Research Hub

Although exposure to traffic emissions is frequently associated with negative health impacts, few studies have measured air pollution directly in-vehicle, and limited measurements of daily commuter exposure exist. This research, part of the Atlanta Commuter Exposures (ACE) Study, assesses on-roadway in-cabin particulate pollution (PM 2.5 ) collected from scripted rush hour commutes on highways and on non-highway side streets. Water-soluble extracts from PM 2.5 filters were analyzed for oxidative potential of water-soluble species using the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay, and results suggest that there may be substantial gas-phase DTT activity in fresh emissions. We measured DTTv activities (i.e., DTT activity normalized to the sampled air volume) that were on average two times higher than comparable measurements collected by stationary roadside monitoring sites. Although some of this difference may be attributable to positive artifacts due to relatively brief (2-h) quartz filter sampling durations, the current findings provide some indication that commuters encounter notably higher exposure to redox-active PM 2.5 in the on-road environment. Strong correlations are observed between water-soluble DTT activity and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), specifically for the ‘semivolatile’ WSOC component (measured as the difference between denuded and non-denuded filters). Although potential for artifacts when measuring DTT activity of fresh emissions using filter-based methods is considerable, these results suggest that semivolatile organic species are important contributors to DTT activity, at least in environments where ambient PM 2.5 is dominated by vehicular sources.

Published Jun 1, 2017

Vreeland, H., Weber, R., Bergin, M., Greenwald, R., Golan, R., Russell, A. G., Verma, V., & Sarnat, J. A. (2017). Oxidative potential of PM 2.5 during Atlanta rush hour: Measurements of in-vehicle dithiothreitol (DTT) activity. Atmospheric Environment, 165, 169–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.06.044

Lung function in early life has been shown to be an important predictor for peak lung function in adults and later decline. Reduced lung function per se is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. With this review, we aim to summarize the current epidemiological evidence on the effect of traffic-related air pollution on lung function in children and adolescents. We focus in particular on time windows of exposure, small airway involvement, and vulnerable sub-groups in the population. Findings from studies published to date support the notion that exposure over the entire childhood age range seems to be of importance for lung function development. We could not find any conclusive data to support evidence of sup-group effects considering gender, sensitization status, and asthma status, although a possibly stronger effect may be present for children with asthma. The long-term effects into adulthood of exposure to air pollution during childhood remains unknown, but current studies suggest that these deficits may be propagated into later life. In addition, further research on the effect of exposure on small airway function is warranted.

Published May 27, 2017

Schultz, E.S., Litonjua, A.A. & Melén, E. Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution on Lung Function in Children. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 17, 41 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-017-0709-y

Background Exposure to ambient air pollution increases morbidity and mortality, and is a leading contributor to global disease burden. We explored spatial and temporal trends in mortality and burden of disease attributable to ambient air pollution from 1990 to 2015 at global, regional, and country levels. Methods We estimated global population-weighted mean concentrations of particle mass with aerodynamic diameter less than 2·5 μm (PM2·5) and ozone at an approximate 11 km × 11 km resolution with satellite-based estimates, chemical transport models, and ground-level measurements. Using integrated exposure–response functions for each cause of death, we estimated the relative risk of mortality from ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and lower respiratory infections from epidemiological studies using non-linear exposure–response functions spanning the global range of exposure. Findings Ambient PM2·5 was the fifth-ranking mortality risk factor in 2015. Exposure to PM2·5 caused 4·2 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 3·7 million to 4·8 million) deaths and 103·1 million (90·8 million 115·1 million) disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2015, representing 7·6% of total global deaths and 4·2% of global DALYs, 59% of these in east and south Asia. Deaths attributable to ambient PM2·5 increased from 3·5 million (95% UI 3·0 million to 4·0 million) in 1990 to 4·2 million (3·7 million to 4·8 million) in 2015. Exposure to ozone caused an additional 254 000 (95% UI 97 000–422 000) deaths and a loss of 4·1 million (1·6 million to 6·8 million) DALYs from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 2015. Interpretation Ambient air pollution contributed substantially to the global burden of disease in 2015, which increased over the past 25 years, due to population ageing, changes in non-communicable disease rates, and increasing air pollution in low-income and middle-income countries. Modest reductions in burden will occur in the most polluted countries unless PM2·5 values are decreased substantially, but there is potential for substantial health benefits from exposure reduction. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Health Effects Institute.

