We propose a CBPR study of the relationship between air pollution gradients and health effects in individuals living next to major highways. There is evidence that (1) people living close to highways experience significantly elevated exposures to constituents of motor vehicle exhaust including ultrafine particles (UFP;0.01-1 microns) and black carbon;and (2) that motor vehicle pollution is associated with cardiac mortality and morbidity in adults, and asthma and reduced lung function in children. C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker of risk for cardiac illness, has been shown to increase in response to changes in particulate exposure, making it a viable indicator of the potential impact on cardiac health. Our core study involves measuring 5 traffic-related pollutants (i.e., UFP, PM2.5, NOx, CO, black carbon, particulate PAH) in 6 neighborhoods within 400 meters of highways through in the Boston area. A background site >1000 m from highways will also be monitored. We will compete a scientific survey of residents living in the neighborhoods to determine pediatric asthma prevalence. We will determine the time residents spent within the near highway zone currently and rigorously measure highway pollution gradients in the neighborhoods. We will document exposures at work, school and while commuting. For a subset of non-smoking households we will obtain pulmonary function tests from children and analyze multiple blood samples per person from adults for CRP and fibrinogen. Our study will be (1) the first to test associations between highway pollution gradients and biological markers of health, (2) the first CBPR study of highway pollution, and (3) the most comprehensive collection of data on time spent in the exposure zone and many confounders and effect modifiers. We will conduct bivariate and regression analyses and have developed preliminary mathematical models that frame our approach to analyzing the large set of data. Our team consists of faculty at Tufts University and 6 co- investigators from community organizations that are concerned about the impact of highways on the health of residents in their communities. We will train and hire field staff from the communities and have an advisory board. We will link community participation to the science through participation in our steering committee and through our advisory board. Our study is designed to report useful information locally as well as influence pressing national policy needs. This proposal was developed to actively involve communities living very near to major highways in scientific research on the health effects of pollutant gradients coming off the highways (to about 200 meters). The study emphasizes the role of ultrafine particles on development of asthma in children, reduction of lung function in non-asthmatic children and increases in markers of inflammation and heart disease risk (C-reactive protein) in adults.

Public Health Relevance

This proposal was developed to actively involve communities living very near to major highways in scientific research on the health effects of pollutant gradients coming off the highways (to about 200 meters). The study emphasizes the role of ultrafine particles on development of asthma in children, reduction of lung function in non-asthmatic children and increases in markers of inflammation and heart disease risk (C-reactive protein) in adults.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01ES015462-03S1
Application #
8076498
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-HOP-S (52))
Program Officer
Dilworth, Caroline H
Project Start
2008-06-13
Project End
2010-07-31
Budget Start
2010-06-10
Budget End
2010-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$4,285
Indirect Cost
Name
Tufts University
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
039318308
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02111
Corlin, Laura; Woodin, Mark; Hart, Jaime E et al. (2018) Longitudinal associations of long-term exposure to ultrafine particles with blood pressure and systemic inflammation in Puerto Rican adults. Environ Health 17:33
Hudda, N; Simon, M C; Zamore, W et al. (2018) Aviation-Related Impacts on Ultrafine Particle Number Concentrations Outside and Inside Residences near an Airport. Environ Sci Technol 52:1765-1772
Corlin, Laura; Ball, Shannon; Woodin, Mark et al. (2018) Relationship of Time-Activity-Adjusted Particle Number Concentration with Blood Pressure. Int J Environ Res Public Health 15:
Li, Yu; Lane, Kevin J; Corlin, Laura et al. (2017) Association of Long-Term Near-Highway Exposure to Ultrafine Particles with Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes and Hypertension. Int J Environ Res Public Health 14:
Simon, Matthew C; Hudda, Neelakshi; Naumova, Elena N et al. (2017) Comparisons of Traffic-Related Ultrafine Particle Number Concentrations Measured in Two Urban Areas by Central, Residential, and Mobile Monitoring. Atmos Environ (1994) 169:113-127
Sprague Martinez, Linda; Reisner, Ellin; Campbell, Maria et al. (2017) Participatory Democracy, Community Organizing and the Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health (CAFEH) Partnership. Int J Environ Res Public Health 14:
Patton, Allison P; Milando, Chad; Durant, John L et al. (2017) Assessing the Suitability of Multiple Dispersion and Land Use Regression Models for Urban Traffic-Related Ultrafine Particles. Environ Sci Technol 51:384-392
Brugge, Doug; Simon, Matthew C; Hudda, Neelakshi et al. (2017) Lessons from in-home air filtration intervention trials to reduce urban ultrafine particle number concentrations. Build Environ 126:266-275
Hudda, N; Simon, M C; Zamore, W et al. (2016) Aviation Emissions Impact Ambient Ultrafine Particle Concentrations in the Greater Boston Area. Environ Sci Technol 50:8514-21
Lane, Kevin J; Levy, Jonathan I; Scammell, Madeleine K et al. (2016) Association of modeled long-term personal exposure to ultrafine particles with inflammatory and coagulation biomarkers. Environ Int 92-93:173-82

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