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Thomas SA, Yong HM, Rule AM, Gour N, Lajoie S. Air Pollution Drives Macrophage Senescence through a Phagolysosome-15-Lipoxygenase Pathway. Immunohorizons 2024; 8:307-316. [PMID: 38625119 PMCID: PMC11066713 DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2300096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Urban particulate matter (PM; uPM) poses significant health risks, particularly to the respiratory system. Fine particles, such as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and exacerbate a range of health problems, including emphysema, asthma, and lung cancer. PM exposure is also linked to extrapulmonary disorders such as heart and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, prolonged exposure to elevated PM levels can reduce overall life expectancy. Senescence is a dysfunctional cell state typically associated with age but can also be precipitated by environmental stressors. This study aimed to determine whether uPM could drive senescence in macrophages, an essential cell type involved in particulate phagocytosis-mediated clearance. Although it is known that uPM exposure impairs immune function, this deficit is multifaceted and incompletely understood, partly because of the use of particulates such as diesel exhaust particles as a surrogate for true uPM. uPM was collected from several locations in the United States, including Baltimore, Houston, and Phoenix. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were stimulated with uPM or reference particulates (e.g., diesel exhaust particles) to assess senescence-related parameters. We report that uPM-exposed bone marrow-derived macrophages adopt a senescent phenotype characterized by increased IL-1α secretion, senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, and diminished proliferation. Exposure to allergens failed to elicit such a response, supporting a distinction between different types of environmental exposure. uPM-induced senescence was independent of key macrophage activation pathways, specifically inflammasome and scavenger receptors. However, inhibition of the phagolysosome pathway abrogated senescence markers, supporting this phenotype's attribution to uPM phagocytosis. These data suggest that uPM exposure leads to macrophage senescence, which may contribute to immunopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Thomas
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Hwan Mee Yong
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ana M. Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Naina Gour
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Stephane Lajoie
- Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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Thomas SA, Yong HM, Rule AM, Gour N, Lajoie S. Air pollution drives macrophage senescence through a phagolysosome-15-lipoxygenase pathway. bioRxiv 2024:2024.01.04.574228. [PMID: 38260346 PMCID: PMC10802326 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.04.574228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Urban particulate matter (uPM) poses significant health risks, particularly to the respiratory system. Fine particles, such as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and exacerbate a range of health problems, including emphysema, asthma, and lung cancer. PM exposure is also linked to extra-pulmonary disorders like heart and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, prolonged exposure to elevated PM levels can reduce overall life expectancy. Senescence is a dysfunctional cell state typically associated with age but can also be precipitated by environmental stressors. This study aimed to determine whether uPM could drive senescence in macrophages, an essential cell type involved in particulate phagocytosis-mediated clearance. While it is known that uPM exposure impairs immune function, this deficit is multi-faceted and incompletely understood, partly due to the use of particulates such as diesel exhaust particle (DEP) as a surrogate for true uPM. uPM was collected from several locations in the USA, including Baltimore, Houston, and Phoenix. Bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were stimulated with uPM or reference particulates (e.g., DEP) to assess senescence-related parameters. We report that uPM-exposed BMDMs adopt a senescent phenotype characterized by increased IL-1α secretion, senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, and diminished proliferation. Exposure to allergens failed to elicit such a response, supporting a distinction between different types of environmental exposures. uPM-induced senescence was independent of key macrophage activation pathways, specifically inflammasome and scavenger receptor. However, inhibition of the phagolysosome pathway abrogated senescence markers, supporting this phenotype's attribution to uPM phagocytosis. These data suggest uPM exposure leads to macrophage senescence, which may contribute to immunopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Thomas
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Hwan Mee Yong
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ana M. Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Naina Gour
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Stephane Lajoie
- Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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3
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Tillery A, Aherrera A, Chen R, Lin JJY, Tehrani M, Moustafa D, Mihalic J, Navas-Acien A, Rule AM. Characterization of e-cigarette users according to device type, use behaviors, and self-reported health outcomes: Findings from the EMIT study. Tob Induc Dis 2023; 21:159. [PMID: 38059181 PMCID: PMC10696923 DOI: 10.18332/tid/174710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) rapidly evolved from large modifiable (MOD) devices, to small and affordable 'POD' devices. Detailed information on user demographics and preferences according to device type, which can inform potential chemical exposure and policy recommendations, is currently limited. The goal of this study is to describe user demographics, use behaviors and preferences, as well as self-reported health outcomes according to the e-cigarette device type used. METHODS From April 2019 to March 2020, 91 participants from Maryland (18 MOD users, 26 POD users, 16 dual users (use of both combustible and e-cigarettes), and 31 non-users (never e-cigarette users and never smokers or >6 months former use) were recruited. A comprehensive questionnaire collected sociodemographic characteristics, e-cigarette/tobacco use behaviors, self-reported health outcomes, device characteristics and preferences. Chi-squared tests for categorical variables, ANOVA for continuous variables, qualitative thematic analysis, linear and logistic regressions were used to assess relationships between variables and groups. RESULTS POD users were younger (average 22.5 years) than MOD users (30.8 years) or dual users (34.3 years) (p<0.001). MOD users reported more puffs per day (mean ± SD: 373 ± 125 puffs) compared to POD users (123.0 ± 172.5). E-cigarette users who were former smokers used 1.16 mg/mL lower nicotine concentrations compared to lifetime exclusive e-cigarette users (p=0.03) in linear models. Exclusive POD users self-reported more coughing than exclusive MOD or dual users (p=0.02). E-cigarette users reported more shortness of breath, headaches, and fatigue from their e-cigarette use compared to non-users. CONCLUSIONS We found significant differences between user demographics, e-cigarette preferences, device characteristics, and use behaviors by user group. This information can help explain exposure to chemicals from e-cigarettes, including compounds with known toxic effects (e.g. metals, formaldehyde), and help inform the design of prevention and intervention strategies and policy decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tillery
