Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: Health Effects Institute (2010-2015)

EPA Grant Number: R834677
Center: Health Effects Institute (Prior to 2000)
Center Director: Greenbaum, Daniel S.
Title: Health Effects Institute (2010-2015)
Investigators: Greenbaum, Daniel S.
Institution: Health Effects Institute
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2015
Project Amount: $25,000,000
RFA: Health Effects Institute (2010) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health , Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air

Objective:

This project involved targeted strategic research in four key areas:

Multipollutant Exposure, Epidemiology, and Toxicology Research
Emerging Technologies and Fuels
Health Outcomes of Air Quality Improvements (Accountability)
An International Perspective

HEI also proposed to infuse several cross-cutting issues throughout its efforts from 2010 – 2015, including sensitive populations, enhanced statistical techniques, use of new methods in toxicity testing, and enhanced public access to data.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS (2010-2015)

HEI published 37 full Research Reports and 6 Special Reports, Perspectives, and Communications on these priority topics. The key findings are summarized below.

Multipollutant Exposure, Epidemiology, and Toxicology Research

The National Particle Component Toxicity (NPACT) Initiative, a systematic, multidisciplinary program that used coordinated toxicology, epidemiology and exposure research to examine and compare toxicity of particulate matter (PM) components, gases and sources. Taken together, the NPACT studies found associations of secondary sulfate and, to a somewhat lesser extent, traffic sources with health effects. The HEI NPACT Review Panel concluded, however, that the studies do not provide compelling evidence that any specific source, component, or size class of PM may be excluded as a possible contributor to PM toxicity.

A thorough literature review of emissions, exposure, and health effects of ultrafine particles (HEI Perspective 3) concluded that, while there have been a growing number of laboratory and field studies of the effects of ultrafine particles (UFPs), “toxicologic studies in animals, controlled human exposure studies, and epidemiologic studies to date have not provided consistent findings on the effects of exposures to ambient levels of UFPs, particularly in human populations. The current evidence does not support a conclusion that exposures to UFPs alone can account in substantial ways for the adverse effects that have been associated with other ambient pollutants such as PM_2.5.”

HEI-funded investigators completed controlled ozone exposures for close to 90 older adults as part of its MOSES project to evaluate the effects of low concentrations of ozone on cardiovascular health outcomes.

HEI initiated and completed the analysis for three innovative studies designed to develop new statistical techniques for multiple pollutants analysis, and then attempting to apply those techniques in existing data sets to test their strengths and limitations.

HEI conducted a multi-expert workshop in follow up to HEI’s earlier traffic and health special report, and initiated new studies of enhanced traffic exposure assessment.

Emerging Technologies and Fuels

The Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES) is a multi stakeholder project to provide emissions and health testing of new technology diesel engines. ACES showed that emissions standards were met, and even exceeded, reducing PM and other emissions by more than 90% relative to previous engine technologies without the appearance of unexpected new, toxic compounds. Laboratory rats exposed for their lifetime (up to 30 months) to the 2007-compliant engine emissions showed some lung inflammation and other mild health effects consistent with NO₂ exposure, but did not show any evidence of tumor formation or pre-carcinogenic effects, in contrast to previous animal studies of chronic exposure to exhaust from “traditional,” pre-2007 technology diesel engines.

A report from the Scientific Committee on Emerging Technologies (HEI Communication 16) reviews in detail a host of new technologies and fuels, from improved internal combustion engines, to hybrid and other electric drive technologies, to existing and new bio- and other types of fuels. The Future of Vehicle Fuels and Technologies: Anticipating Health Benefits and Challenges identifies a number of potential unintended health consequences that could arise from use of these fuels and technologies and they need further investigation.

Health Outcomes of Air Quality Improvements (Accountability)

Key studies funded under HEI’s accountability program to evaluate the effectiveness of air quality regulations in improving public health, including actions addressing traffic congestion, wood stove replacements, coal bans, and other actions:

A study of coal bans in Ireland found clear decreases in black smoke concentrations, particularly during the heating season, after each ban. Respiratory mortality decreased significantly in the aftermath of the bans (confirming an earlier study). However, unlike the earlier study, the current study did not find a reduction in total or cardiovascular mortality after the bans. The study demonstrates the importance—and challenges—of disentangling the effects of an intervention from those of other social and economic factors that also might influence long-term trends in health.
A study in Beijing provided important supporting evidence that air quality improvements such as those found during the Beijing Olympic Games can improve health biomarkers, with the potential for beneficial health effects in the affected population.
A study in London represented a creative effort to explore a subtle change in air quality associated with a complex intervention to reduce traffic congestion. Although the investigators were unable to demonstrate a clear effect of the Congestion Charging Scheme either on individual air pollutant levels or on oxidative potential of particulate matter, this study offers many lessons for future studies of interventions that are expected to influence air quality.

An International Perspective

With support from foundations and other agencies, HEI published a comprehensive review of outdoor air pollution and health in Asia (Special Report 18). HEI also conducted a pan-European workshop co-organized with the European Commission and the World Health Organization (with U.S. EPA, industry, and non-governmental organization [NGO] involvement) and companion HEI-led briefing for the European Parliament on “Understanding the Health Effects of Air Pollution” designed to inform regulatory decision making in Brussels. HEI also led the air pollution analysis in the newest Global Burden of Disease update (2010), including calculating highly influential and widely reported analyses of estimates for China and India.

