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2001 Progress Report: Cardiopulmonary Effects of Metal-Containing Particulate Exposure

EPA Grant Number: R828678C002
Subproject: this is subproject number 002 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R824834
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center (NUATRC)
Center Director: Beskid, Craig
Title: Cardiopulmonary Effects of Metal-Containing Particulate Exposure
Investigators: Christiani, David
Current Investigators: Christiani, David , Hauser, Russ , Herrick, Robert , Kim, Jee Young , Magari, Shannon , Smith, Thomas , Wand, Matthew , Williams, Paige L.
Institution: Harvard School of Public Health
EPA Project Officer: Stacey Katz/Gail Robarge,
Project Period: January 1, 1999 through January 31, 2004
Project Period Covered by this Report: January 1, 2000 through January 31, 2001
RFA: Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center (NUATRC) (1997)
Research Category: Targeted Research , Air Quality and Air Toxics

Description:

Objective:

The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of respirable particulate matter (PM2.5) and associated metals in respiratory and cardiovascular responses in a cohort of boilermakers with and without chronic bronchitis. The experimental approach involves an epidemiological study employing a prospective, repeat-measurement design assessing several biological parameters in relation to exposure. PM2.5 levels are monitored continuously with personal Dust Trak monitors. Personal metal exposure (V, N, Cd, Mn, Cr, and Fe) will be measured daily. Boilermaker exposure to the fuel oil ash particulate will be related to the following:

• Airway inflammation, by measuring daily exhaled NO;

• Airflow obstruction–by measuring daily peak flow and weekly lung function (FEV1); and

• Cardiovascular function by measuring daily heart rate, heart rate variability, and blood pressure and weekly serum fibrinogen levels.

Workers during pre-exposure (layoff) serve as their own controls. Subjects with chronic bronchitis will be compared to non-symptomatics subjects. This project will be leveraged with funds from a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) grant.

Progress Summary:

This project was initiated under a previous grant (Grant No. R824834C002). The study is in compliance with the Institutional Review Board of the Harvard School of Public Health. Human consent procedures meet governmental guidelines. The study is in compliance with appropriate NUATRC and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) guidelines.

Boilermakers (N = 40) have been monitored both in the field, at the site of two boiler overhauls, and in the apprentice welding school. Continuous monitoring of exposure, heart rate variability, and spirometry, and exhaled nitric oxide was performed during and away from work.

This is the first prospective study to use personal PM2.5 measurements to investigate their association with changes in heart rate variability (HRV) in a young cohort, and to investigate the association of several metals contained in PM2.5 with changes in HRV. Decreases in HRV and increases in heart rate associated with environmental and occupational PM2.5 exposures have been demonstrated. Individual metals (V, Mn, Pb) concentrations have been associated with increases in the heart rate variability index. Sampling and analyses of the filters for particulate matter and metals were completed. Metals analyses in the urine are ongoing. Data analyses for the study are ongoing.

Future Activities:

The following activities will be performed in the next year:

· Correlation of analysis of metals in the urine and air samples;

· Evaluation of the association between fine particulate matter and respiratory effects (FEV1 and exhaled NO);

· Association between the metal components and respiratory end points;

· Assessment of the relationship between chronic respiratory disease and the cardiac responses to particulates; and

· Submission of the final report.


Journal Articles on this Report: 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Other subproject views: All 11 publications 6 publications in selected types All 6 journal articles
Other center views: All 122 publications 54 publications in selected types All 46 journal articles

Type Citation Sub Project Document Sources
Journal Article Magari SR, Hauser R, Schwartz J, Williams PL, Smith TJ, Christiani DC. Association of heart rate variability with occupational and environmental exposure to particulate air pollution. Circulation 2001;104(9):986-991. R828678C002 (2001)
R828678C002 (2003)
R828678C002 (2004)
R828678C002 (2005)
R828678C002 (2006)
R827353 (Final)
  • Abstract from PubMed
  • Full-text: AHA Full Text
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  • Other: AHA PDF
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    • Supplemental Keywords:

    air, pollution, urban, particulate matter, PM2.5, bronchitis, metals, exposure, epidemiology, respiratory diseases. , HUMAN HEALTH, Air, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Biology, Risk Assessments, genetic susceptability, Health Risk Assessment, air toxics, Atmospheric Sciences, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Exposure, cardiopulmonary, chemical mixtures, environmental hazard exposures, airborne urban contaminants, acute exposure, Acute health effects, cardiovascular disease, mortality, air contaminant exposure, co-pollutants, cardiac arrest, air quality, cardiopulmonary response, cardiotoxicity, fine particles, cardiopulmonary responses, human health risk, lung inflammation, toxics, acute cardiovascular effects, chronic health effects, PM 2.5, sensitive populations, acute lung injury, air pollution, inhaled, atmospheric particulate matter, National Cohort Studies, copollutant exposures, susceptible subpopulations, long term exposure, human susceptibility, time series analysis, human exposure, morbidity, particulate exposure
    Relevant Websites:

    Previously Funded Project: R824834C002

    Progress and Final Reports:
    Original Abstract
    2002 Progress Report
    2003 Progress Report
    2004 Progress Report
    2005 Progress Report
    2006 Progress Report


    Main Center Abstract and Reports:
    R824834    Mickey Leland National Urban Air Toxics Research Center (NUATRC)

    Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
    R824834C001 Air Toxics Exposures Among Teenagers in New York City and Los Angeles - A Columbia-Harvard Study (TEACH)
    R824834C002 Cardiopulmonary Response to Particulate Exposure
    R824834C003 VOC Exposure in an Industry Impacted Community
    R824834C004 A Study of Personal Exposure to Air Toxics Among a Subset of the Residential U.S. Population (VOC Project)
    R824834C005 Methods Development Project for a Study of Personal Exposures to Toxic Air Pollutants
    R824834C006 Relationship Between Indoor, Outdoor and Personal Air (RIOPA)
    R824834C007 Development of the "Leland Legacy" Air Sampling Pump
    R824834C008 Source Apportionment of Indoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Urban Residences
    R824834C009 Development of a Personal Cascade Impactor Sampler (PCIS)
    R824834C010 Testing the Metals Hypothesis in Spokane
    R828678C001 Air Toxics Exposures Among Teenagers in New York City and Los Angeles—A Columbia-Harvard Study (TEACH)
    R828678C002 Cardiopulmonary Effects of Metal-Containing Particulate Exposure
    R828678C003 VOC Exposure in an Industry Impacted Community
    R828678C004 A Study of Personal Exposure to Air Toxics Among a Subset of the Residential U.S. Population (VOC Project)
    R828678C005 Oxygenated Urban Air Toxics and Asthma Variability in Middle School Children: A Panel Study (ATAC–Air Toxics and Asthma in Children)
    R828678C006 Relationship between Indoor, Outdoor and Personal Air (RIOPA). Part II: Analyses of Concentrations of Particulate Matter Species
    R828678C007 Development of the “Leland Legacy” Air Sampling Pump
    R828678C008 Source Apportionment of Indoor PAHs in Urban Residences 98-03B
    R828678C009 Development of a Personal Cascade Impactor Sampler (PCIS)
    R828678C010 Testing the Metals Hypothesis in Spokane
    R828678C011 A Pilot Geospatial Analysis of Exposure to Air Pollutants (with Special Attention to Air Toxics) and Hospital Admissions in Harris County, Texas
    R828678C012 Impact of Exposure to Urban Air Toxics on Asthma Utilization for the Pediatric Medicaid Population in Dearborn, Michigan
    R828678C013 Field Validation of the Sioutas Sampler and Leland Legacy Pump – Joint Project with EPA’s Environmental Technology Validation Program (ETV)
    R828678C014 Performance Evaluation of the 3M Charcoal Vapor Monitor for Monitor Low Ambient Concentrations of VOCs
    R828678C015 RIOPA Database Development
    R828678C016 Contributions of Outdoor PM Sources to Indoor and Personal Exposures: Analysis of PM Species Concentrations” Focused on the PM Speciation and Apportioning of Sources
    R828678C017 The Short and Long-Term Respiratory Effects of Exposure to PAHs from Traffic in a Cohort of Asthmatic Children

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    The 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.

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