Research Hub

This study evaluates environmental justice issues in St James Parish, Louisiana. This parish is located along an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi River which hosts over 100 chemical, petrochemical, refining and industrial plants and is often referred to as 'Cancer Alley'. With the use of geographic information system (GIS) mapping, it was found that polluting industries are located in the sections of the parish that have the highest percentages of African Americans, the lowest average household income and the most residents without a high school diploma. It was also found that the areas of the parish that have the highest percentage of residents who are employed in the manufacturing industry tend to be the wealthiest in the parish, have the least number of African American residents and have the most residents with the highest levels of education. Second, the levels and types of community advocacy that have occurred in response to the pollution and disproportionate environmental impacts in the parish are evaluated to find the most effective course of action. This study concludes that the most successful way that threatened communities can respond to environmental injustices is to take the initiative to solve the problem, connect with larger groups that have expertise, educate the public, and obtain legal representation.

Published Dec 1, 2006

Blodgett, A. D. (2006). An analysis of pollution and community advocacy in “Cancer Alley”: Setting an example for the environmental justice movement in St James Parish, Louisiana. Local Environment, 11(6), 647–661. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549830600853700

Context: Evidence on the health risks associated with short-term exposure to fine particles (particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter [PM2.5]) is limited. Results from the new national monitoring network for PM2.5 make possible systematic research on health risks at national and regional scales. Objectives: To estimate risks of cardiovascular and respiratory hospital admissions associated with short-term exposure to PM2.5 for Medicare enrollees and to explore heterogeneity of the variation of risks across regions. Design, Setting, and Participants: A national database comprising daily time-series data daily for 1999 through 2002 on hospital admission rates (constructed from the Medicare National Claims History Files) for cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes and injuries, ambient PM 2.5 levels, and temperature and dew-point temperature for 204 US urban counties (population >200 000) with 11.5 million Medicare enrollees (aged >65 years) living an average of 5.9 miles from a PM2.5 monitor. Main Outcome Measures: Daily counts of county-wide hospital admissions for primary diagnosis of cerebrovascular, peripheral, and ischemic heart diseases, heart rhythm, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and respiratory infection, and injuries as a control outcome. Results: There was a short-term increase in hospital admission rates associated with PM 2.5 for all of the health outcomes except injuries. The largest association was for heart failure, which had a 1.28% (95% confidence interval, 0.78%-1.78%) increase in risk per 10-μg/m3 increase in same-day PM2.5. Cardiovascular risks tended to be higher in counties located in the Eastern region of the United States, which included the Northeast, the Southeast, the Midwest, and the South. Conclusion: Short-term exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk for hospital admission for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. ©2006 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Published Mar 8, 2006

Dominici, F., Peng, R. D., Bell, M. L., Pham, L., McDermott, A., Zeger, S. L., & Samet, J. M. (2006). Fine particulate air pollution and hospital admission for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Journal of the American Medical Association, 295(10), 1127–1134. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.295.10.1127

Epidemiological studies suggest that people with diabetes are vulnerable to cardiovascular health effects associated with exposure to particle air pollution. Endothelial and vascular function is impaired in diabetes and may be related to increased cardiovascular risk. We examined whether endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular reactivity was associated with particle exposure in individuals with and without diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS Study subjects were 270 greater-Boston residents. We measured 24-hour average ambient levels of air pollution (fine particles [PM2.5], particle number, black carbon, and sulfates [SO4(2-)]) approximately 500 m from the patient examination site. Pollutant concentrations were evaluated for associations with vascular reactivity. Linear regressions were fit to the percent change in brachial artery diameter (flow mediated and nitroglycerin mediated), with the particulate pollutant index, apparent temperature, season, age, race, sex, smoking history, and body mass index as predictors. Models were fit to all subjects and then stratified by diagnosed diabetes versus at risk for diabetes. Six-day moving averages of all 4 particle metrics were associated with decreased vascular reactivity among patients with diabetes but not those at risk. Interquartile range increases in SO4(2-) were associated with decreased flow-mediated (-10.7%; 95% CI, -17.3 to -3.5) and nitroglycerin-mediated (-5.4%; 95% CI, -10.5 to -0.1) vascular reactivity among those with diabetes. Black carbon increases were associated with decreased flow-mediated vascular reactivity (-12.6%; 95% CI, -21.7 to -2.4), and PM2.5 was associated with nitroglycerin-mediated reactivity (-7.6%; 95% CI, -12.8 to -2.1). Effects were stronger in type II than type I diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes confers vulnerability to particles associated with coal-burning power plants and traffic.

