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Final Report: Examining Conditions That Predispose Towards Acute Adverse Effects of Particulate Exposures
EPA Grant Number: R827353C004Subproject: this is subproject number 004 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R827353
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: EPA Harvard Center for Ambient Particle Health Effects
Center Director: Koutrakis, Petros
Title: Examining Conditions That Predispose Towards Acute Adverse Effects of Particulate Exposures
Investigators: Schwartz, Joel , O’Neill, M. , Wellenius, Gregory , Zanobetti, Antonella
Institution: Harvard University
EPA Project Officer: Stacey Katz/Gail Robarge,
Project Period: June 1, 1999 through May 31, 2005 (Extended to May 31, 2006)
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Airborne Particulate Matter (PM) Centers (1999)
Research Category: Particulate Matter
Description:
Objective:Theme II: Identifying Populations Susceptible to the Health Effects of Particulate Air Pollution
Identification of populations that are especially susceptible to particulate matter (PM) health effects can further our understanding of biologic mechanisms of heart and lung disease attributable to PM. This area of our work has focused on testing the hypothesis that patients with pre-existing respiratory, cardiovascular or diabetic conditions have an enhanced mortality response to particle exposures.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):As part of this research effort, we previously reported that socio-economic factors were not modifiers of the risk of PM associated mortality (Zanobetti and Schwartz, 2000), although there was some increased risk in females. The same pattern held true for hospital admissions for heart and lung disease (Zanobetti, et al., 2000a). In contrast, we found that respiratory illness modified the risk of cardiovascular hospital admissions associated with PM (Zanobetti, et al., 2000b) and that heart failure modified the risk of PM-associated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) admissions.
Additional work by our group has shown that individuals with diabetes are at higher risk from exposure to PM. We have published several papers addressing this issue. We published two studies suggesting that diabetes is an effect modifier (Zanobetti and Schwartz, 2001; 2002). One paper examined effect modification by concurrent diagnosis of diabetes overall and by age group in four US cities (Zanobetti and Schwartz, 2002), concluding that individuals with diabetes have twice the risk of a PM10-associated cardiovascular admission compared to those without the disease.
To further examine susceptibility by diabetes observed in these population studies, we obtained clinical information to gain insights on potential biological mechanisms. With researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center and Beth Israel/Deaconess Hospital, we analyzed the relationship between air pollution and both inflammation and vascular reactivity in over 200 greater-Boston residents participating in clinical trials. We used particle data (PM2.5, particle number [PN], black carbon (BC), and SO42-) measured at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) site established by the PM center. Both BC and SO42- particles appeared to have effects on vascular reactivity and endothelial function, especially among people with diabetes. (O’Neill, et al., 2005b) Additional analyses have shown associations between increased particle levels and blood markers of inflammation, including ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and von Willibrand’s factor, and a manuscript has been accepted for publication in Occupational and Environmental Medicine (O’Neill, et al., 2007).
We continued to explore factors influencing vulnerability to temperature-related mortality. Data on air pollution compiled for PM center projects have been used to control for confounding. In a study of seven US cities, lower educational attainment, black race, and dying outside a hospital were markers of vulnerability to death on extreme temperature days, controlling for PM10 exposure (O’Neill, et al., 2003c). In a follow-up analysis, we found that air conditioning prevalence explained some of the observed racial disparities in heat-related mortality in four of these cities (O’Neill, et al., 2005c). An additional analysis found that air pollution and epidemics were important confounders of temperature and mortality associations and suggested inclusion of PM10, O3, and epidemic periods in future analyses that can be used in forecasting health impacts of climate change. (O’Neill, et al., 2005a).
Furthermore, we conducted mortality follow-ups of subjects whose potentially predisposing conditions were identified for use in hospital admissions data. These analyses used the case-crossover approach. We completed a methodological paper examining the potential for bias and confounding in that approach and developed new statistical methods to address these problems (Bateson and Schwartz, 2001). The newly developed methods estimate and subtract biases from health risk estimates. We also conducted simulations showing our method has correct coverage probabilities, but a paper has not been submitted for review (Bateson and Schwartz, in preparation).
Mixed models are another group of analysis methods that represent an important tool for determining whether persons with certain characteristics are more susceptible to the effects of airborne particles. However, classic mixed regression programs are linear models, whereas we know that season and weather effects on health are often nonlinear. These have often been addressed using nonparametric smoothing. To enhance our ability to assess sensitivity while maintaining good covariate control, we developed an additive mixed model, which combines the attributes of both approaches (Coull, et al., 2001).
The case-crossover approach was also used to examine the PM10-associated risk of emergency hospitalization for myocardial infarction during 1985-1999 among elderly residents of twenty-one US cities. Results from this study showed increased risk of hospitalization for myocardial infarction for diabetics. Effect sizes were roughly doubled in persons with COPD or concurrent pneumonia compared to those without (Zanobetti, et al., 2004).
