Grantee Research Project Results
2000 Progress Report: Improving Human Health Risk Assessment for Tetrachloroethene by Using Biomarkers and Neurobehavioral Testing in Diverse Residential Populations
EPA Grant Number: R827446Title: Improving Human Health Risk Assessment for Tetrachloroethene by Using Biomarkers and Neurobehavioral Testing in Diverse Residential Populations
Investigators: Storm, Jan , Welles, Wanda Lizak , Levin, Stephen M. , Aldous, Kenneth
Current Investigators: Storm, Jan , Aldous, Kenneth
Institution: The State University of New York
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2002 (Extended to September 30, 2004)
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 1999 through September 30, 2000
Project Amount: $610,790
RFA: Children's Vulnerability to Toxic Substances in the Environment (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Human Health
Objective:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers tetrachloroethene (perc) a problematic pollutant in urban areas. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) has documented high levels of perc in the indoor air of apartments located in the same buildings as dry cleaning facilities in New York State; others have reported this nation- and worldwide. Residents in these buildings are at high risk of acute and chronic health effects from perc exposure at indoor air levels that are well above the acute and chronic minimal risk levels for inhalation. These inadvertent exposures to perc provide a unique opportunity to compare possible neurobehavioral effects in children and adults.
The objectives of this study are to: (1) assess perc exposure and neurological vulnerability of children and adults by measuring personal air and biomarkers of dose in exhaled breath, blood, and urine; (2) determine the relationship between environmental perc concentrations and biomarkers of dose; (3) assess neurobehavioral functions in the exposed and control groups; and (4) determine if dose-response relationships exist between the environmental and/or biological measures of exposure and neurological effects using a multilinear regression model with covariants for age, gender, and activity levels. Exposed study participants will include 80 residents (40 children, 40 adults) of buildings that contain elevated perc levels from an operating dry cleaning facility; controls will be 80 residents (40 children, 40 adults) who reside in an area without this or other sources of neurotoxicant exposures. The proposed study is consistent with a recommendation by the Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee to EPA's Administrator that the National Emission Standard governing emissions of perc be re-evaluated to determine if it is protective of children's health.
Progress Summary:
In the first year of the grant period, NYSDOH study staff compiled a list of dry cleaning facilities in the specified zip code geographic areas of interest in this study (10 zip codes surrounding Central Park in Manhattan). We randomly selected 20 dry cleaning facilities (2 in each of the 10 zip codes) using a random number generator. Information about these dry cleaning facilities was requested of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the New York City Department of Health, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Field staff soon will conduct a preliminary observation of these facility locations to determine whether the building in which the facility operates meets criteria for inclusion in this study.
We have purchased and evaluated the Neurobehavioral Evaluation System 2 (NES2), which we will use for the children and adult neurobehavioral assessments.
We are in the process of filling the two positions required to conduct the study: one person will conduct the field environmental assessments and sample collections, and one person will conduct the neurological assessments and biological sample collections at Mount Sinai.
Future Activities:
After the two positions have been filled, we will begin participant recruitment in buildings that meet study criteria. Exposed and control subjects will undergo neurological evaluation at Mount Sinai, provide samples of biological biomarkers of dose (exhaled breath, urine, blood), and provide personal and indoor air samples.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 6 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
tetrachloroethene, air, children's vulnerability, neurobehavioral effects, New York City., RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Toxics, Geographic Area, Health Risk Assessment, State, Risk Assessments, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Physical Processes, Children's Health, genetic susceptability, Molecular Biology/Genetics, 33/50, sensitive populations, childhood cancer, biomarkers, dose response model, Tetrachloroethylene, exposure, air pollution, Human Health Risk Assessment, children, assessment of exposure, children's vulnerablity, inhalation, residential populations, human exposure, neurodevelopmental toxicity, indoor air, neurobehavioral effects, multilinear regressional model, biological markers, New York (NY), environmental hazard exposuresProgress 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.