An Ecologic Analysis of County-Level PM2.5 Concentrations and Lung Cancer Incidence and Mortality

Few studies have explored the relationship between PM2.5 and lung cancer incidence. Although results are mixed, some studies have demonstrated a positive relationship between PM2.5 and lung cancer mortality. Using an ecologic study design, we examined the county-level associations between PM2.5 concentrations (2002–2005) and lung cancer incidence and mortality in North Carolina (2002–2006). Positive trends were observed between PM2.5 concentrations and lung cancer incidence and mortality; however, the R2 for both were <0.10. The slopes for the relationship between PM2.5 and lung cancer incidence and mortality were 1.26 (95% CI 0.31, 2.21, p-value 0.01) and 0.73 (95% CI 0.09, 1.36, p-value 0.03) per 1 μg/m3 PM2.5, respectively. These associations were slightly strengthened with the inclusion of variables representing socioeconomic status and smoking. Although variability is high, thus reflecting the importance of tobacco smoking and other etiologic agents that influence lung cancer incidence and mortality besides PM2.5, a positive trend is observed between PM2.5 and lung cancer incidence and mortality. This suggests the possibility of an association between PM2.5 concentrations and lung cancer incidence and mortality

Conceptualizing Neighborhood Space: Consistency and Variation of Associations for Neighborhood Factors and Pregnancy Health Across Multiple Neighborhood Units

The purpose of this research was to assess the consistency of associations between neighborhood characteristics and pregnancy-related behaviors and outcomes across four nested neighborhood boundaries using race-stratified fixed-slope random-intercept multilevel logistic models. High incivilities was associated with increased smoking, inadequate weight gain and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), while walkability was associated with decreased smoking and PIH for white women across all neighborhood definitions. For African American women, high incivilities was associated with increased smoking and inadequate gestational weight gain, while more walkable neighborhoods appeared protective against smoking and inadequate weight gain in all but the smallest neighborhoods. Associations with neighborhood attributes were similar in effect size across geographies, but less precise as neighborhoods became smaller

Comments on: Chari, R.; Burke, T.A.; White, R.H.; Fox, M.A. Integrating Susceptibility into Environmental Policy: An Analysis of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Lead. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2012, 9, 1077-1096

In their recent article [1], Chari et al. call attention to the important subject of setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to provide requisite protection for public health, including the health of sensitive groups, as specified under the Clean Air Act (73 FR 66965) [2]. The authors focus on consideration of susceptibility to inform policy choices, using lead (Pb)-related neurocognitive effects and children from low socioeconomic status (SES) families in the context of alternative Pb standard levels. Our comments focus on the authors’ analysis of the scientific evidence and not on policy. We agree with the authors that the health effects evidence for Pb indicates a role (or roles) for SES-related factors in influencing childhood Pb exposure and associated health effects. We disagree, however, with the authors’ interpretation of the literature on SES influence on the shape of the concentration-response (C-R) relationship between children’s blood Pb and IQ (e.g., steepness of the slope). We further address aspects of the scientific evidence that are important to the consideration of sensitive populations in the context of the Pb NAAQS, and how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considered this evidence in setting the Pb NAAQS in 2008

Associations between prenatal exposure to air pollution, small for gestation alage,and term low birthweight in a state-widebirth cohort

A range of health effects, including adverse pregnancy outcomes, have been associated with exposure to ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and ozone(O3). The objective of this study was to determine whether maternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) andO3 during pregnancy is associated with the risk of term low birth weight and small for gestational age infants in both single and co-pollutant models. Term low birth weight and small for gestational age were determined using all birth certificates from North Carolina from 2003 to 2005. Ambient air concentrations of PM2.5 and O3 were predicted using a hierarchical Bayesian model of air pollution that combined modeled air pollution estimates from the EPA\u27s Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model with air monitor data measured by the EPA\u27s Air Quality System. Binomial regression, adjusted for multiple potential confounders, was performed. In adjusted single-pollutant models for the third trimester, O3 concentration was positively associated with small for gestational age and term low birth weight births [risk ratios for an interquartile range increase inO3: 1.16(95%CI1.11,1.22)for small for gestational age and2.03(95% CI 1.80,2.30)for term low birth weight]; however, inverse or null associations were observed forPM2.5 [risk ratios for an interquartile range increase inPM2.5: 0.97(95%CI0.95,0.99) for small for gestational age and 1.01(95%CI0.97,1.06)for term low birth weight]. Findings were similar in co-pollutant models and linear models of birth weight. These results suggest thatO3 concentrations in both urban and rural areas may be associated with an increased risk of term low birth weight and small for gestational age births

Associations of Ozone and PM2.5 Concentrations With Parkinson's Disease Among Participants in the Agricultural Health Study

ObjectiveThis study describes associations of ozone and fine particulate matter with Parkinson's disease observed among farmers in North Carolina and Iowa.MethodsWe used logistic regression to determine the associations of these pollutants with self-reported, doctor-diagnosed Parkinson's disease. Daily predicted pollutant concentrations were used to derive surrogates of long-term exposure and link them to study participants' geocoded addresses.ResultsWe observed positive associations of Parkinson's disease with ozone (odds ratio = 1.39; 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.98) and fine particulate matter (odds ratio = 1.34; 95% CI: 0.93 to 1.93) in North Carolina but not in Iowa.ConclusionsThe plausibility of an effect of ambient concentrations of these pollutants on Parkinson's disease risk is supported by experimental data demonstrating damage to dopaminergic neurons at relevant concentrations. Additional studies are needed to address uncertainties related to confounding and to examine temporal aspects of the associations we observed

Contribution of Particle-Size-Fractionated Airborne Lead to Blood Lead during the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2008

The objective of this work is to examine associations between blood lead (PbB) and air lead (PbA) in particulate matter measured at different size cuts by use of PbB concentrations from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and PbA concentrations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for 1999–2008. Three size fractions of particle-bound PbA (TSP, PM₁₀, and PM_2.5) data with different averaging times (current and past 90-day average) were utilized. A multilevel linear mixed effect model was used to characterize the PbB–PbA relationship. At 0.15 μg/m³, a unit decrease in PbA in PM₁₀ was significantly associated with a decrease in PbB of 0.3–2.2 μg/dL across age groups and averaging times. For PbA in PM_2.5 and TSP, slopes were generally positive but not significant. PbB levels were more sensitive to the change in PbA concentrations for children (1–5 and 6–11 years) and older adults (≥60 years) than teenagers (12–19 years) and adults (20–59 years). For the years following the phase-out of Pb in gasoline and a resulting upward shift in the PbA particle size distribution, PbA in PM₁₀ was a statistically significant predictor of PbB. The results also suggest that age could affect the PbB–PbA association, with children having higher sensitivity than adults