Harvard Particle Center
EPA Grant Number: R832416Center: Harvard Particle Center
Center Director: Koutrakis, Petros
Title: Harvard Particle Center
Investigators: Koutrakis, Petros , Brook, Robert D. , Brook, Jeffrey R. , Coull, Brent , Demokrito, Phil , Dockery, Douglas W. , Godleski, John J. , Gold, Diane R. , Gonzalez-Flecha, Beatriz , Schwartz, Joel , Silverman, Frances , Speizer, Frank E. , Stone, Peter , Suh, Helen H. , Vokonas, Pantel
Current Investigators: Koutrakis, Petros , Godleski, John J. , Gold, Diane R. , Schwartz, Joel , Silverman, Frances , Sparrow, David , Suh, Helen H. , Vokonas, Pantel
Institution: Harvard University , Boston University , Brigham and Women's Hospital , University of Michigan , University of Toronto
Current Institution: Boston University , Harvard University , University of Toronto
EPA Project Officer: Stacey Katz/Gail Robarge,
Project Period: October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2010
Project Amount: $3,215,324
RFA: Particulate Matter Research Centers (2004)
Research Category: Particulate Matter
Description:
Objective:The fundamental objective of the proposed Center is to understand how specific PM characteristics and sources impact inflammation, autonomic responses, and vascular dysfunction.
Approach:The Center will investigate the pathophysiological effects produced by exposures to PM and its gaseous co-pollutants and will examine how these effects relate to PM composition, size and sources. Project 1 will examine the association between PM exposures and intermediate markers of autonomic dysfunction, systemic inflammation, endothelial activation and oxidative stress in the Normative Aging Study cohort in Eastern Massachusetts. Project 2 will use a cross-over exposure design to examine the effects of traffic-related PM and gases in a panel of 36 older adults who will be exposed to pollutants during 5-hr long field trips via buses in Boston, MA. This Project will examine whether exposures are associated with autonomic dysfunction, pulmonary and systemic inflammation and endothelial activation. Project 3 will examine the cardiovascular effects of fine, coarse and ultrafine concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) in 50 healthy adults in Toronto. Vascular function and inflammatory examinations will include brachial artery diameter, flow-mediated dilatation and nitroglycerin-mediated dilatation, heart rate variability, blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume and systemic vascular resistance. Project 4 will investigate the relationship between PM composition and vascular response. Normal and spontaneously hypersensitive rats will be exposed to fine CAPs in Boston during either early morning (mostly locally emitted PM rich in elemental and organic carbon) or mid-day periods (mostly transported PM rich in sulfates). Biological outcomes will include pulmonary and systemic inflammation, blood pressure, endothelin-1, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, atrial naturetic peptide, oxidant response in the heart and lung by in vivo chemiluminescence, and vascular morphometry of lung and cardiac vessels. Project 5 will investigate the effects of primary and secondary vehicular emissions from a tunnel in Boston, using the same animal models and biological measurements as in Project 4. The five projects will be supported by three Cores: Administration and Research Coordination, Particle Technology and Monitoring, and Biostatistical.
Expected Results:The Center will provide information about the cardiovascular and pulmonary effects of specific PM sources and/or components, which is critical for the development and implementation of Air Quality Standards.