More recently we examined the association of PM2.5 and changes in blood markers of cardiovascular risk, including lipid profiles and markers of acute systemic inflammation, in the VA Normative Aging Study. For the same outcomes the associations were not as strong in the group taking statins (Zeka, et al., 2006).
Conclusions:A number of factors were found to increase the effects of particulate matter on morbidity and mortality. Socioeconomic status (SES) was not identified as a modifier of PM mortality or hospital admissions for heart and lung disease. Pre-existing respiratory illness modified the effects of PM-related cardiovascular hospital admissions, and in turn, heart failure increased the risk of PM-related COPD hospital admissions. Individuals with diabetes had double the risk of PM-related cardiovascular hospital admissions. Controlling for respiratory epidemics does not change the effect size estimates for PM on mortality. Race and SES indicators were modifiers of mortality on extreme temperature days.
References:
Bateson T, Schwartz J. Selection bias and confounding in case-crossover analyses of environmental time-series data. Epidemiology 2001;12(6):654-661.
Coull BA, Schwartz J, Wand MP. Respiratory health and air pollution: additive mixed model analyses. Biostatistics 2001;2:337-349.
O’Neill MS, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Modifiers of the temperature and mortality association in seven US cities. American Journal of Epidemiology 2003c;157(12):1074-1082.
O’Neill MS, Hajat S, Zanobetti A, Ramirez-Aguilar M, Schwartz J. Impact of control for air pollution and respiratory epidemics on the estimated associations of temperature and daily mortality. International Journal of Biometeorology 2005a;50(2):121-129.
O’Neill MS, Veves A, Zanobetti A, Sarnat JA, Gold DR, Economides PA, Horton ES, Schwartz J. Diabetes enhances vulnerability to particulate air pollution-associated impairment in vascular reactivity and endothelial function. Circulation 2005b;111(22):2913-2920.
O’Neill MS, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Disparities by race in heat-related mortality in four US cities: the role of air conditioning prevalence. Journal of Urban Health 2005c;82(2):191-197.
O’Neill MS, Veves A, Sarnat JA, Zanobetti A, Gold DR, Economides PA, Horton E, Schwartz J. Air pollution and inflammation in type 2 diabetes: a mechanism for susceptibility. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2007;64:373-379.
Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Race, gender, and social status as modifiers of the effects of PM10 on mortality. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2000;42(5):469-474.
Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Are diabetics more susceptible to the health effects of airborne particles? American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2001;164(1):831-833.
Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Cardiovascular damage by airborne particles: are diabetics more susceptible? Epidemiology 2002;13(5):588-592.
Zanobetti A, Schwartz J, Dockery D. Airborne particles are a risk factor for hospital admissions for heart and lung disease. Environmental Health Perspectives 2000a;108:1071-1077.
Zanobetti A, Schwartz J, Gold D. Are there sensitive subgroups for the health effects of airborne particles? Environmental Health Perspectives 2000b;108:841-845.
Zanobetti A, Canner M, Stone P, Schwartz J, Sher D, Eagan-Bengston E, Gates K, Hartley L, Suh H, Gold D. Ambient pollution and blood pressure in cardiac rehabilitation patients. Circulation 2004;110(15):2184-2189.
Zeka A, Sullivan JR, Vokonas PS, Sparrow D, Schwartz J. Inflammatory markers and particulate air pollution: characterizing the pathway to disease. International Journal of Epidemiology 2006;35(5):1347-1354.