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Angela Aherrera
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Rui Chen
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Joyce J. Y. Lin
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Mina Tehrani
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Donia Moustafa
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Jana Mihalic
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Ana M. Rule
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, United States
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Aherrera A, Lin JJ, Chen R, Tehrani M, Schultze A, Borole A, Tanda S, Goessler W, Rule AM. Metal Concentrations in E-Cigarette Aerosol Samples: A Comparison by Device Type and Flavor. Environ Health Perspect 2023; 131:127004. [PMID: 38048100 PMCID: PMC10695266 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The rapid evolution of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) products warrants surveillance of the differences in exposure across device types-modifiable devices (MODs), cartridge ("pod")-containing devices (PODs), disposable PODs (d-PODs)-and flavors of the products available on the market. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to measure and compare metal aerosol concentrations by device type and common flavors. METHODS We collected aerosol from 104 MODs, 67 PODs (four brands: JUUL, Bo, Suorin, PHIX), and 23 d-PODs (three brands: ZPOD, Bidi, Stig) via droplet deposition in a series of conical pipette tips. Metals and metalloids [aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn)] were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), results were log-transformed for statistical analysis, and concentrations are reported in aerosol units (mg / m 3 ). RESULTS Of the 12 elements analyzed, concentrations were statistically significantly higher in MOD devices, except for Co and Ni, which were higher in PODs and d-PODs. Of the POD brands analyzed, PHIX had the highest median concentrations among four metals (Al, Ni, Pb, and Sn) compared to the rest of the POD brands. According to POD flavor, seven metals were three to seven orders of magnitude higher in tobacco-flavored aerosol compared to those in mint and mango flavors. Among the d-POD brands, concentrations of four metals (Al, Cu, Ni, and Pb) were higher in the ZPOD brand than in Bidi Stick and Stig devices. According to d-POD flavor, only Cr concentrations were found to be statistically significantly higher in mint than tobacco-flavored d-PODs. DISCUSSION We observed wide variability in aerosol metal concentrations within and between the different e-cigarette device types, brands, and flavors. Overall, MOD devices generated aerosols with higher metal concentrations than PODs and d-PODs, and tobacco-flavored aerosols contained the highest metal concentrations. Continued research is needed to evaluate additional factors (i.e., nicotine type) that contribute to metal exposure from new and emerging e-cigarette devices in order to inform policy. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11921.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Aherrera
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joyce Jy Lin
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mina Tehrani
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew Schultze
- Department of Biochemistry, Ithaca College School of Humanities and Sciences, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Aryan Borole
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stefan Tanda
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Ana M. Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Lin JJY, Koffman LJ, Tehrani MW, Chen R, Han SG, Sandler DP, Lawrence KG, Jackson WB, Dickerson AS, Ramachandran G, Engel LS, Rule AM. Reliability of low mass toenail samples as biomarkers of chronic metal exposure. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2023; 33:945-953. [PMID: 37296232 PMCID: PMC10709526 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-023-00560-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toenails are a promising matrix for chronic metal exposure assessment, but there are currently no standard methods for collection and analysis. Questions remain about sample mass requirements and the extent to which metals measured in this matrix are representative of chronic body burden. OBJECTIVE This study proposes a method to maximize sample conservation for toenail metals analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We demonstrate the reliability of an ~25 mg toenail sample (typically 1-2 clippings) for metals analysis and evaluate the intra-individual variability of multiple metals in this matrix over time in men from the Gulf Long-term Follow-up (GuLF) Study. METHODS Toenail samples from 123 GuLF Study participants were collected at two visits 3 years apart and analyzed for 18 elements using ICP-MS. Participants with samples exceeding 200 mg at the first visit (n = 29) were selected for triplicate sub-sample analysis. Kendall's coefficient of concordance (W) was used to assess sub-sample reliability and Spearman's correlation coefficients (ρ) were used to evaluate fluctuations in elemental concentrations over time. RESULTS Results were not reported for Cd, Co, Mo, Sb, and V (detected in <60% of the samples). There was strong agreement among triplicate samples (Kendall's W: 0.72 (Cu)-0.90 (Cu)) across all elements evaluated, moderate correlations of elemental concentrations (Spearman's ρ: 0.21-0.42) over 3 years for As, Ca, Cr, Fe, Pb, Mn, and Zn, and strong correlations (>0.50) for Se, Cu, and Hg. IMPACT STATEMENT This toenail reliability study found that a low-mass (~25 mg) toenail sample (1-2 clippings) is suitable for the determination of most elements using ICP-MS and helps to increase the analytical capacity of limited toenail biospecimens collected in cohort studies. The results highlight differences in the suitability of toenails for chronic metal exposure assessment by element and underscore the need to consider intra-person variability, especially when comparing results across studies. We also provide recommendations for analytical standardization and the partitioning of the total collected toenail sample into multiple analytic sub-samples for future studies using toenail biospecimen for multiple assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce J Y Lin
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Lily J Koffman
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mina W Tehrani
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Seok Gyu Han
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Kaitlyn G Lawrence
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Aisha S Dickerson
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gurumurthy Ramachandran
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lawrence S Engel
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Newton A, Rule AM, Serdar B, Koehler K. Laboratory comparison of field portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (FP-XRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for determination of airborne metals in stainless steel welding fume. J Occup Environ Hyg 2023; 20:536-544. [PMID: 37578775 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2244022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Welding fume is a common exposure in occupational settings. Gravimetric analysis for total particulate matter is common; however, the cost of laboratory analyses limits the availability of quantitative exposure assessment for welding fume metal constituents in occupational settings. We investigated whether a field portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (FP-XRF) could provide accurate estimates of personal exposures to metals common in welding fume (chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, vanadium, and zinc). The FP-XRF requires less training and is easier to deploy in many settings than traditional wet laboratory analyses. Filters were analyzed both by FP-XRF and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We estimated the FP-XRF limit of detection for each metal and developed a correction factor accounting for the non-uniform deposition pattern on filter samples collected with an Institute of Medicine (IOM) inhalable particulate matter sampler. Strong linear correlation was observed for all metals (0.72
