Extramural Research
Research Centers
Grantee Research Project Results
Jane Q. Koenig, Director
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
EPA Grant Number: R827355
2001
Progress Report
2002
Progress Report
Center
sub-projects
Center Overview:
The theme of our EPA NW Center is combustion-derived fine particulate
composition exposure and health effects. We are conducting research on
the unique properties of fine particles in the Western states where vegetative
burning dominates compared to Eastern states where sulfates dominate.
Our center is conducting studies in exposure assessment and health effects,
epidemiology, and toxicology. It is our hope that the Center will be a
resource to be used by the citizens of the Pacific Northwest and the Western
states in general. Some highlights of our EPA NW Center are: (1) increased
understanding of the correlation among indoor, outdoor, personal, and
center site exposures to PM; (2) establishment of the apolipoprotein-E
deficient (apoE [-/-]) mouse as an appropriate model of susceptibility
for air pollution studies; (3) investigation of acute and chronic effects
of PM on cardiovascular health; (4) documentation of the use of exhaled
breath nitric oxide as an non-invasive measure of airway inflammation
in air pollution studies; and (5) development of new statistical methods
regarding case crossover studies and use of source apportionment in health
effects studies. Specific findings from exposure assessment show that
the correlation between personal exposures and central site monitors does
not vary significantly by subject population. Our studies show that an
average of 74% of outdoor particles infiltrate indoors. We used a recursive
model to estimate infiltration efficiency to separate personal exposure
to fine PM into its indoor and ambient (outdoor) components. Our panel
study in children with asthma found that outdoor-generated particles were
associated with increased exhaled nitric oxide but that indoor-generated
particles were not. Using a polynomial distributed lag model we calculated
that PM2.5 expo-sure up to 11 hours prior to measurement of exhaled nitric
oxide (eNO) was associated with increased eNO levels. Our toxicology studies
using the apoE deficient mouse show a difference in toxicity among geographically
spaced PM monitors within the Seattle area. The strongest association
between PM2.5 and inflammatory cytokines in the lungs was with a monitor
in a wood smoke impacted area. Statistical method development includes
refinement of case-crossover referent assignment and use of source apportionment
in health studies.