Grantee Research Project Results
2012 Progress Report: Development and Validation of the Cumulative Environmental Exposure Index for Arsenic: A Novel Environmental Public Health Indicator
EPA Grant Number: R834794Title: Development and Validation of the Cumulative Environmental Exposure Index for Arsenic: A Novel Environmental Public Health Indicator
Investigators: O'Bryant, Sid E. , Gong, Gordon , Johnson, Leigh
Current Investigators: O'Bryant, Sid E. , Mulligan, Kevin R. , Gong, Gordon , Zhang, Yan
Institution: University of North Texas - Hlth Sci Ctr at Ft Worth , Towson University
Current Institution: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: March 1, 2011 through February 28, 2013 (Extended to February 28, 2014)
Project Period Covered by this Report: March 1, 2012 through February 28,2013
Project Amount: $482,900
RFA: Exploring Linkages Between Health Outcomes and Environmental Hazards, Exposures, and Interventions for Public Health Tracking and Risk Management (2009) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health
Objective:
Objective 1: To develop and describe a novel environmental public health indicator (EPHI), the cumulative environmental exposure index for arsenic (CEEI-As).
Objective 2: To validate the CEEI-As as an environmental indicator of health burden.
Objective 3: To evaluate the impact of the CEEI-As on the known health disparities between Mexican American and non-Hispanic whites.
Progress Summary:
To date, we have enrolled 206 participants into the study and we have calculated GIS-based As concentrations for each household. We have also calculated cumulative exposure at current household for each of these participants by multiplying current As concentration times the number of years living at current house (Objective 1). We have sent all water samples for these participants for assay of As levels and anticipate receiving these results within weeks. To date, we have shown that current household exposure to As is related to poor health outcomes, as predicted in Objective 2 above. Current As levels were related to increased risk for cardiovascular disease, which was also influenced by genetics (i.e., AS3MT polymorphism). We also found that higher blood pressure was related to higher As concentrations and that cholesterol problems (i.e., dyslipidemia) were related to arsenic genetics (i.e., AS3MT polymorphism). We have also shown that higher current As concentrations are related to poorer global cognition. Finally, we have also shown that long-term As concentrations at current household is more strongly related to memory and thinking abilities than current As concentrations. We have also expanded our work to examine the health consequences of selenium. These findings provide initial support for the importance of considering long-term exposures to As concentrations that are within “acceptable” levels. They also demonstrate the importance of considering biological factors (e.g., genetics) when examining this topic. Such findings will provide substantial research-driven information for a re-consideration of what is deemed an appropriate level of As exposure within water supplies.
The PI has subsequently moved to a new Institution (University of North Texas Health Sciences Center) and will resume recruiting participants from the new location within the next few weeks.
Future Activities:
We will resume participant enrollment within 4 weeks and schedule sufficient participants to meet recruitment goals by the end of February 2013. We will soon begin building cumulative As exposure models using the data collected on the 206 participants at this point. Once we receive the groundwater As measurements, we will begin modeling direct measurement of As concentration in comparison to estimated As concentrations using existing data from the Texas Water Development Board.
Journal Articles on this Report : 4 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 23 publications | 16 publications in selected types | All 16 journal articles |
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Gong G, Hargrave KA, Hobson V, Spallholz J, Boylan M, Lefforge D, O'Bryant SE. Low-level groundwater arsenic exposure impacts cognition: a Project FRONTIER study. Journal of Environmental Health 2011;74(2):16-23. |
R834794 (2011) R834794 (2012) R834794 (Final) |
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Gong G, O'Bryant SE. Low-level arsenic exposure, AS3MT gene polymorphism and cardiovascular diseases in rural Texas counties. Environmental Research 2012;113:52-57. |
R834794 (2011) R834794 (2012) R834794 (Final) |
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Johnson LA, Phillips JA, Mauer C, Edwards M, Balldin VH, Hall JR, Barber R, Conger TL, Ho EJ, O'Bryant SE. The impact of GPX1 on the association of groundwater selenium and depression: a Project FRONTIER study. BMC Psychiatry 2013;13:7. |
R834794 (2012) R834794 (Final) |
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O'Bryant SE, Edwards M, Menon CV, Gong G, Barber RC. Long-term low-level arsenic exposure is associated with poorer neuropsychological functioning: a Project FRONTIER study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2011;8(3):861-874. |
R834794 (2011) R834794 (2012) R834794 (Final) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
Water, drinking water, groundwater, exposure, risk, risk assessment, effects, health effects, human health, bioavailability, metabolism, vulnerability, sensitive populations, carcinogen, population, elderly, age, race, genetic predisposition, genetic polymorphisms, sex, ethnic groups, susceptibility, cumulative effects, toxics, heavy metals, indicators, sustainable development, public policy, decision making, community-based, psychological, social science, ecology, epidemiology, genetics, modeling, monitoring, southwest, rural, urban, EPA Region 6Progress 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.