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Newton
- Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ana M Rule
- Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Berrin Serdar
- Environmental Health Associates LLC, Englewood, Colorado
| | - Kirsten Koehler
- Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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Koehler K, Wilks M, Green T, Rule AM, Zamora ML, Buehler C, Datta A, Gentner DR, Putcha N, Hansel NN, Kirk GD, Raju S, McCormack M. Evaluation of Calibration Approaches for Indoor Deployments of PurpleAir Monitors. Atmos Environ (1994) 2023; 310:119944. [PMID: 37901719 PMCID: PMC10609655 DOI: 10.1016/j.atmosenv.2023.119944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Low-cost air quality monitors are growing in popularity among both researchers and community members to understand variability in pollutant concentrations. Several studies have produced calibration approaches for these sensors for ambient air. These calibrations have been shown to depend primarily on relative humidity, particle size distribution, and particle composition, which may be different in indoor environments. However, despite the fact that most people spend the majority of their time indoors, little is known about the accuracy of commonly used devices indoors. This stems from the fact that calibration data for sensors operating in indoor environments are rare. In this study, we sought to evaluate the accuracy of the raw data from PurpleAir fine particulate matter monitors and for published calibration approaches that vary in complexity, ranging from simply applying linear corrections to those requiring co-locating a filter sample for correction with a gravimetric concentration during a baseline visit. Our data includes PurpleAir devices that were co-located in each home with a gravimetric sample for 1-week periods (265 samples from 151 homes). Weekly-averaged gravimetric concentrations ranged between the limit of detection (3 μg/m3) and 330 μg/m3. We found a strong correlation between the PurpleAir monitor and the gravimetric concentration (R>0.91) using internal calibrations provided by the manufacturer. However, the PurpleAir data substantially overestimated indoor concentrations compared to the gravimetric concentration (mean bias error ≥ 23.6 μg/m3 using internal calibrations provided by the manufacturer). Calibrations based on ambient air data maintained high correlations (R ≥ 0.92) and substantially reduced bias (e.g. mean bias error = 10.1 μg/m3 using a US-wide calibration approach). Using a gravimetric sample from a baseline visit to calibrate data for later visits led to an improvement over the internal calibrations, but performed worse than the simpler calibration approaches based on ambient air pollution data. Furthermore, calibrations based on ambient air pollution data performed best when weekly-averaged concentrations did not exceed 30 μg/m3, likely because the majority of the data used to train these models were below this concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Koehler
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Megan Wilks
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tim Green
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Misti L Zamora
- Department of Public Health Sciences UConn School of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Colby Buehler
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Abhirup Datta
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Drew R Gentner
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nirupama Putcha
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nadia N Hansel
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gregory D Kirk
- Department of Epidemiology and Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarath Raju
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Meredith McCormack
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Tehrani MW, Fortner EC, Robinson ES, Chiger AA, Sheu R, Werden BS, Gigot C, Yacovitch T, Van Bramer S, Burke T, Koehler K, Nachman KE, Rule AM, DeCarlo PF. Characterizing metals in particulate pollution in communities at the fenceline of heavy industry: combining mobile monitoring and size-resolved filter measurements. Environ Sci Process Impacts 2023; 25:1491-1504. [PMID: 37584085 PMCID: PMC10510330 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00142c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Exposures to metals from industrial emissions can pose important health risks. The Chester-Trainer-Marcus Hook area of southeastern Pennsylvania is home to multiple petrochemical plants, a refinery, and a waste incinerator, most abutting socio-economically disadvantaged residential communities. Existing information on fenceline community exposures is based on monitoring data with low temporal and spatial resolution and EPA models that incorporate industry self-reporting. During a 3 week sampling campaign in September 2021, size-resolved particulate matter (PM) metals concentrations were obtained at a fixed site in Chester and on-line mobile aerosol measurements were conducted around Chester-Trainer-Marcus Hook. Fixed-site arsenic, lead, antimony, cobalt, and manganese concentrations in total PM were higher (p < 0.001) than EPA model estimates, and arsenic, lead, and cadmium were predominantly observed in fine PM (<2.5 μm), the PM fraction which can penetrate deeply into the lungs. Hazard index analysis suggests adverse effects are not expected from exposures at the observed levels; however, additional chemical exposures, PM size fraction, and non-chemical stressors should be considered in future studies for accurate assessment of risk. Fixed-site MOUDI and nearby mobile aerosol measurements were moderately correlated (r ≥ 0.5) for aluminum, potassium and selenium. Source apportionment analyses suggested the presence of four major emissions sources (sea salt, mineral dust, general combustion, and non-exhaust vehicle emissions) in the study area. Elevated levels of combustion-related elements of health concern (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, antimony, and vanadium) were observed near the waste incinerator and other industrial facilities by mobile monitoring, as well as in residential-zoned areas in Chester. These results suggest potential co-exposures to harmful atmospheric metal/metalloids in communities surrounding the Chester-Trainer-Marcus Hook industrial area at levels that may exceed previous estimates from EPA modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina W Tehrani
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Ellis S Robinson
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrea A Chiger
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Roger Sheu
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Carolyn Gigot
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Thomas Burke
- Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kirsten Koehler
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Keeve E Nachman
