that these subpopulations have a heightened sensitivity to air pollutants, then these findings will help inform public health policy decisions, since protection of sensitive subpopulations is central to EPA’s mission as a regulatory agency.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 91 publications for this subproject | View all 338 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 37 journal articles for this subproject | View all 135 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

ambient air, atmosphere, health effects, human health, susceptibility, vulnerability, sensitive populations, infants, children, risk, dose-response, cumulative effects, epidemiology, exposure, public policy, air quality modeling, monitoring, measurement methods, aerosol, particulates, PM2.5, organics, elemental carbon, metals, ozone, oxidants, PAH, sulfates, source characterization, mobile sources, Georgia, GA, Southeast, Scientific Discipline, Health, Health Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, Environmental Monitoring, Biochemistry, Atmospheric Sciences, children's health, particulate matter, ambient air monitoring, climate change, air pollution, airshed modeling, ambient particle health effects, susceptibility, human health risk

Progress and Final Reports:

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R834799 The Southeastern Center for Air Pollution and Epidemiology: Multiscale Measurements and Modeling of Mixtures

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R834799C001 Development and Deployment of an Instrumentation Suite for Comprehensive Air Quality Characterization Including Aerosol ROS
R834799C002 Examining In-Vehicle Pollution and Oxidative Stress in a Cohort of Daily Commuters
R834799C003 Novel Estimates of Pollutant Mixtures and Pediatric Health in Two Birth Cohorts
R834799C004 A Multi-City Time-Series Study of Pollutant Mixtures and Acute Morbidity

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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.