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Children’s Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors: What Have We Learned?
Citation:
Tulve, N. Children’s Exposures to Chemical and Non-Chemical Stressors: What Have We Learned? ISES ISIAQ 2019 Joint Annual Meeting, Kaunas, LITHUANIA, August 18 - 22, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
Children are exposed to a wide variety of chemical and non-chemical stressors at each lifestage throughout their lifecourse, potentially impacting their lifelong health and well-being. To understand potential chemical exposures, we collect and analyze multimedia (e.g., air, water, soil, dust, food, urine) samples for many chemicals including, but not limited to, pesticides (organophosphates, pyrethroids), polybrominated diphenyl ethers, bisphenol A, nanosilver, and other consumer product ingredients. Additionally, we collect supporting information such as time activity data and household inventories. Over time, our research has evolved to consider a holistic approach to children's environmental health. Using a systems approach, we collect and analyze data and information on exposures to both chemical and non-chemical stressors, recognizing that these interrelationships may impact the biological response to a chemical agent. Examples of non-chemical stressors include access to parks and recreational amenities, food types and access, health care options, family dynamics, educational attainment, and/or neighborhood characteristics. Our conceptual framework was designed to show how children's health and well-being should consider exposures to chemical and non-chemical stressors from the built, natural, and social environments, activities (e.g., type and duration of physical activity level and locations) and behaviors (e.g., children's mouthing frequency), and inherent characteristics. Our research approach includes distinct research activities with a recent emphasis on a combined analysis approach that considers how non-chemical stressor information may be used to interpret chemical exposure data. Our research has shown that both childhood obesity and general cognitive ability are influenced by a myriad of chemical and non-chemical stressors. Furthermore, tribal children may be disproportionately affected by the combined influences of chemical and non-chemical stressors as compared to children from the U.S. general population. This presentation will explore our research strategy, showing how data and information can be considered within the conceptual framework and highlight public health examples.
Description:
Children are exposed to a wide variety of chemical and non-chemical stressors at each lifestage throughout their lifecourse, potentially impacting their lifelong health and well-being. To understand potential chemical exposures, we collect and analyze multimedia (e.g., air, water, soil, dust, food, urine) samples for many chemicals including, but not limited to, pesticides (organophosphates, pyrethroids), polybrominated diphenyl ethers, bisphenol A, nanosilver, and other consumer product ingredients. Additionally, we collect supporting information such as time activity data and household inventories. Over time, our research has evolved to consider a holistic approach to children's environmental health. Using a systems approach, we collect and analyze data and information on exposures to both chemical and non-chemical stressors, recognizing that these interrelationships may impact the biological response to a chemical agent. Examples of non-chemical stressors include access to parks and recreational amenities, food types and access, health care options, family dynamics, educational attainment, and/or neighborhood characteristics. Our conceptual framework was designed to show how children's health and well-being should consider exposures to chemical and non-chemical stressors from the built, natural, and social environments, activities (e.g., type and duration of physical activity level and locations) and behaviors (e.g., children's mouthing frequency), and inherent characteristics. Our research approach includes distinct research activities with a recent emphasis on a combined analysis approach that considers how non-chemical stressor information may be used to interpret chemical exposure data. Our research has shown that both childhood obesity and general cognitive ability are influenced by a myriad of chemical and non-chemical stressors. Furthermore, tribal children may be disproportionately affected by the combined influences of chemical and non-chemical stressors as compared to children from the U.S. general population. This presentation will explore our research strategy, showing how data and information can be considered within the conceptual framework and highlight public health examples.