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter F DeCarlo
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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9
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Lin JJ, Werder E, Lawrence KG, Jackson WB, Sandler DP, Dickerson AS, Engel LS, Rule AM. Residential proximity to metal emitting industries and toenail metal concentration in the US Gulf States. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-3210942. [PMID: 37609314 PMCID: PMC10441474 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3210942/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Objective The US Gulf region is heavily reliant on metal-emitting petrochemical and manufacturing industries. We characterized the effect of residential proximity to metal-emitting sites and metal body burden in Gulf states residents with particular attention to potential differential exposure burden by race. Methods We measured toenail concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in 413 non-smoking men from the Gulf Long-term Follow-Up Study. Point sources of industrial metal emissions were identified using the US EPA's National Emissions Inventory (NEI) database and geocoded to participant residential addresses. For each metal, we assessed associations of toenail metal concentrations with the inverse-distance weighted number of emissions sites and volume of air-metal emissions within 30 km radial buffers of participant residences using multivariable linear regression. Results were stratified by race. Results Compared to self-identified Non-Hispanic (NH) White participants, NH Black participants lived closer to NEI sites but had 23-70% lower toenail metal concentrations adjusting for other personal/behavioral factors. Residential proximity to lead-emitting NEI sites was positively associated with toenail Pb concentration while proximity to mercury-emitting NEI sites was inversely associated with toenail Hg concentration. Findings for lead were significantly attenuated after adjustment for neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors. Conclusion Residential proximity to lead-emitting NEI sites in the US Gulf region is associated with a higher body burden of lead. However, this relationship may be driven in part by non-NEI factors related to residence in industry-adjacent neighborhoods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Jy Lin
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Emily Werder
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Laboratory of Pharmacology and Chemistry: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
| | | | | | | | | | - Lawrence S Engel
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health
| | - Ana M Rule
- Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
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10
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Kaplan B, Navas-Acien A, Rule AM, Hilpert M, Cohen JE. Exposure to metals among Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) users in the path study: A longitudinal analysis. Environ Res 2023; 231:116032. [PMID: 37137457 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have evaluated Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) in longitudinal studies, as a potential source of metals which may have carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and cardiotoxic effects. We evaluated metal body burden by ENDS use status in a longitudinal population-based national survey. METHODS We used the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study wave 1 (2013-2014), wave 2 (2014-2015), and wave 3 (2015-2016) adult data to assess urinary concentrations of seven metals among (1) ENDS only users who never used any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 50), (2) ENDS only users who were former users of any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 123) and (3) Never users (n = 1501) of any tobacco product. RESULTS Among ENDS only users who never used any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 50), the geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of Cd and Pb were 1.25 (95%CI: 1.09-1.42) and 1.19 (95%CI: 1.05-1.34), respectively, compared to never users after adjustment for PATH Study wave, age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region, secondhand smoke at home and work, and cannabis and other substance use. After the same adjustment, the corresponding GMRs were 1.48 (95%CI: 1.32-1.67) and 1.43 (95%CI: 1.28-1.60) for ENDS only users who were former users of any nonelectronic tobacco products (n = 123).No difference was observed in urinary concentrations of other metals comparing ENDS users to never users of any tobacco product. DISCUSSION ENDS users show higher urinary levels of Cd and Pb, including lifetime exclusive ENDS users compared to never users of any tobacco product. These findings are limited by the small sample size and could be related to underreporting of past combustible tobacco use or other factors. Metals typical of ENDS such as nickel and chromium unfortunately are not available in PATH. Studies assessing metal exposure associated with long term lifetime exclusive ENDS use (≥5 years) with larger sample size are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bekir Kaplan
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Markus Hilpert
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joanna E Cohen
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Han SG, Sillé FC, Mihalic JN, Rule AM. The relationship between the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and effects on pulmonary immune responses-a literature review. Environ Res 2023; 221:115234. [PMID: 36634896 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), or vaping, is a relatively recent phenomenon, and there are various gaps in our current knowledge regarding the specific effects of e-cigarettes, such as their immunological effects. The importance of this question became even more relevant in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE This literature review examines the relationship between the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and immunological effects to examine available information and identify gaps in the current knowledge. Our search strategy included studies focusing on the effects of ENDS on the immune response during infectious respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 and pneumonia. METHODS Peer-reviewed studies presenting quantitative data published from 2007, the year that e-cigarettes were introduced to the US market until 2022 have been included. All studies were indexed in PubMed. We excluded papers on THC and EVALI (E-cigarette, or Vaping Product, Use Associated Lung Injury) as we wanted to focus on the effects of nicotine devices. RESULTS Among the 21 articles that assessed the relationship between ENDS and immunological health effects, we found eight studies based on cell models, two articles based on both cell and mouse models, five articles based on mouse models, and six studies of human populations. Most of the articles identified in our review demonstrated a potential association between vaping and adverse immunological health effects. DISCUSSION Overall, the evidence from the cell and animal studies indicates that there is a positive, statistically significant association between vaping and adverse immune response during infectious respiratory diseases. The evidence from human studies is not conclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seok Gyu Han
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States
| | - Fenna Cm Sillé
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States
| | - Jana N Mihalic
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States
| | - Ana M Rule
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States.