Published May 31, 2005

O’Neill, M. S., Veves, A., Zanobetti, A., Sarnat, J. A., Gold, D. R., Economides, P. A., Horton, E. S., & Schwartz, J. (2005). Diabetes enhances vulnerability to particulate air pollution-associated impairment in vascular reactivity and endothelial function. Circulation, 111(22), 2913–2920. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.517110

This paper documents the survey design methods and preliminary results of the first phase of the Atlanta Employer Commute Options Survey. More than 800 employers in the Atlanta metropolitan area were surveyed to determine the commute options programs (carpool matching, staggered work hours, transit pass subsidies, etc.) that they currently implement. Methodological development of the survey instrument and sampling plan is first provided. Then, survey results for the more than 400 responding companies are presented and discussed, highlighting some lessons learned and the impacts on the final survey. Preliminary results indicate that much more can be done in the Atlanta region by employers to encourage and provide incentives to employees through the implementation of commute options programs. Further analysis will focus on factors potentially driving employer provision of commute options strategies and upon the potential air quality benefits that may arise from further expansion of commute options programs. Prepared for the 98 th AWMA (2005) Meeting by Feng, C., Guensler, R. and DeHart-Davis L. 2

Published Jan 1, 2005

Feng, C., & Guensler, R. (n.d.). Survey Design and Preliminary Results of the Atlanta Employer Commute Options Survey Paper Number: #1071. Retrieved March 24, 2020, from http://lungaction.org/reports/stateoftheair2004.html

Context: Ozone has been associated with various adverse health effects, including increased rates of hospital admissions and exacerbation of respiratory illnesses. Although numerous time-series studies have estimated associations between day-to-day variation in ozone levels and mortality counts, results have been inconclusive. Objective: To investigate whether short-term (daily and weekly) exposure to ambient ozone is associated with mortality in the United States. Design and Setting: Using analytical methods and databases developed for the National Morbidity, Mortality, and Air Pollution Study, we estimated a national average relative rate of mortality associated with short-term exposure to ambient ozone for 95 large US urban communities from 1987-2000. We used distributed-lag models for estimating community-specific relative rates of mortality adjusted for time-varying confounders (particulate matter, weather, seasonality, and long-term trends) and hierarchical models for combining relative rates across communities to estimate a national average relative rate, taking into account spatial heterogeneity. Main Outcome Measure: Daily counts of total non-injury-related mortality and cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in 95 large US communities during a 14-year period. Results: A 10-ppb increase in the previous week's ozone was associated with a 0.52% increase in daily mortality (95% posterior interval [PI], 0.27%-0.77%) and a 0.64% increase in cardiovascular and respiratory mortality (95% PI, 0.31%-0.98%). Effect estimates for aggregate ozone during the previous week were larger than for models considering only a single day's exposure. Results were robust to adjustment for particulate matter, weather, seasonality, and long-term trends. Conclusions: These results indicate a statistically significant association between short-term changes in ozone and mortality on average for 95 large US urban communities, which include about 40% of the total US population. The findings indicate that this widespread pollutant adversely affects public health.

Published Nov 17, 2004

Bell, M. L., McDermott, A., Zeger, S. L., Samet, J. M., & Dominici, F. (2004). Ozone and short-term mortality in 95 US urban communities, 1987-2000. Journal of the American Medical Association, 292(19), 2372–2378. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.292.19.2372

In this prospective study, we recruited 1759 children (average age, 10 years) from schools in 12 southern California communities and measured lung function annually for eight years. The rate of attrition was approximately 10 percent per year. The communities represented a wide range of ambient exposures to ozone, acid vapor, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter. Linear regression was used to examine the relationship of air pollution to the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and other spirometric measures.