Journal Articles: 18 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other center views: | All 18 publications | 18 publications in selected types | All 18 journal articles |
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Alexeeff SE, Litonjua AA, Suh H, Sparrow D, Vokonas PS, Schwartz J. Ozone exposure and lung function: effect modified by obesity and airways hyperresponsiveness in the VA Normative Aging Study. Chest 2007;132(6):1890-1897. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Alexeeff SE, Litonjua AA, Sparrow D, Vokonas PS, Schwartz J. Statin use reduces decline in lung function: VA Normative Aging Study. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2007;176(8):742-747. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Baccarelli A, Martinelli I, Zanobetti A, Grillo P, Hou LF, Bertazzi PA, Mannucci PM, Schwartz J. Exposure to particulate air pollution and risk of deep vein thrombosis. Archives of Internal Medicine 2008;168(9):920-927. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Baccarelli A, Cassano PA, Litonjua A, Park SK, Suh H, Sparrow D, Vokonas P, Schwartz J. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction: effects from particulate air pollution and protection by dietary methyl nutrients and metabolic polymorphisms. Circulation 2008;117(14):1802-1809. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Chahine T, Baccarelli A, Litonjua AA, Wright RO, Suh H, Gold DR, Sparrow D, Vokonas PS, Schwartz J. Particulate air pollution, oxidative stress genes, and heart rate variability in an elderly cohort. Environmental Health Perspectives 2007;115(11):1617-1622. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Chen JC, Schwartz J. Metabolic syndrome and inflammatory responses to long-term particulate air pollutants. Environmental Health Perspectives 2008;116(5):612-617. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Franco Suglia S, Gryparis A, Wright RO, Schwartz J, Wright RJ. Association of black carbon with cognition among children in a prospective birth cohort study. American Journal of Epidemiology 2008;167(3):280-286. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Franklin M, Schwartz J. The impact of secondary particles on the association between ambient ozone and mortality. Environmental Health Perspectives 2008;116(4):453-458. |
R832416 (2006) |
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Franklin M, Koutrakis P, Schwartz J. The role of particle composition on the association between PM2.5 and mortality. Epidemiology 2008;19(5):680-689. |
R832416 (2006) |
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Liu Y, Koutrakis P, Kahn R. Estimating fine particulate matter component concentrations and size distributions using satellite-retrieved fractional aerosol optical depth:Part 1-method development. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 2007;57(11):1351-1359. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Liu Y, Koutrakis P, Kahn R, Turquety S, Yantosca RM. Estimating fine particulate matter component concentrations and size distributions using satellite-retrieved fractional aerosol optical depth: Part 2--a case study. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 2007;57(11):1360-1369. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Medina-Ramon M, Goldberg R, Melly S, Mittleman MA, Schwartz J. Residential exposure to traffic-related air pollution and survival after heart failure. Environmental Health Perspectives 2008;116(4):481-485. |
R832416 (2006) |
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Park SK, O’Neill MS, Vokonas PS, Sparrow D, Wright RO, Coull B, Nie H, Hu H, Schwartz J. Air pollution and heart rate variability: effect modification by chronic lead exposure. Epidemiology 2008;19(1):111-120. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Park SK, O’Neill MS, Vokonas PS, Sparrow D, Spiro A III, Tucker KL, Suh H, Hu H, Schwartz J. Traffic-related particles are associated with elevated homocysteine: the VA Normative Aging Study. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2008;178(3):283-289. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Schwartz J, Coull B, Laden F, Ryan L. The effect of dose and timing of dose on the association between airborne particles and survival. Environmental Health Perspectives 2008;116(1):64-69. |
R832416 (2006) |
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Wellenius GA, Yeh GY, Coull BA, Suh HH, Phillips RS, Mittleman MA. Effects of ambient air pollution on functional status in patients with chronic congestive heart failure: a repeated-measures study. Environmental Health 2007;6:26. |
R832416 (2006) R827353 (Final) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Temperature and mortality in nine US cities. Epidemiology 2008;19(4):563-570. |
R832416 (2006) |
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Zanobetti A, Schwartz J. Is there adaptation in the ozone mortality relationship: a multi-city case-crossover analysis. Environmental Health 2008;7:22. |
R832416 (2006) |
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ambient air particles, cardiovascular health, pulmonary health, air pollution, traffic emissions,
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Air, Scientific Discipline, Health, RFA, Risk Assessments, Health Risk Assessment, particulate matter, Environmental Chemistry, ambient air quality, cardiovascular vulnerability, chemical characteristics, autonomic dysfunction, traffic related particulate matter, chemical composition, human health risk, oxidative stress, human health effects, toxicology, automobile exhaust, ambient particle health effects, atmospheric particulate matter, biological mechanism , airborne particulate matter, human exposure
Progress and Final Reports:
2006 Progress Report
Subprojects under this Center:
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R832416C001 Cardiovascular Responses in the Normative Aging Study: Exploring the Pathways of Particle Toxicity
R832416C002 Cardiovascular Toxicity of Concentrated Ambient Fine, Ultrafine and Coarse Particles in Controlled Human Exposures
R832416C003 Assessing Toxicity of Local and Transported Particles Using Animal Models Exposed to CAPs
R832416C004 Cardiovascular Effects of Mobile Source Exposures: Effects of Particles and Gaseous Co-pollutants
R832416C005 Toxicological Evaluation of Realistic Emission Source Aerosol (TERESA): Investigation of Vehicular Emissions