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12
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Grant TL, McCormack MC, Peng RD, Keet CA, Rule AM, Davis MF, Newman M, Balcer-Whaley S, Matsui EC. Comprehensive home environmental intervention did not reduce allergen concentrations or controller medication requirements among children in Baltimore. J Asthma 2023; 60:625-634. [PMID: 35657971 PMCID: PMC10424504 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2022.2083634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if the addition of home environmental control strategies (ECSs) to controller medication titration reduces asthma controller medication requirements and in-home allergen concentrations among children with persistent asthma in Baltimore City. METHODS 155 children ages 5-17 with allergen-sensitized asthma were enrolled in a 6-month randomized clinical trial of multifaceted, individually-tailored ECS plus asthma controller medication titration compared to controller medication titration alone. Participants had to meet criteria for persistent asthma and have had an exacerbation in the previous 18 months. Allergen sensitization (mouse, cockroach, cat, dog, dust mite) was assessed at baseline and home dust allergen concentrations were measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months. ECS was delivered 3-4 times over the trial. Asthma controller medication was titrated using a guidelines-based algorithm at baseline, 2, 4, and 6 months. The primary outcome was controller medication treatment step at 6 months (0-6, as-needed albuterol to high-dose ICS + LABA). RESULTS The population was predominately Black (90%), on public insurance (93%), and male (61%). The mean age was 10.1 years (SD 3.3). More than 70% were sensitized to a rodent, >50% to cockroach, and 70% were polysensitized. At 6 months, there were no differences in either treatment step (3.8 [SD 1.4] vs. 3.7 [SD 1.5]) or allergen concentrations between groups. CONCLUSION Among this predominantly low-income, Black pediatric asthma population, the addition of ECS to controller medication titration reduced neither indoor allergen concentrations nor controller medication requirements compared to controller medication titration alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torie L. Grant
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
| | | | - Roger D. Peng
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Corinne A. Keet
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine
| | - Ana M. Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Meghan F. Davis
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
| | - Michelle Newman
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine
| | - Susan Balcer-Whaley
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Department of Population Health, The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School
| | - Elizabeth C. Matsui
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Department of Population Health, The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School
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13
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Rosen LJ, Zucker DM, Gravely S, Bitan M, Rule AM, Myers V. Tobacco Smoke Exposure According to Location of Home Smoking in Israel: Findings from the Project Zero Exposure Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:3523. [PMID: 36834219 PMCID: PMC9965201 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20043523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Young children are particularly vulnerable to harms from tobacco smoke exposure (TSE). This study aimed to compare TSE: (1) between children who live in smoking families and those who do not; and (2) among children who live in smoking households with varying smoking locations. The data came from two studies that were conducted concurrently in Israel (2016-2018). Study 1: a randomized controlled trial of smoking families (n = 159); Study 2: a cohort study of TSE among children in non-smoking families (n = 20). Hair samples were collected from one child in each household. Baseline hair nicotine data were analyzed for 141 children in Study 1 and 17 children in Study 2. Using a logistic regression analysis (exposed vs. not exposed as per laboratory determination) and a linear regression (log hair nicotine), we compared TSE between: (1) children in Study 1 vs. Study 2; (2) children in families with different smoking locations in Study 1: balcony; garden, yard, or other place outside of the home; or inside the home (designated smoking areas within the home (DSAs) or anywhere). A higher proportion of children living in smoking households were measurably exposed to tobacco smoke (68.8%) compared to children living in non-smoking households (35.3%, p = 0.006). Among children from smoking families, 75.0% of those whose parents smoked in the house were exposed, while 61.8% of children whose parents restricted smoking to the porch (n = 55) were exposed, and 71.4% of those whose parents smoked outside the home (including gardens and yards) (n = 42) were exposed. In univariable and multivariable models, smoking location was not significantly associated with exposure. The majority of children in smoking families were measurably exposed to TSE, even if smoking was restricted to designated areas in the home, balconies, orgarden/yard/other outdoor areas. Reducing population smoking rates, particularly among parents, restricting smoking to at least 10 meters from homes and children, and denormalizing smoking around others are recommended to reduce population-level child TSE and tobacco-attributable disease and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Rosen
- Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - David M. Zucker
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 9190501, Israel
| | - Shannon Gravely
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Michal Bitan
- Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Department of Computer Science, College of Management Academic Studies, Rishon LeTsiyon 7579806, Israel
| | - Ana M. Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Vicki Myers
- Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
- Gertner Institute of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 5262100, Israel
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14
