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Frederica P. Perera,¹ Susan M. Illman,¹ Patrick L. Kinney,¹ Robin M. Whyatt,¹ Elizabeth A. Kelvin,¹ Peggy Shepard,^1,2 David Evans,¹ Mindy Fullilove,¹ Jean Ford,¹ Rachel L. Miller,¹ Ilan H. Meyer,¹ and Virginia A. Rauh¹

¹Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA; ²West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc., New York, New York, USA

Abstract

Rates of developmental and respiratory diseases are disproportionately high in underserved, minority populations such as those in New York City's Washington Heights, Harlem, and the South Bronx. Blacks and Latinos in these neighborhoods represent high risk groups for asthma, adverse birth outcomes, impaired development, and some types of cancer. The Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health in Washington Heights uses molecular epidemiologic methods to study the health effects of urban indoor and outdoor air pollutants on children, prenatally and postnatally, in a cohort of over 500 African-American and Dominican (originally from the Dominican Republic) mothers and newborns. Extensive data are collected to determine exposures to particulate matter < 2.5 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM_2.5) , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) , diesel exhaust particulate (DEP) , nitrogen oxide, nonpersistent pesticides, home allergens (dust mite, mouse, cockroach) , environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) , and lead and other metals. Biomarkers, air sampling, and clinical assessments are used to study the effects of these exposures on children's increased risk for allergic sensitization, asthma and other respiratory disorders, impairment of neurocognitive and behavioral development, and potential cancer risk. The center conducts its research and community education in collaboration with 10 community-based health and environmental advocacy organizations. This unique academic-community partnership helps to guide the center's research so that it is most relevant to the context of the low-income, minority neighborhoods in which the cohort resides, and information is delivered back to these communities in meaningful ways. In turn, communities become better equipped to relay environmental health concerns to policy makers. In this paper we describe the center's research and its academic-community partnership and present some preliminary findings. Key words: asthma, cancer, children, development, environmental health, prenatal, prevention, susceptibility. Environ Health Perspect 110:197-204 (2002) . [Online 18 January 2002]

http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2002/110p197-204perera/ abstract.html

Address correspondence to F.P. Perera, Division of Environmental Health Sciences, Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue, B-116, New York, NY 10032 USA. Telephone: (212) 304-7280. Fax: (212) 544-1943. E-mail: fpp1@columbia.edu

This work was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (grants P50 ES09600, RO1 ES08977, and RO1 ES06722) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (grant R827027) , the Bauman Family Foundation, the Gladys and Roland Harriman Foundation, the W. Alton Jones Foundation, the New York Community Trust, and the Irving General Clinical Research Center (grant RR00645) .

Received 8 January 2001 ; accepted 18 July 2001.