Grantee Research Project Results
2011 Progress Report: Exploring New Questions of Multiple Air Pollutants, Sources and Health in Denver
EPA Grant Number: R834899Title: Exploring New Questions of Multiple Air Pollutants, Sources and Health in Denver
Investigators: Peel, Jennifer , Hannigan, Michael P.
Institution: Colorado State University , University of Colorado at Boulder
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2013 (Extended to August 31, 2014)
Project Period Covered by this Report: April 1, 2011 through March 31,2012
Project Amount: $298,362
RFA: Exploring New Air Pollution Health Effects Links in Existing Datasets (2010) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air
Objective:
This project is taking advantage of a rich and unique existing time-series to evaluate novel questions regarding the relationship between air pollution and hospital admissions in Denver, Colorado. We are leveraging five years of data from the Denver Aerosol Sources and Health (DASH) study, including daily fine particulate matter mass (PM2.5; particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter), species, and source factors, to examine the association of air pollution with novel health outcomes (Objective 1). Additionally, we will explore several questions aimed at providing insight regarding susceptible populations (Objective 2) as well as regarding other potential factors leading to heterogeneity of health effect estimates in relation to ambient air pollution (Objectives 3 and 4).
Progress Summary:
This summary represents progress during the first year of the research award (through March 31, 2012). Colorado State University IRB approval to add the activities of this award was granted on 12/7/2010; the IRB approval was renewed on 8/10/2011. We have continued to evaluate the air quality data used for this project, particularly the spatial patterns observed in the PM2.5 mass and species data in Denver. We have also examined the uncertainty of the fine PM data. Additionally, we have conducted an evaluation of the robustness of the source apportionment data to alternative ways of incorporating temperature.
We have conducted additional literature searches and have finalized the new health endpoints that will be examined in Objective 1 of the project: headache and migraine, deep vein thrombosis, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and gastroenteritis. We have also finalized the list of comorbid disease conditions to be examined in Objective 2 of the project. The comorbid diseases will fall in three categories: immunosuppressive (leukemia, HIV/AIDS, COPD, Diabetes mellitus, chronic renal disease, cystic fibrosis, chronic hepatic disease, fibromyalgia, sickle cell disease, complement deficiencies, asplenia), autoimmune (Rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, Graves disease, Hashimoto’s disease, Type I Diabetes, systemic lupus erythematous), and other metabolic and obesity-related illnesses (atherosclerosis, obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypercholesteremia). New databases have been created to conduct the proposed analyses.
Future Activities:
The IRB approval for the project will be renewed. We will continue to work on Objectives 1 – 4 of the project, and we will continue to conduct the QA/QC activities. Manuscripts will be developed and submitted.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 4 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Particulate matter, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, autoimmune, immunosuppressive, metabolic syndromeProgress 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.