Journal Articles: 9 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other center views:	All 17 publications	10 publications in selected types	All 9 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Sub Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Carone M, Dominici F, Sheppard L. In Pursuit of Evidence in Air Pollution Epidemiology:The Role of Causally Driven Data Science. EPIDEMIOLOGY 2020;31(1):1-6.	R834677 (Final)	Full-text from PubMed Abstract from PubMed Full-text: Wolters Kluwer - Full Text HTML Exit
Journal Article	Choirat C, Braun D, Kioumourtzoghlou M. Data Science in Environmental Health Research. ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2019;6(13):291-299.	R834677 (Final)	Full-text from PubMed Abstract from PubMed Abstract: Springer - Abstract HTML Exit
Journal Article	Matthaios V, Lawrence J, Martins M, Ferguson S, Wolfson J, Harrison R, Kourtrakis P. Quantifying factors affecting contributions of Roadway exhaust and non-exhaust emissions to ambient PM10-2.5 and PM2.5-0.2 particles. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVRIONMENT 2022;835.	R834677 (Final) R835872 (2020) R835872C001 (Final)	Abstract from PubMed Full-text: ScienceDirect - Full Text HTML Exit Other: ScienceDirect - Full Text PDF Exit
Journal Article	Meng Q, Hackfeld LC, Hodge RP, Walker VE. Comparison of mutagenicity of stereochemical forms of 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane at HPRT and TK loci in human cells. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 2003;41(36 Supplement):77.	R834677C150 (Final)	not available
Journal Article	Meng Q, Redetzke DL, Hackfeld LC, Hodge RP, Walker DM, Walker VE. Mutagenicity of stereochemical configurations of 1,2-epoxybutene and 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane in human lymphoblastoid cells. Chemico-Biological Interactions 2007;166(1-3):207-218.	R834677C150 (Final)	Abstract from PubMed Abstract: ScienceDirect-Abstract Exit
Journal Article	Mork D, Braun D, Zanobetti A. Time-lagged relationships between a decade of air pollution exposure and first hospitalization with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNATIONAL 2023;171(107694)	R834677 (Final)	Full-text from PubMed Full-text: Science Direct - Full Text HTML Exit
Journal Article	Papadogeorgou G, Kioumourtzoglou M, Braun D, Zanobetti A. Low Levels of Air Pollution and Health:Effect Estimates, Methodological Challenges, and Future Directions. CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH REPORTS 2019;6(3):105-115.	R834677 (Final)	Full-text from PubMed Abstract from PubMed Abstract: Springer -Abstract HTML Exit
Journal Article	Shi L, Wu X, Danesh Yazdi M, Braun D, Abu Awad Y, Wei Y, Liu P, Di Q, Wang Y, Schwartz J, Dominici F, Kioumourtzoglou M-A, Zanobetti A. Long-term effects of PM2·5 on neurological disorders in the American Medicare population:a longitudinal cohort study. The Lancet Planetary Health 2020; 4(12):e557-e565.	R834677 (Final) R835872C003 (Final)	Full-text: ScienceDirect - Full Text HTML Exit Abstract: IEEE - Abstract HTML Exit Other: ScienceDirect - Full Text PDF Exit
Journal Article	Wu X, Nethery RC, Sabath MB, Braun D, Dominici F. Air pollution and COVID-19 mortality in the United States:Strengths and limitations of an ecological regression analysis. Science Advances 2020; 6(45)	R834677 (Final) R835872 (2020) R835872C004 (Final)	Full-text from PubMed Abstract from PubMed Full-text: Science Advances - Full Text HTML Exit Other: Science Advances - Full Text PDF Exit

Supplemental Keywords:

air pollution, health effects, particulate matter, ozone, air toxics, diesel, fuels, fuel technologies, accountability, traffic

Relevant Websites:

http://www.healtheffects.orgExit

Data Access sites:

Air Quality Data: http://hei.aer.comExit

RIOPA Data website: http://riopa.aer.comExit

Global Burden of Disease: http://www.healthdata.org/gbdExit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R834677C149 Development and Application of a Sensitive Method to Determine Concentrations of Acrolein and Other Carbonyls in Ambient Air
R834677C150 Mutagenicity of Stereochemical Configurations of 1,3-Butadiene Epoxy Metabolites in Human Cells
R834677C151 Biologic Effects of Inhaled Diesel Exhaust in Young and Old Mice: A Pilot Project
R834677C152 Evaluating Heterogeneity in Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution Using Land-Use Regression and Constrained Factor Analysis
R834677C153 Improved Source Apportionment and Speciation of Low-Volume Particulate Matter Samples
R834677C155 The Impact of the Congestion Charging Scheme on Air Quality in London
R834677C156 Concentrations of Air Toxics in Motor Vehicle-Dominated Environments
R834677C158 Air Toxics Exposure from Vehicle Emissions at a U.S. Border Crossing: Buffalo Peace Bridge Study
R834677C159 Role of Neprilysin in Airway Inflammation Induced by Diesel Exhaust Emissions
R834677C160 Personal and Ambient Exposures to Air Toxics in Camden, New Jersey
R834677C162 Assessing the Impact of a Wood Stove Replacement Program on Air Quality and Children’s Health
R834677C163 The London Low Emission Zone Baseline Study
R834677C165 Effects of Controlled Exposure to Diesel Exhaust in Allergic Asthmatic Individuals
R834677C168 Evaluating the Effects of Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments on Air Quality
R834677C172 Potential Air Toxics Hot Spots in Truck Terminals and Cabs
R834677C173 Detection and Characterization of Nanoparticles from Motor Vehicles
R834677C174 Cardiorespiratory Biomarker Responses in Healthy Young Adults to Drastic Air Quality Changes Surrounding the 2008 Beijing Olympics

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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.