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Anastasiou E, Gordon T, Wyka K, Tovar A, Gill E, Rule AM, Elbel B, Kaplan JDS, Shelley D, Thorpe LE. Long-Term Trends in Secondhand Smoke Exposure in High-Rise Housing Serving Low-Income Residents in New York City: Three-Year Evaluation of a Federal Smoking Ban in Public Housing, 2018-2021. Nicotine Tob Res 2023; 25:164-169. [PMID: 36041039 PMCID: PMC9717387 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntac202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In July 2018, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development passed a rule requiring public housing authorities to implement smoke-free housing (SFH) policies. We measured secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure immediately before, and repeatedly up to 36 months post-SFH policy implementation in a purposeful sample of 21 New York City (NYC) high-rise buildings (>15 floors): 10 NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings subject to the policy and 11 privately managed buildings in which most residents received housing vouchers (herein "Section 8"). AIMS AND METHODS We invited participants from nonsmoking households (NYCHA n = 157, Section-8 n = 118) to enroll in a longitudinal air monitoring study, measuring (1) nicotine concentration with passive, bisulfate-coated filters, and (2) particulate matter (PM2.5) with low-cost particle sensors. We also measured nicotine concentrations and counted cigarette butts in common areas (n = 91 stairwells and hallways). We repeated air monitoring sessions in households and common areas every 6 months, totaling six post-policy sessions. RESULTS After 3 years, we observed larger declines in nicotine concentration in NYCHA hallways than in Section-8, [difference-in-difference (DID) = -1.92 µg/m3 (95% CI -2.98, -0.87), p = .001]. In stairwells, nicotine concentration declines were larger in NYCHA buildings, but the differences were not statistically significant [DID= -1.10 µg/m3 (95% CI -2.40, 0.18), p = .089]. In households, there was no differential change in nicotine concentration (p = .093) or in PM2.5 levels (p = .385). CONCLUSIONS Nicotine concentration reductions in NYCHA common areas over 3 years may be attributable to the SFH policy, reflecting its gradual implementation over this time. IMPLICATIONS Continued air monitoring over multiple years has demonstrated that SHS exposure may be declining more rapidly in NYCHA common areas as a result of SFH policy adherence. This may have positive implications for improved health outcomes among those living in public housing, but additional tracking of air quality and studies of health outcomes are needed. Ongoing efforts by NYCHA to integrate the SFH policy into wider healthier-homes initiatives may increase policy compliance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elle Anastasiou
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Terry Gordon
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 341 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Katarzyna Wyka
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, City University of New York, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Albert Tovar
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Emily Gill
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore MD, 21205, USA
| | - Brian Elbel
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, 295 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012, USA
| | - J D Sue Kaplan
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Donna Shelley
- Department of Public Health Policy and Management, New York University School of Global Public Health, NY, NY 10012, USA
| | - Lorna E Thorpe
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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15
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kirsten A Koehler
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, Maryland
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16
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Barbosa-Sánchez AL, Márquez-Herrera C, Sosa-Echeverria R, Díaz-Godoy RV, Gutiérrez-Castillo ME, Escamilla-Núñez C, Rule AM, Sierra-Vargas MP, Aztatzi-Aguilar OG. Seasonal and Spatial Variability of PM 2.5 Concentration, and Associated Metal(loid) Content in the Toluca Valley, Mexico. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2022; 109:1175-1182. [PMID: 36070093 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-022-03610-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study provides evidence of the seasonal and spatial variation of metal(lloid)s in particulate matter minor to 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in the Toluca Valley Metropolitan Area (TVMA), the fifth largest urban center in Mexico. Four sites were sampled between 2013 and 2014, which included urban and industrial areas, in the dry-cold (November-February) and dry-hot (March-May) seasons; PM2.5 was collected using high- and medium-volume samplers. Metal(lloid) concentrations in PM2.5 were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry (ICP‒MS). The highest 24-hour PM2.5 concentration in the northern area was observed, and the PM2.5 concentrations were independent of the season. Five metal(lloid)s with a recovery percentage above 80% were considered to be reported (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Sb). The maximum concentrations of metal(lloid)s were observed during the dry-cold season, and concentrations were up to one hundred or thousand fold with respect to the dry-hot season. The 24-hour PM2.5 and metal(lloid) concentrations exceeded national and international guidelines to protect population health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ciro Márquez-Herrera
- Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CMDX, Salud Pública, México
| | - Rodolfo Sosa-Echeverria
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y cambio climático, Departamento de Ciencias Ambientales, CDMX, Salud Pública, México
| | | | - María Eugenia Gutiérrez-Castillo
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CDMX, Salud Pública, México
| | | | - Ana M Rule
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, US
| | - Martha Patricia Sierra-Vargas
- Departamento de Toxicología y Medicina Ambiental, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, CDMX, Salud Pública, México
| | - Octavio Gamaliel Aztatzi-Aguilar
- Departamento de Toxicología y Medicina Ambiental, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, CDMX, Salud Pública, México.
