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Associations Between Ambient Levels of Air Pollution and Lung Function in Adults From 20 European Cities
EPA Grant Number: FP916371Title: Associations Between Ambient Levels of Air Pollution and Lung Function in Adults From 20 European Cities
Investigators: Gotschi, Thomas
Institution: University of Southern California
EPA Project Officer: Willett, Stephanie H.
Project Period: January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2006
Project Amount: $111,344
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2004)
Research Category: Fellowship - Public Health Sciences , Health Effects , Academic Fellowships
Description:
Objective:The objective of this research project is to investigate whether various aspects of ambient urban air pollution are associated with lung function within the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS).
Approach:ECRHS is the largest European cohort study on respiratory diseases, with 21 study centers and a 10-year followup period. The air pollution exposure assessment consists of central measurements of NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), PM2.5 (particulate matter with a median aerodynamic diameter of 2.5µm), and a variety of its characteristics (elements, reflectance, oxidative properties) over a 1-year period in each study center.
First, a set of comparable estimates of long-term population mean exposures to air pollution will be compiled, taking into account the influence of the local characteristics of the ECRHS sampling locations on the levels of various pollutants. Information on proximity to traffic, indicators of local traffic, and comparisons between centrally measured NO2 levels and levels of subsamples of the ECRHS participants’ homes will be used.
Second, data on forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of approximately 6,500 adults from 21 ECRHS communities will be used to investigate associations between pulmonary function and the derived mean ambient air quality levels of the respective cities.
This project will provide insight into the relevance of sampling locations for the measurements of various air pollution indicators. The analysis of the associations between several air pollution indicators and lung function will contribute to the identification and understanding of the health-relevant fractions of air pollution.
Supplemental Keywords:fellowship, air pollution, lung function, particulate matter, PM, PM2.5 characteristics, urban air pollution, sampling location, cohort study, European Community Respiratory Health Survey, respiratory disease
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Air, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Risk Assessments, Health Risk Assessment, Physical Processes, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, epidemelogy, European Countries, aersol particles, human health risk, lung injury, acute cardiovascular effects, ambient particle health effects, blood viscosity, airway disease, epidemiological studies, lung disease, forced vital capacity, exposure, long term exposure, airborne particulate matter, ambient aerosol, human exposure
Relevant Websites:
2004 STAR Graduate Fellowship Conference Poster (PDF, 1p., 825KB, about PDF)