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A NATIONAL STUDY TO ASSESS SUSCEPTIBILITY, VULNERABILITY, AND EFFECT MODIFICATION OF AIR POLLUTION HEALTH RISKS
Impact/Purpose:
The proposed research responds directly to four of the research questions posed in the EPA solicitation: 1) What are the explanations for regional and temporal differences in air pollution risk? 2) What subpopulations are at increased risk? 3) How can the health effects of PM be better understood in a multi-pollutant context? 4) What is the exposure-response relationship for these sources and mixtures? To address these we will conduct a National study aimed at identifying factors that explain the heterogeneity of health risks associated with air pollution exposure. We hypothesize that such factors include medical and social conditions, conditions that modify exposure, and differences in pollution composition that modify exposure toxicity. Moreover, we hypothesize that the relevant factors vary among different health outcomes. Our research will be fully interactive with the other Center projects. Our previous results (e.g. diabetic susceptibility) have guided their analyses, and their results have generated specific hypotheses that we will test. We have 3 objectives. In Aims I and 2, we will conduct national studies ofj- and jg-term exposures to individual pollutants, sources, and mixtures. A main focus of our Center is to study established cohorts (NAS, Framingham, and Viva) in Massachusetts and surrounding states using novel, validated approaches to assess exposure. In Aim 3, we will complement those cohort studies, by establishing a cohort of 2.3 million Medicare enrollees residing in the same region and following its members prospectively for cause-specific hospital admissions and mortality for the period 2000-20 14, and also by studying all live births in Eastern MA, geo-coded to exact address and followed for adverse birth outcomes.
Description:
Identifying factors that explain heterogeneity of risks will help to identify: 1) the populations that are more susceptible/vulnerable to air pollution; and 2) the emission sources, pollutants and pollutant mixtures that are more toxic. The characterization of susceptibility factors, such as age, gender, race, and pre-existing health conditions will inform research on biological mechanisms. The identification of the most harmful air pollution sources and components can aid decision-makers in developing targeted air quality regulations.