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17
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Dalton KR, Louis LM, Fandiño-Del-Rio M, Rule AM, Pool W, Randolph K, Thomas S, Davis MF, Quirós-Alcalá L. Microbiome alterations from volatile organic compounds (VOC) exposures among workers in salons primarily serving women of color. Environ Res 2022; 214:114125. [PMID: 35987373 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Salon workers, especially those serving an ethnically and racially diverse clientele (i.e., Black/Latina), may experience disparately high levels of workplace exposures to respiratory irritants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Salon workers are also reported to have a greater risk of developing respiratory conditions compared to the general population. Emerging evidence suggests that occupational chemical exposures may alter the human microbiome and that these alterations may be an important mechanism by which workplace VOC exposures adversely impact respiratory health. This preliminary research investigated the potential effects of 28 VOC urinary biomarkers on the 16S rRNA nasal microbiome in 40 workers from salons primarily serving women of color (Black and Dominican salons) compared to office workers. Our exploratory analysis revealed significant differences in microbial composition by worker group; namely dissimilar levels of Staphylococcus species (S. epidermidis and S. aureus, specifically) in salon workers compared to office workers, and higher alpha diversity levels in workers in Dominican salons compared to workers in Black salons. Within-sample alpha diversity levels tended to be decreased with higher VOC urinary biomarker concentrations, significantly for carbon disulfide, acrolein, acrylonitrile, crotonaldehyde, and vinyl chloride biomarkers. Our research highlights that occupational exposures, particularly to chemicals like VOCs, can impact the respiratory microbiome in the vulnerable salon worker group. Further understanding of the potential effects of chemical mixtures on microbial composition may provide key insights to respiratory health and other adverse health outcomes, as well as direct prevention efforts in this largely historically understudied occupational population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R Dalton
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lydia M Louis
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Magdalena Fandiño-Del-Rio
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen Thomas
- University of Maryland, School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Meghan F Davis
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology and the Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, USA
| | - Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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18
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Burns CJ, LaKind JS, Naiman J, Boon D, Clougherty JE, Rule AM, Zidek A. Research on COVID-19 and air pollution: A path towards advancing exposure science. Environ Res 2022; 212:113240. [PMID: 35390303 PMCID: PMC8979614 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an extraordinary incidence of morbidity and mortality, with almost 6 million deaths worldwide at the time of this writing (https://covid19.who.int/). There has been a pressing need for research that would shed light on factors - especially modifiable factors - that could reduce risks to human health. At least several hundred studies addressing the complex relationships among transmission of SARS-CoV-2, air pollution, and human health have been published. However, these investigations are limited by available and consistent data. The project goal was to seek input into opportunities to improve and fund exposure research on the confluence of air pollution and infectious agents such as SARS-CoV-2. Thirty-two scientists with expertise in exposure science, epidemiology, risk assessment, infectious diseases, and/or air pollution responded to the outreach for information. Most of the respondents expressed value in developing a set of common definitions regarding the extent and type of public health lockdown. Traffic and smoking ranked high as important sources of air pollution warranting source-specific research (in contrast with assessing overall ambient level exposures). Numerous important socioeconomic factors were also identified. Participants offered a wide array of inputs on what they considered to be essential studies to improve our understanding of exposures. These ranged from detailed mechanistic studies to improved air quality monitoring studies and prospective cohort studies. Overall, many respondents indicated that these issues require more research and better study design. As an exercise to solicit opinions, important concepts were brought forth that provide opportunities for scientific collaboration and for consideration for funding prioritization. Further conversations on these concepts are needed to advance our thinking on how to design research that moves us past the documented limitations in the current body of research and prepares us for the next pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol J Burns
- Burns Epidemiology Consulting, LLC, 255 W Sunset Ct., Sanford, MI, 48657, USA.
| | - Judy S LaKind
- LaKind Associates, LLC, 106 Oakdale Avenue, Catonsville, MD, 21228, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Josh Naiman
- Naiman Consulting, LLC, 504 S 44th St, Apt 2, Phila, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Denali Boon
- Corteva Agriscience, 9330 Zionsville Rd, Indianapolis, IN, 46268, USA.
| | - Jane E Clougherty
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, 3215 Market St, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, 615 N Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Angelika Zidek
- Existing Substances Risk Assessment Bureau, 269 Laurier Ave, West, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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19
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Ji N, Rule AM, Weatherholtz R, Crosby L, Bunnell JE, Orem B, Reid R, Santosham M, Hammitt LL, O'Brien KL. Evaluation of indoor PM 2.5 concentrations in a Native American Community: a pilot study. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2022; 32:554-562. [PMID: 34349228 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00373-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indoor air pollution is associated with adverse health effects; however, few studies exist studying indoor air pollution on the Navajo Nation in the southwest U.S., a community with high rates of respiratory disease. METHODS Indoor PM2.5 concentration was evaluated in 26 homes on the Navajo Nation using real-time PM2.5 monitors. Household risk factors and daily activities were evaluated with three metrics of indoor PM2.5: time-weighted average (TWA), 90th percentile of concentration, and daily minutes exceeding 100 μg/m3. A questionnaire and recall sheet were used to record baseline household characteristics and daily activities. RESULTS The median TWA, 90th percentile, and daily minutes exceeding 100 μg/m3 were 7.9 μg/m3, 14.0 μg/m3, and 17 min, respectively. TWAs tended to be higher in autumn and in houses that used fuel the previous day. Other characteristics associated with elevated PM exposure in all metrics included overcrowded houses, nonmobile houses, and houses with current smokers, pets, and longer cooking time. CONCLUSIONS Some residents of the Navajo Nation have higher risk of exposure to indoor air pollution by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Efforts to identify the causes and associations with adverse health effects are needed to ensure that exposure to risks and possible health impacts are mitigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Ji
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Rutgers University School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert Weatherholtz
- Center for American Indian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Lynn Crosby
- United States Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA
| | | | - Bill Orem
- United States Geological Survey, Reston, VA, USA
| | - Raymond Reid
- Center for American Indian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mathuram Santosham
- Center for American Indian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Laura L Hammitt
- Center for American Indian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katherine L O'Brien
- Center for American Indian Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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20
