The Health Effects Institute
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Alexandria, VA, April 25-27, 2010
Please visit the HEI Annual Conference page
Presentations are now availableLatest issue of PAPA Progress now online – July 2010 NEW
The summer 2010 issue of PAPA Progresshighlights the most recent accomplishments and future activities of the Public Health and Air Pollution in Asia (PAPA), including new studies of air pollution and birth outcomes in Taiwan and China, the upcoming release of HEI's comprehensive review of the Asian science literature, presentations at workshops, upcoming conferences, and more... Please visit the International page for more information on HEI's international activities.
Read about the new chair of the HEI Health Research Committee; EPA honoring Dan Greenbaum for his clean air leadership; summaries of the recent HEI annual and AAAR specialty meetings; new HEI Research Reports on butadiene mutagenicity and methods to measure acrolein; new health effects studies in Asia; and 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 mutagenicity of butadiene metabolites – June 2010
Research Report 150, Mutagenicity of Stereochemical Configurations of 1,3-Butadiene Epoxy Metabolites in Human Cells, describes a study by Dr. Ryan Meng and colleagues to determine the role of stereochemistry in the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of three major butadiene metabolites. This study is a part of HEI’s program of research on air toxics; one important aim of that program has been to fill key gaps in risk assessment for some of the most important chemicals. Butadiene is present in motor vehicle exhaust and other emissions and is listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency among the mobile-source air toxics that, because of their emissions and reported toxicity, pose a possible health risk. The study addressed a key research and risk assessment question related to species differences in tumor induction by butadiene, which have been attributed to differences in its metabolism. The investigators evaluated whether different stereoisomers (spatially different forms of the same chemical structure) of the metabolites showed different levels of mutagenicity in a human lymphoblastoid cell line. To download HEI Research Report 150, including a Critique by the HEI Review Committee, or a summary Statement, click here.
Research Report 149, Development and Application of a Sensitive Method to Determine Concentrations of Acrolein and Other Carbonyls in Ambient Air, describes a study by Dr. Thomas Cahill and colleagues to create and evaluate a new method to measure acrolein and other volatile carbonyls present at low concentrations in ambient air. Acrolein is an important aldehyde that is very difficult to measure accurately, so developing better methods for measuring levels and exposure is critical to better risk assessment for the chemical. The investigators developed a sampler that traps acrolein using sodium bisulfite in an aqueous medium. The study included a field test near an area of heavy traffic, which allowed investigators to compare the results of their method with those from conventional methods. To download HEI Research Report 149, including a Critique by the HEI Review Committee or a summary Statement, click here.
HEI has launched its Strategic Plan for the coming five years, guiding HEI’s direction based on extensive input from sponsors, the scientific community, environmental organizations and others. The Plan seeks to produce timely and credible science to inform key decisions with an important principal overarching theme: to develop and apply next-generation multipollutant approaches to understanding exposure to and health effects of air pollutants. The four core programs are: multipollutant exposure, epidemiology, and toxicology; emerging fuels and technologies; health impacts of air quality actions (accountability); and an international perspective. HEI will pursue these research topics both for conventional air pollutants and at the nexus of air quality and climate.
HEI also expects to infuse important cross-cutting issues into all that it does, including the effects of air pollution in sensitive populations; innovation in statistics, new toxicology, and related areas; and a continued focus on validation of whether existing and new biologic techniques and statistical analyses well represent actual exposures and health effects. To download the HEI Strategic Plan 2010-2015 click here.
Research Report 148, Impact of Improved Air Quality During the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta on Multiple Cardiovascular and Respiratory Outcomes, is the latest in HEI’s program of studies to assess the health impacts of air quality actions. Research Report 148 describes a study to evaluate the effect of a short-term, temporary intervention to reduce traffic congestion during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. A previous study had shown a decrease in acute care visits for pediatric asthma and a concomitant decrease in concentrations of ozone, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide. Because it was not clear to what extent normal seasonal patterns in pollutant concentrations or health outcomes may have influenced the results, Dr. Peel and colleagues evaluated wider time windows surrounding the Olympic Games period and extended the analyses to earlier and later years and to broader geographic areas. They also evaluated additional respiratory and cardiovascular health outcomes in adults. To download HEI Research Report 148, including a Critique by the HEI Review Committee, or a summary Statement, click here.
Research Report 147, Atmospheric Transformation of Diesel Emissions, describes a study by Dr. Barbara Zielinska and colleagues to investigate the changes that fresh diesel emissions undergo when they are mixed with ambient air, due to reactions with sunlight and other pollutants. The investigators also evaluated how those changes may affect the toxic properties of diesel emissions. The study used a relatively new (2003 model) light duty diesel engine (although not one with a diesel filter) and provides insight into the complexity of diesel exhaust composition in the real world. To download HEI Research Report 147, including a Critique by the HEI Review Committee or a summary Statement, click here.
HEI has issued 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 29, 2010; applications will be due on May 6, 2010. Please refer to the Funding page 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'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.
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