Published Apr 10, 2017

Cohen, Aaron J, et al. “Estimates and 25-Year Trends of the Global Burden of Disease Attributable to Ambient Air Pollution: an Analysis of Data from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2015.” The Lancet, vol. 389, no. 10082, 10 Apr. 2017, pp. 1907–1918., doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(17)30505-6.

Anthropogenic ambient fine particulate matter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) air pollution from fossil fuel combustion (eg, coal-fired power plants and traffic) ranks among the leading causes of worldwide morbidity and mortality.1 In agreement with figures from the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/topics/global_burden_of_disease/en/), estimations indicate that approximately 3.15 million deaths per year are attributable to PM2.5. This alarming figure exceeds that of many more widely recognized risk factors (eg, hypercholesterolemia) and unfortunately is estimated to double by 2050.1 However, perhaps underappreciated by health care professionals and the general populace alike is that the largest portion of ambient PM2.5–induced health effects are owing to cardiovascular events. Short-term elevations in PM2.5 increase the risk for myocardial infarctions, strokes, heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiac death.2,3 Longer-term exposures synergistically increase this acute risk and can even potentiate the development of chronic cardiometabolic conditions including diabetes and hypertension. As such, both the American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology have formally recognized ambient PM2.5 as a major cardiovascular risk factor.2,3

Published Apr 1, 2017

Brook, R. D., Newby, D. E., & Rajagopalan, S. (2017). The global threat of outdoor ambient air pollution to cardiovascular health: Time for intervention. JAMA Cardiology, 2(4), 353–354. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2017.0032

Background: Approaches to estimating and addressing the risk to children from fossil fuel combustion have been fragmented, tending to focus either on the toxic air emissions or on climate change. Yet developing children, and especially poor children, now bear a disproportionate burden of disease from both environmental pollution and climate change due to fossil fuel combustion. Objective: This commentary summarizes the robust scientific evidence regarding the multiple current and projected health impacts of fossil fuel combustion on the young to make the case for a holistic, child-centered energy and climate policy that addresses the full array of physical and psychosocial stressors resulting from fossil fuel pollution. Discussion: The data summarized here show that by sharply reducing our dependence on fossil fuels we would achieve highly significant health and economic benefits for our children and their future. These benefits would occur immediately and also play out over the life course and potentially across generations. Conclusion: Going beyond the powerful scientific and economic arguments for urgent action to reduce the burning of fossil fuels is the strong moral imperative to protect our most vulnerable populations.

Published Feb 1, 2017

Perera, F. P. (2017). Multiple threats to child health from fossil fuel combustion: Impacts of air pollution and climate change. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(2), 141–148. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP299

The link between air pollution and human health is well-documented in the epidemiology and economic literature. Recently, an increasing body of research has shown that air pollution—even in relatively low doses—also affects educational outcomes across several distinct age groups and varying lengths of exposure. This implies that a narrow focus on traditional health outcomes, such as morbidity and mortality, may understate the true benefit of reducing pollution, as air pollution also affects scholastic achievement and human capital formation.

Published Jan 1, 2017

Roth, S. (2017). Air pollution, educational achievements, and human capital formation. https://ideas.repec.org/a/iza/izawol/journly2017n381.html

This IRIS assessment for Ethylene oxide consists of hazard identification and dose-response assessment data and provides support for EPA risk management decisions.

Published Dec 16, 2016

US EPA Integrated Risk Information System Division. (2016). Ethylene oxide CASRN 75-21-8 | IRIS | US EPA, ORD. December. https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/chemicalLanding.cfm?substance_nmbr=1025