Published Sep 9, 2004

Tashkin, D. P., Celli, B., Senn, S., Burkhart, D., Kesten, S., Menjoge, S., Decramer, M., & Study, U. (2008). The Effect of Air Pollution on Lung Development from 10 to 18 Years of Age W. 359, 1543–1554.

Children’s exposure to air pollution is a special concern because their immune system and lungs are not fully developed when exposure begins, raising the possibility of different responses than seen in adults. In addition, children spend more time outside, where the concentrations of pollution from traffic, powerplants, and other combustion sources are generally higher. Although air pollution has long been thought to exacerbate minor acute illnesses, recent studies have suggested that air pollution, particularly traffic-related pollution, is associated with infant mortality and the development of asthma and atopy. Other studies have associated particulate air pollution with acute bronchitis in children and demonstrated that rates of bronchitis and chronic cough declined in areas where particle concentrations have fallen. More mixed results have been reported for lung function. Overall, evidence for effects of air pollution on children have been growing, and effects are seen at concentrations that are common today. Although many of these associations seem likely to be causal, others require and warrant additional investigation.

Published Apr 1, 2004

Schwartz, J. (2018). Air Pollution and Children’s Health. 113(4). https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/113/Supplement_3/1037.short?casa_token=eeWXA1BufMkAAAAA:6Q_CEn-v6CM1qMkByowBIByv3mSUI3Pap587m3SZ1iTiJFq6OpgOgwTFG9nFYk3754kH2A5n0A

This review explores which facility attributes affect academic outcomes the most and in what manner and degree. The research is examined in six categories: inddor air quality, ventilation, and thermal comfort; lighting; acoustics; building age and quality; school size; and class size. The review concludes that school facilities affect learning. Spatial configuration, noise, heat, cold, light, and air quality obviuosly bear on students; and teachers; ability to perform. Needed are clean air, good light, and quiet, comfortable, and safe learning environment. The review asserts that this can be and generally has been achieved within the limits of existing knowledge, technology, and materials; it simply requires adequate funding and competent design, construction, and maintenance.

Published Nov 1, 2002

Schneider, M. (2002). Do School Facilities Affect Academic Outcomes? In National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities, Washington, DC (p. 26). https://doi.org/November 2002

Most North American school buses and transport trucks are powered by dieselfuelled engines. Diesel has become the fuel of choice because it is considered more economical. However, as evidence grows about the connection between diesel exhaust, air pollution and ill health, so does public pressure to use cleaner fuels and vehicles.

Published Sep 3, 2002

Weir, E. (2002). Diesel exhaust, school buses and children’s health. Cmaj, 167(5), 505. https://www.cmaj.ca/content/167/5/505.short

The widely used generalized additive models (GAM) method is a flexible and effective technique for conducting nonlinear regression analysis in time-series studies of the health effects of air pollution. When the data to which the GAM are being applied have two characteristics—1) the estimated regression coefficients are small and 2) there exist confounding factors that are modeled using at least two nonparametric smooth functions—the default settings in the gam function of the S-Plus software package (version 3.4) do not assure convergence of its iterative estimation procedure and can provide biased estimates of regression coefficients and standard errors. This phenomenon has occurred in time-series analyses of contemporary data on air pollution and mortality. To evaluate the impact of default implementation of the gam software on published analyses, the authors reanalyzed data from the National Morbidity, Mortality, and Air Pollution Study (NMMAPS) using three different methods: 1) Poisson regression with parametric nonlinear adjustments for confounding factors; 2) GAM with default convergence parameters; and 3) GAM with more stringent convergence parameters than the default settings. The authors found that pooled NMMAPS estimates were very similar under the first and third methods but were biased upward under the second method. Am J Epidemiol 2002;156:193–203.

Published Aug 1, 2002

Dominici, F. (2002). On the Use of Generalized Additive Models in Time-Series Studies of Air Pollution and Health. American Journal of Epidemiology, 156(3), 193–203. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwf062