NYU School of Medicine and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center respond to PAR-12-126, proposing to assess the potential for longer-latency cardiometabolic and pulmonary effects of early life exposure to the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster, and to identify opportunities for early identification of WTC-related health consequences. Preliminary data from the only investigators who regularly provide clinical care to children who lived/attended school near the WTC site identified decrements in spirometry associated with dust cloud exposure, and a remarkably high frequency of cardiometabolic risk factors. Findings from this clinically, self- selected population cannot be extrapolated to the entire population of children who were exposed to the disaster but nonetheless suggest that further study is warranted of the possible metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of WTC exposures. If associated with WTC exposures in a larger, more representative sample, two new and innovative techniques, oscillometry and pulse wave velocity assessment, hold great promise for earlier detection of WTC-related pulmonary and cardiometabolic disease, for whom dietary, environmental and medication interventions may prevent disease progression in later life. The collaborators therefore propose to recruit 225 adolescents who respond to the WTC Health Registry (WTCHR), the most representative pediatric population and best-characterized from an environmental exposure standpoint. Connecting the study to the WTCHR also presents efficiency of federal resource utilization, providing more objective clinical data to support self-reported findings of increased persistent respiratory symptoms captured by the WTCHR, thereby improving reliability of the registry data. We will compare pulmonary and cardiometabolic outcomes to carefully matched (age, race/ethnicity, gender, current borough of residence and socioeconomic status) and unexposed control (not resident/attending school south of Houston Street on September 11, 2001) populations from NYU School of Medicine affiliated primary care (private and public clinics). The research team benefits from strong partnerships with community-based organizations which have provided outreach and support to affected communities since 2001, which will enhance recruitment and communication of results. Together, the investigators have outstanding experience with adults exposed to the WTC destruction and considerable experience in the conduct of epidemiologic research on respiratory health and mental health. Besides the opportunities for dietary, environmental and medical interventions for cardiometabolic and respiratory conditions related to WTC exposure, if the psychological sequelae of exposure to the WTC attacks are found to be associated (perhaps as mediators or moderators) with cardiometabolic and pulmonary effects of early life exposure to the WTC disaster this would suggest the importance of parallel screening for psychological sequelae as part of an assertive response to protect those exposed when young.
The proposed study builds upon preliminary studies in self-selected populations to identify opportunities for early identification of WTC-related health consequences in adolescents. If adverse health consequences are identified, proactive cardiometabolic and pulmonary screening of exposed children may be indicated, with targeted interventions intended to prevent development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and adverse cardiometabolic outcomes in adulthood.
| Kahn, Linda G; Han, Xiaoxia; Koshy, Tony T et al. (2018) Adolescents exposed to the World Trade Center collapse have elevated serum dioxin and furan concentrations more than 12years later. Environ Int 111:268-278 |
| Trasande, Leonardo; Koshy, Tony T; Gilbert, Joseph et al. (2018) Cardiometabolic profiles of adolescents and young adults exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster. Environ Res 160:107-114 |
| Trasande, Leonardo; Koshy, Tony T; Gilbert, Joseph et al. (2017) Serum perfluoroalkyl substances in children exposed to the world trade center disaster. Environ Res 154:212-221 |
| Koshy, Tony T; Attina, Teresa M; Ghassabian, Akhgar et al. (2017) Serum perfluoroalkyl substances and cardiometabolic consequences in adolescents exposed to the World Trade Center disaster and a matched comparison group. Environ Int 109:128-135 |