Journal Articles on this Report: 33 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other subproject views: | All 34 publications | 34 publications in selected types | All 33 journal articles |
| Other center views: | All 149 publications | 149 publications in selected types | All 148 journal articles |
| Type | Citation | ||
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Bateson TF, Schwartz J. Selection bias and confounding in case-crossover analyses of environmental time-series data. Epidemiology 2001;12(6):654-661. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2002) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (2004) R827353C004 (Final) R827353C005 (2001) R827353C005 (2002) R827353C005 (2003) R827353C005 (Final) |
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Braga ALF, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. The effect of weather on respiratory and cardiovascular deaths in 12 U.S. cities. Environmental Health Perspectives 2002;110(9):859-863. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2002) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Braga ALF, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. The time course of weather-related deaths. Epidemiology 2001;12(6):662-667. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2002) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (2004) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Coull BA, Schwartz J, Wand MP. Respiratory health and air pollution: additive mixed model analyses. Biostatistics 2001;2(3):337-349. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2000) R827353C004 (2001) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Dockery DW, Luttmann-Gibson H, Rich DQ, Link MS, Mittleman MA, Gold DR, Koutrakis P, Schwartz JD, Verrier RL. Association of air pollution with increased incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias recorded by implanted cardioverter defibrillators. Environmental Health Perspectives 2005;113(6):670-674. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Medina-Ramon M, Zanobetti A, Cavanagh DP, Schwartz J. Extreme temperatures and mortality: assessing effect modification by personal characteristics and specific cause of death in a multi-city case-only analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives 2006;114(9):1331-1336. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (Final) |
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O’Neill MS. Air conditioning and heat-related health effects. Applied Environmental Science and Public Health 2003;1(1):9-12. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2002) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (Final) |
not available |
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O’Neill MS, Jerrett M, Kawachi I, Levy JI, Cohen AJ, Gouveia N, Wilkinson P, Fletcher T, Cifuentes L, Schwartz J. Health, wealth, and air pollution: advancing theory and methods. Environmental Health Perspectives 2003;111(16):1861-1870. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (Final) |
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O’Neill MS, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Modifiers of the temperature and mortality association in seven US cities. American Journal of Epidemiology 2003;157(12):1074-1082. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (Final) |
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O’Neill MS, Veves A, Zanobetti A, Sarnat JA, Gold DR, Economides PA, Horton ES, Schwartz J. Diabetes enhances vulnerability to particulate air pollution-associated impairment in vascular reactivity and endothelial function. Circulation 2005;111(22):2913-2920. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (2004) R827353C004 (Final) |
|
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O’Neill MS, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Disparites by race in heat-related mortality in four US cities: the role of air conditioning prevalence. Journal of Urban Health 2005;82(2):191-197. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (Final) |
|
|
|
O’Neill MS, Hajat S, Zanobetti A, Ramirez-Aguilar M, Schwartz J. Impact of control for air pollution and respiratory epidemics on the estimated associations of temperature and daily mortality. International Journal of Biometeorology 2005;50(2):121-129. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (2004) R827353C004 (Final) |
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O’Neill MS, Veves A, Sarnat JA, Zanobetti A, Gold DR, Economides PA, Horton ES, Schwartz J. Air pollution and inflammation in type 2 diabetes: a mechanism for susceptibility. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2007;64(6):373-379. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Peters A, Dockery DW, Muller JE, Mittleman MA. Increased particulate air pollution and the triggering of myocardial infarction. Circulation 2001;103(23):2810-2815. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2002) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Rich DQ, Schwartz J, Mittleman MA, Link M, Luttmann-Gibson H, Catalano PJ, Speizer FE, Dockery DW. Association of short-term ambient air pollution concentrations and ventricular arrhythmias. American Journal of Epidemiology 2005;161(12):1123-1132. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Rich DQ, Mittleman MA, Link MS, Schwartz J, Luttmann-Gibson H, Catalano PJ, Speizer FE, Gold DR, Dockery DW. Increased risk of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation episodes associated with acute increases in ambient air pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives 2006;114(1):120-123. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Schwartz J. Assessing confounding, effect modification, and thresholds in the association between ambient particles and daily deaths. Environmental Health Perspectives 2000;108(6):563-568. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Schwartz J. Who is sensitive to extremes of temperature? A case-only analysis. Epidemiology 2005;16(1):67-72. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2004) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Wellenius GA, Schwartz J, Mittleman MA. Air pollution and hospital admissions for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke among Medicare beneficiaries. Stroke 2005;36(12):2549-2553. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2004) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Wellenius GA, Bateson TF, Mittleman MA, Schwartz J. Particulate air pollution and the rate of hospitalization for congestive heart failure among Medicare beneficiaries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. American Journal of Epidemiology 2005;161(11):1030-1036. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2004) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Wellenius GA, Schwartz J, Mittleman MA. Particulate air pollution and hospital admissions for congestive heart failure in seven United States cities. The American Journal of Cardiology 2006;97(3):404-408. