Air pollution exposure assessment for epidemiologic studies of pregnant women and children: Lessons learned from the Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research

Gilliland, F; Avol, E; Kinney, P; Jerrett, M; Dvonch, T; Lurmann, F; Buckley, T; Breysse, P; Keeler, G; de Villiers, T; Mcconnell, R

HERO ID

98820

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2005

Language

English

PMID

16203261

HERO ID 98820
In Press No
Year 2005
Title Air pollution exposure assessment for epidemiologic studies of pregnant women and children: Lessons learned from the Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research
Authors Gilliland, F; Avol, E; Kinney, P; Jerrett, M; Dvonch, T; Lurmann, F; Buckley, T; Breysse, P; Keeler, G; de Villiers, T; Mcconnell, R
Journal Environmental Health Perspectives
Volume 113
Issue 10
Page Numbers 1447-54
Abstract The National Children's Study is considering a wide spectrum of airborne pollutants that are hypothesized to potentially influence pregnancy outcomes, neurodevelopment, asthma, atopy, immune development, obesity, and pubertal development. In this article we summarize six applicable exposure assessment lessons learned from the Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research that may enhance the National Children's Study: a) Selecting individual study subjects with a wide range of pollution exposure profiles maximizes spatial-scale exposure contrasts for key pollutants of study interest. b) In studies with large sample sizes, long duration, and diverse outcomes and exposures, exposure assessment efforts should rely on modeling to provide estimates for the entire cohort, supported by subject-derived questionnaire data. c) Assessment of some exposures of interest requires individual measurements of exposures using snapshots of personal and microenvironmental exposures over short periods and/or in selected microenvironments. d) Understanding issues of spatial-temporal correlations of air pollutants, the surrogacy of specific pollutants for components of the complex mixture, and the exposure misclassification inherent in exposure estimates is critical in analysis and interpretation. e) "Usual" temporal, spatial, and physical patterns of activity can be used as modifiers of the exposure/outcome relationships. f) Biomarkers of exposure are useful for evaluation of specific exposures that have multiple routes of exposure. If these lessons are applied, the National Children's Study offers a unique opportunity to assess the adverse effects of air pollution on interrelated health outcomes during the critical early life period.
Doi 10.1289/ehp.7673
Pmid 16203261
Wosid WOS:000232292600056
Url http://www.ehponline.org/ambra-doi-resolver/10.1289/ehp.7673
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword air pollution; airborne; ambient; Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research; Children's Centers; cohort study; direct measurement; exposure assessment; modeling; National Children's Study; personal measurement