Previous well-to-wheels (WTW) analyses on electric vehicles (EVs) have reported tremendous results of potential energy and environmental effects. However, there remains a challenge to lower the uncertainties that were introduced when obtaining life-cycle parameters from a macro perspective (e.g., nationwide or regional scales). This study takes Beijing as a case, because it is an important regional hub for EV promotion and represents megacities with severe urban air pollution issues and congested traffic conditions. We collected up-to-date data concerning the electricity generation mix, fuel transport, end-of-pipe controls, real-world fuel economy and emissions, and estimated the WTW energy consumption and CO2and air pollutant emissions for various light-duty passenger vehicle technologies currently (2015) and in the mid-term future (2030). Unlike previous results, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are shown to significantly reduce WTW CO2emissions by 32% for the present model year (MY) 2015 compared with their conventional gasoline counterparts, primarily due to the shift from coal to gas in local power plants in Beijing and the significantly higher real-world fuel consumption of conventional vehicles compared with the type-approval value. By 2030, WTW CO2emissions by BEVs should approach 100 g km−1due to the increased importation of non-fossil electricity, even lower than that of hybrid electric vehicles. Furthermore, significant improvements in end-of-pipe controls for coal-fired power plants have effectively lowered WTW emissions of air pollutants. In terms of VOCs and NOXthat are of most concerns among all pollutants emitted from passenger vehicles, the WTW emissions of VOCs for MY 2015 BEV are already significantly lower than their conventional counterparts by 95%. Although WTW NOXemissions for BEVs are currently higher by 66% than conventional gasoline vehicles, we expect that BEVs can achieve WTW emission reduction benefit of NOX(41%) by 2030. This study indicates the significance of fine-grained and real-world features when assessing the WTW energy and environmental effects of EVs.

Published Dec 11, 2016

Ke, W., Zhang, S., He, X., Wu, Y., & Hao, J. (2017). Well-to-wheels energy consumption and emissions of electric vehicles: Mid-term implications from real-world features and air pollution control progress. Applied Energy, 188, 367–377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.12.011

Background: Relationships between air quality and health are well-described, but little information is available about the joint associations between particulate air pollution, ambient temperature, and respiratory morbidity. oBjectives: We evaluated associations between concentrations of particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) and exacerbation of existing asthma and modification of the associations by ambient air temperature. Methods: Data from 50,356 adult respondents to the Asthma Call-back Survey from 2006–2010 were linked by interview date and county of residence to estimates of daily averages of PM2.5 and maximum air temperature. Associations between 14-day average PM2.5 and the presence of any asthma symptoms during the 14 days leading up to and including the interview date were evaluated using binomial regression. We explored variation by air temperature using similar models, stratified into quintiles of the 14-day average maximum temperature. results: Among adults with active asthma, 57.1% reported asthma symptoms within the past 14 days, and 14-day average PM2.5 ≥ 7.07 μg/m3 was associated with an estimated 4–5% higher asthma symptom prevalence. In the range of 4.00–7.06 μg/m3 of PM2.5, each 1-μg/m3 increase was associated with a 3.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 5.7] increase in symptom preva-lence; across categories of temperature from 1.1 to 80.5°F, each 1-μg/m3 increase was associated with increased symptom prevalence (1.1–44.4°F: 7.9%; 44.5–58.6°F: 6.9%; 58.7–70.1°F: 2.9%; 70.2–80.5°F: 7.3%). conclusions: These results suggest that each unit increase in PM2.5 may be associated with an increase in the prevalence of asthma symptoms, even at levels as low as 4.00–7.06 μg/m3.

Published Dec 1, 2016

Mirabelli, M. C., Vaidyanathan, A., Flanders, W. D., Qin, X., & Garbe, P. (2016). Outdoor PM2.5, ambient air temperature, and asthma symptoms in the past 14 days among adults with active asthma. Environmental Health Perspectives, 124(12), 1882–1890. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP92

African Americans are among the least responsible for contributing to Green House Gas (GHG) emissions that cause climate change, but are disproportionately burdened by the environmental harm, unemployment, economic hardship, and heath impacts from heat waves and other extreme weather events that result from this phenomenon. A 2004 report by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) examined the relationships between African Americans, climate change, and federal policy and, unfortunately, the findings of this report authored 12 years ago still ring true today. There is no lack of reports, research, and experiences that document how climate change impacts the lives of minorities, particularly African Americans, more negatively than others.

Published Sep 22, 2016

White-Newsome, J. L. (2016). A Policy Approach Toward Climate Justice. Black Scholar, 46(3), 12–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/00064246.2016.1188353