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2004) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J, Dockery D. Airborne particles are a risk factor for hospital admissions for heart and lung disease. Environmental Health Perspectives 2000;108(11):1071-1077. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2000) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J, Gold D. Are there sensitive subgroups for the health effects of airborne particles? Environmental Health Perspectives 2000;108(9):841-845. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2000) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Wand MP, Schwartz J, Ryan LM. Generalized additive distributed lag models: quantifying mortality displacement. Biostatistics 2000;1(3):279-292. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2000) R827353C004 (2002) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Race, gender, and social status as modifiers of the effects of PM10 on mortality. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2000;42(5):469-474. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Are diabetics more susceptible to the health effects of airborne particles? American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2001;164(5):831-833. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2001) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J, Samoli E, Gryparis A, Touloumi G, Atkinson R, Le Tertre A , Bobros J, Celko M, Goren A, Forsberg B, Michelozzi P, Rabczenko D, Aranguez Ruiz E, Katsouyanni K. The temporal pattern of mortality responses to air pollution: a multicity assessment of mortality displacement. Epidemiology 2002;13(1):87-93. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2002) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Cardiovascular damage by airborne particles: Are diabetics more susceptible? Epidemiology 2002;13(5):588-592. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2001) R827353C004 (2002) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (Final) R827353C005 (2003) R827353C005 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J, Samoli E, Gryparis A, Touloumi G, Peacock J, Anderson RH, Le Tertre A , Bobros J, Celko M, Goren A, Forsberg B, Michelozzi P, Rabczenko D, Hoyos SP, Wichmann HE, Katsouyanni K. The temporal pattern of respiratory and heart disease mortality in response to air pollution. Environmental Health Perspectives 2003;111(9):1188-1193. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2002) R827353C004 (2003) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. The effect of particulate air pollution on emergency admissions for myocardial infarction: a multicity case-crossover analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives 2005;113(8):978-982. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (2004) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Air pollution and emergency admissions in Boston, MA. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 2006;60(10):890-895. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (Final) R827353C005 (Final) |
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Zeka A, Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Individual-level modifiers of the effects of particulate matter on daily mortality. American Journal of Epidemiology 2006;163(9):849-859. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (Final) |
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Zeka A, Sullivan JR, Vokonas PS, Sparrow D, Schwartz J. Inflammatory markers and particulate air pollution: characterizing the pathway to disease. International Journal of Epidemiology 2006;35(5):1347-1354. |
R827353 (Final) R827353C004 (Final) R827353C010 (Final) |
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, Air, Geographic Area, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Molecular Biology/Genetics, Toxicology, Biology, Risk Assessments, genetic susceptability, Microbiology, Epidemiology, air toxics, Children's Health, Atmospheric Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Microbiology, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Monitoring, State, tropospheric ozone, ambient measurement methods, cardiopulmonary, risk assessment, exposure and effects, ambient air quality, cardiovascular disease, elderly, health effects, indoor air, indoor air quality, inhalation, developmental effects, epidemelogy, lung cancer, respiratory disease, inhalation toxicology, air quality, ambient air, cardiopulmonary response, indoor exposure, molecular epidemiology, assessment of exposure, cardiopulmonary responses, human health risk, interindividual variability, monitoring, susceptibility, genetic susceptibility, particle exposure, epidemeology, air pollutants, human health effects, particulates, respiratory, sensitive populations, biological response, ambient particle health effects, air pollution, ambient monitoring, children, inhaled, lung, stratospheric ozone, Utah (UT), Connecticut (CT), ambient air monitoring, chemical exposure, dosimetry, exposure, inhaled particles, pulmonary, human health, Illinois (IL), atmospheric monitoring, human susceptibility, environmental health hazard, biological mechanism , health risks, human exposure, Human Health Risk Assessment, pulmonary disease, Massachusetts (MA)
Relevant Websites:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/epacenter/epa_center_99-05/index.html
Progress and Final Reports:
1999 Progress Report
2000 Progress Report
2001 Progress Report
2002 Progress Report
2003 Progress Report
2004 Progress Report
Original Abstract
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R827353 EPA Harvard Center for Ambient Particle Health Effects
Subprojects under this Center:
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R827353C001 Assessing Human Exposures to Particulate and Gaseous Air Pollutants
R827353C002 Quantifying Exposure Error and its Effect on Epidemiological
Studies
R827353C003 St. Louis Bus, Steubenville and Atlanta Studies
R827353C004 Examining Conditions That Predispose Towards
Acute Adverse Effects of Particulate Exposures
R827353C005 Assessing Life-Shortening Associated with Exposure to
Particulate Matter
R827353C006 Investigating Chronic Effects of Exposure to Particulate
Matter
R827353C007 Determining the Effects of Particle Characteristics on Respiratory Health of Children
R827353C008 Differentiating the Roles of Particle Size, Particle Composition,
and Gaseous Co-Pollutants on Cardiac Ischemia
R827353C009 Assessing Deposition of Ambient Particles in the Lung
R827353C010 Relating Changes in Blood Viscosity, Other Clotting Parameters,
Heart Rate, and Heart Rate Variability to Particulate and Criteria Gas Exposures
R827353C011 Studies of Oxidant Mechanisms
R827353C012 Modeling Relationships Between Mobile Source Particle Emissions and Population Exposures
R827353C013 Toxicological Evaluation of Realistic Emissions of Source Aerosols (TERESA) Study
R827353C014 Identifying the Physical and Chemical Properties of Particulate Matter Responsible for the Observed Adverse Health Effects
R827353C015 Research Coordination Core
R827353C016 Analytical and Facilities Core
R827353C017 Technology Development and Transfer Core