The Health Effects Institute
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Alexandria, VA, April 25-27, 2010
Details now available on the HEI Annual Conference pageHEI to issue Request for Applications on ozone – February 2010 COMING SOON
HEI will soon issue RFA 10-1: Cardiovascular Effects of Exposure to Low Levels of Ozone in the Presence or Absence of Other Ambient Pollutants. Two types of studies are sought to evaluate cardiovascular and respiratory effects in healthy human volunteers, aged 55 and above. In Phase 1, volunteers will be exposed to ozone alone, at concentrations between 60 and 100 ppb, in a controlled laboratory setting. In Phase 2, volunteers will be exposed to real-world ambient air pollution at sites with ozone concentrations comparable to those used in Phase 1. Letters of Intent are due on March 18, 2010; Applications will be due on May 27, 2010. Please check our Funding page in the upcoming weeks for the full text of the RFA and information on how to apply.
The 2009 Annual Report describes the many strong scientific contributions HEI made this past year to the study of the health effects of air pollution and reports on the vision mapped out by our new Strategic Plan. Read more about HEI's accomplishments and future goals in the 2009 Annual Report, Making a Difference for Today and Tomorrow.HEI publishes Special Report on the health effects of traffic-related air pollution – January 2010
HEI's Special Report 17, Traffic-Related Air Pollution: A Critical Review of the Literature on Emissions, Exposure, and Health Effects, is the most comprehensive and systematic review to date of the scientific literature on emissions, exposure, and health effects from traffic-related air pollution. It includes conclusions about the populations exposed around major roads, the associations between exposure to air pollution from traffic and human health, and important remaining data gaps. Compared with the initial pre-print version released in May 2009, this final version has undergone data verification and editorial changes; however, the overall conclusions did not change. To download HEI Special Report 17 and/or HEI’s Press Release about the report, please click here.
Read about a major HEI Special Report that examines traffic-related exposure and health effects; two new members of the HEI Board of Directors; HEI delegation goes to Japan; new HEI Research Reports on butadiene and particles, and much more... Please visit the HEI Publications page to download the newsletter. To sign up for electronic distribution please write to pubs@healtheffects.org.HEI publishes report on airway response to acrolein – December 2009
Research Report 146, The Role of T Cells in the Regulation of Acrolein-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation and Epithelial-Cell Pathology, describes a study to investigate the role of two subpopulations of T cells in the airway response to inhaled acrolein, a toxic pollutant in ambient air, which US EPA's National Air Toxics Assessment has identified as having broad effects. Dr. Michael Borchers and colleagues measured inflammation and injury in response to acrolein in the lungs of mice that are genetically deficient in the specific T-cell subpopulations. He also measured changes in gene expression in the T-cell subpopulations after acrolein exposure. To download HEI Research Report 146, including a Critique by the HEI Review Committee or a summary Statement, click here.HEI issues Fall 2009 requests for applications – December 2009
The Fall 2009 booklet contains Request for Applications 09-4, Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award, and Request for Preliminary Applications 09-5, Health Effects of Air Pollution. For more information and application deadlines please refer to the Funding page.HEI publishes report on particle and diesel exposures and allergic inflammation – November 2009
Research Report 145, Effects of Concentrated Ambient Particles and Diesel Engine Exhaust on Allergic Airway Disease in Brown Norway Rats, describes a study to investigate the suggested association between exposure to traffic-derived pollution and increases in symptoms of airway diseases, including exacerbation of asthma. Dr. Jack Harkema and colleagues assessed the effects of two pollutant mixtures, concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) and diesel exhaust, on airway inflammatory and allergic responses in a rodent model of asthma. The study was one part of an HEI 3-study program of animal and human research on these important questions. To download HEI Research Report 145, including a Commentary by the HEI Review Committee or a summary Statement, click here.
HEI publishes report on air pollution and health across Europe and North America – October 2009
Research Report 142, Air Pollution and Health: A European and North American Approach (APHENA), describes a unique collaboration among investigators from Europe, the United States, and Canada using existing data from three geographic areas and supported by HEI in collaboration with the European Commission. APHENA offered a large and diverse data set with which to address methodological as well as scientific issues about the relationships between PM10, ozone, and mortality and morbidity that were the subject of lively debates at the time the project was launched. Drs. Katsouyanni and Samet and their colleagues undertook a rigorous examination of time-series methods used to model the relationship between daily PM10 and ozone concentrations and daily mortality and hospital admissions. They sought to develop a standardized approach to the analysis of time series data at the city and regional level, to assess the consistency between relative rates of mortality and hospital admissions across Europe and North America when estimated using a common analytic protocol, and to explore possible explanations for any remaining variation in the results that analytic differences could not explain. To download HEI Research Report 142, including a Commentary by the HEI Review Committee or a summary Statement, click here.issiHEI publishes Evaluation of Accountability Research Program – September 2009
Communication 14, HEI’s Research Program on the Impact of Actions to Improve Air Quality: Interim Evaluation and Future Directions, provides an overview of progress to date in HEI’s Accountability program by evaluating nine studies that HEI has funded to assess actions that improve air quality. HEI’s Accountability Research Program was initiated to assess the extent to which the predicted health benefits of new regulations have occurred. The completion of several studies and the expected completion of the remaining studies by mid 2010, provides a timely opportunity to learn from the difficulties inherent in conducting this type of research as well as to identify new opportunities. The Interim Evaluation will also serve as an important part of the basis for planning future accountability research efforts in HEI’s Strategic Plan 2010-2015, expected in early 2010. To download HEI Communication 14, please click here.HEI publishes report on 1,3-butadiene genotoxicity – August 2009
Research Report 144, Genotoxicity of 1,3-Butadiene and Its Epoxy Intermediates, describes a study to evaluate genotoxic effects of exposure to 1,3-butadiene and its metabolites. 1,3-Butadiene is classified as a human carcinogen via inhalation, but risk assessment is complicated due to differences in metabolism between mice and rats and between males and females. Dr. Walker and colleagues studied mutagenicity in rats and mice of both genders, with a focus on evaluating stereoisomers of 1,3-butadiene metabolites and low exposure concentrations. To download HEI Research Report 144, including a Critique by the HEI Review Committee or a summary Statement, click here.
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