Outdoor Particulate Matter Exposure and Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Particulate matter (PM) in outdoor air pollution was recently designated a Group I carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This determination was based on the evidence regarding the relationship of PM2.5 and PM10 to lung cancer risk; however, the IARC evaluation did not include a quantitative summary of the evidence. Objective: Our goal was to provide a systematic review and quantitative summary of the evidence regarding the relationship between PM and lung cancer. Methods: We conducted meta-analyses of studies examining the relationship of exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 with lung cancer incidence and mortality. In total, 18 studies met our inclusion criteria and provided the information necessary to estimate the change in lung cancer risk per 10-μg/m3 increase in exposure to PM. We used random-effects analyses to allow between-study variability to contribute to meta-estimates. Results: The meta-relative risk for lung cancer associated with PM2.5 was 1.09 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.14). The meta-relative risk of lung cancer associated with PM10 was similar, but less precise: 1.08 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.17). Estimates were robust to restriction to studies that considered potential confounders, as well as subanalyses by exposure assessment method. Analyses by smoking status showed that lung cancer risk associated with PM2.5 was greatest for former smokers [1.44 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.22)], followed by never-smokers [1.18 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.39)], and then current smokers [1.06 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.15)]. In addition, meta-estimates for adenocarcinoma associated with PM2.5 and PM10 were 1.40 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.83) and 1.29 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.63), respectively. Conclusion: The results of these analyses, and the decision of the IARC Working Group to classify PM and outdoor air pollution as carcinogenic (Group 1), further justify efforts to reduce exposures to air pollutants that can arise from many sources. Citation: Hamra GB, Guha N, Cohen A, Laden F, Raaschou-Nielsen O, Samet JM, Vineis P, Forastiere F, Saldiva P, Yorifuji T, Loomis D. 2014. Outdoor particulate matter exposure and lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Environ Health Perspect 122:906–911; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.140809

Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) for the Subaru Telescope: Overview, recent progress, and future perspectives

PFS (Prime Focus Spectrograph), a next generation facility instrument on the 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope, is a very wide-field, massively multiplexed, optical and near-infrared spectrograph. Exploiting the Subaru prime focus, 2394 reconfigurable fibers will be distributed over the 1.3 deg field of view. The spectrograph has been designed with 3 arms of blue, red, and near-infrared cameras to simultaneously observe spectra from 380nm to 1260nm in one exposure at a resolution of ~1.6-2.7A. An international collaboration is developing this instrument under the initiative of Kavli IPMU. The project is now going into the construction phase aiming at undertaking system integration in 2017-2018 and subsequently carrying out engineering operations in 2018-2019. This article gives an overview of the instrument, current project status and future paths forward.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures. Proceeding of SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation 201

A Utility Roadmap for Expanding Customer Adoption of Electric Vehicles

Portland General Electric (PGE) is one of only a few electric utilities in the United States actively conducting evaluations of their pilots in support of transportation electrification (TE). This article offers insights into PGE’s efforts to provide EV-related outreach and education to its customers. The article also examines interest in and use of PGE’s public charging infrastructure, particularly among transportation network company (TNC) drivers. The authors conducted an analysis of utilization data from PGE’s public charging stations to examine usage and the effectiveness of a peak pricing surcharge during peak electricity demand periods. The research pulls from additional data sources including (1) online customer surveys, (2) ride-and-drive intercept surveys, (3) and an online focus group. Findings illuminate the utility’s experience after three years of implementation and provide concrete guidance for other utilities seeking to expand customer adoption of EVs, while also exploring how pricing mechanisms can be effective at managing increased system load associated with increased EV charging. Findings also highlight the barriers environmental justice communities face with EVs and provide insights into how utilities can address misconceptions and increase awareness of the benefits of EVs for these groups

data for: Effect of climatic vs. biotic drivers on population growth rate varies with range size but not position within range

These are data downloaded from GBIF (the Global Biodiversity Information Facility) for all species described in the manuscript "Effect of climatic vs. biotic drivers on population growth rate varies with range size but not position within range" by Louthan et al. Column names are derived from GBIF records and are described on their website. </p

Lung cancer and exposure to nitrogen dioxide and traffic : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and objective: Exposure to traffic-related air pollutants is an important public health issue. Here, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of research examining the relationship of measures of nitrogen oxides and of various measures of traffic related air pollution exposure with lung cancer. Methods: We conducted random effects meta-analyses of studies examining exposure to NO₂ and NOx exposure and lung cancer. We identified 20 studies that met inclusion criteria and provided information necessary to estimate the change in lung cancer per 10 μg/m³ increase in exposure to measured NO₂. Further, we qualitatively assess the evidence of association between distance to roadways and traffic volume associated with lung cancer. Results: The meta-estimate for the change in lung cancer associated with a 10 μg/m³ increase in exposure to NO₂ was 4% (95% CI: 1%, 8%). The meta-estimate for change in lung cancer associated with a 10 μg/m³ increase in NOx was similar and slightly more precise, 3% (95% CI: 1%, 5%). The NO₂ meta-estimate was robust to different confounding adjustment sets as well as the exposure assessment techniques utilized. Trim-and-fill analyses suggest that if publication bias exists the overall meta-estimate is biased away from the null. Forest plots for measures of traffic volume and distance to roadways largely suggest a modest increase in lung cancer risk. Conclusion: We found consistent evidence of a relationship between NO₂ and NOx, as proxies for traffic sourced air pollution exposure, with lung cancer. Studies of lung cancer related to residential proximity to roadways also suggest increased risk, which may be due in part to air pollution exposure. The International Agency for Research on Cancer recently classified outdoor air pollution and particulate matter as carcinogenic (Group 1). These meta-analyses support this conclusion, drawing particular attention to traffic sourced air pollution.Population and Public Health (SPPH), School ofNon UBCMedicine, Faculty ofReviewedFacult