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Smirnova E, Mallow C, Muschelli J, Shao Y, Thiboutot J, Lam A, Rule AM, Crainiceanu C, Yarmus L. Predictive performance of selected breath volatile organic carbon compounds in stage 1 lung cancer. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2022; 11:1009-1018. [PMID: 35832450 PMCID: PMC9271440 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-21-953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths accounting for almost 25% of all cancer deaths. Breath-based volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been studied in lung cancer but previous studies have numerous limitations. We conducted a prospective matched case to control study of the ability of preidentified VOC performance in the diagnosis of stage 1 lung cancer (S1LC). Methods Study participants were enrolled in a matched case to two controls study. A case was defined as a patient with biopsy-confirmed S1LC. Controls included a matched control, by risk factors, and a housemate control who resided in the same residence as the case. We included 88 cases, 88 risk-matched, and 49 housemate controls. Each participant exhaled into a Tedlar® bag which was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For each study participant’s breath sample, the concentration of thirteen previously identified VOCs were quantified and assessed using area under the curve in the detection of lung cancer. Results Four VOCs were above the limit of detection in more than 10% of the samples. Acetoin was the only compound that was significantly associated with S1LC. Acetoin concentration below the 10th percentile (0.026 µg/L) in the training data had accuracy of 0.610 (sensitivity =0.649; specificity =0.583) in the test data. In multivariate logistic models, the best performing models included Acetoin alone (AUC =0.650). Conclusions Concentration of Acetoin in exhaled breath has low discrimination performance for S1LC cases and controls, while there was not enough evidence for twelve additional published VOCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Smirnova
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Christopher Mallow
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - John Muschelli
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yuan Shao
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey Thiboutot
- Section of Interventional Pulmonology, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andres Lam
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Lonny Yarmus
- Section of Interventional Pulmonology, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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21
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Lin JJY, Tehrani MW, Chen R, Heaney CD, Rule AM. Characterizing spatiotemporal variability in airborne heavy metal concentration: Changes after 18 Years in Baltimore, MD. Environ Res 2022; 209:112878. [PMID: 35131327 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study investigates the impact of changes in local industry, urban development, and proximity to suspected emission sources on airborne metal concentration in Baltimore, Maryland between 2001 and 2019 with particular focus on the urban industrial community of Curtis Bay in South Baltimore. METHODS Integrated PM2.5 and PM10 Harvard Impactors were set up at six locations in the Baltimore City metropolitan area in weeklong sampling sessions from January-July 2019 to assess variation in airborne metal concentration by proximity to suspected metal emission sources. PM2.5 and PM10 were collected on Teflo filters and analyzed for a panel of 12 metals and metalloids (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The findings were compared against airborne metal concentrations reported by the Baltimore Supersite in 2001 and 2003 to assess changes over the 18-year period. RESULTS PM2.5 concentrations reported from this study ranged from 3.27 μg/m3 to 36.0 μg/m3 and PM10 concentrations ranged from 9.00 μg/m3 to 30.1 μg/m3 across all sampling sites. Metal concentrations ranged from 1.4 times (Cd) to 4.8 times (Cr) higher in PM10 compared to PM2.5. Compared to the study reference site, median PM2.5 concentrations of Co and Fe were roughly 1.8 times and 2.1 times higher, respectively, at near-road sampling sites indicating significant variability in airborne metal concentration by proximity to local traffic emissions. PM2.5 and PM10 Sb concentrations were 3.4 times and 6.7 times higher at a near incinerator site compared to the reference, consistent with existing evidence of Sb sourcing from municipal incinerators in Baltimore City. Decreases in Cr (-40%), Ni (-73%), Pb (-55%), and Zn (-36%) concentrations were observed over the 18-year period while concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Mn were not statistically significantly different. CONCLUSION Declines in airborne Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentration since 2001 appear to coincide with industrial decline highlighting the success of remediation and redevelopment efforts. Remaining spatial variability is related to vehicular traffic and proximity to a municipal incinerator which should be focal areas for future intervention to reduce metal exposure disparities in Baltimore City.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce J Y Lin
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Mina W Tehrani
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Christopher D Heaney
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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22
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Das D, Alam El Din SM, Pulczinski J, Mihalic JN, Chen R, Bressler J, Rule AM, Ramachandran G. Assessing variability of aerosols generated from e-Cigarettes. Inhal Toxicol 2022; 34:90-98. [PMID: 35275758 DOI: 10.1080/08958378.2022.2044414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
While some in vitro and in vivo experiments have studied the toxic effects of e-cigarette (e-cig) components, the typical aerosol properties released from e-cigarettes have not been well characterized. In the present study, we characterized the variability in mass concentration and particle size distribution associated with the aerosol generation of different devices and e-liquid compositions in an experimental setup. The findings of this study indicate a large inter-day variability in the experiments, likely due to poor quality control in some e-cig devices, pointing to the need for a better understanding of all the factors affecting exposures in in vitro and in vivo experiments, and the development of standardized protocols for generation and measurement of e-cig aerosols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darpan Das
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah-Marie Alam El Din
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jairus Pulczinski
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jana N Mihalic
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph Bressler
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Gurumurthy Ramachandran
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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23
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Zhao D, Ilievski V, Slavkovich V, Olmedo P, Domingo-Relloso A, Rule AM, Kleiman NJ, Navas-Acien A, Hilpert M. Effects of e-liquid flavor, nicotine content, and puff duration on metal emissions from electronic cigarettes. Environ Res 2022; 204:112270. [PMID: 34717948 PMCID: PMC9140018 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Vaping is the action of inhaling and exhaling aerosols from electronic cigarettes. The aerosols contain various amounts of toxic chemicals, including metals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors that can influence metal levels, including flavor and nicotine content in the e-liquid, and puff duration. Aerosols were collected from both closed-system (cartridge-based) and open-system e-cigarettes using e-liquids with different flavors (fruit, tobacco, and menthol), nicotine content (0, 6, 24, and 59 mg/mL), and different puff durations (1, 2, and 4 s). The concentrations of 14 metals in the collected aerosols were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Aerosol concentrations of As, Fe, and Mn varied significantly among fruit, tobacco, and menthol flavors in both closed-system and open-system devices. Concentrations of Al, Fe, Sn, and U were significantly higher in tobacco or menthol flavored aerosols compared to fruit flavors in closed-system devices. Aerosol W levels were significantly higher in tobacco flavored aerosols compared to fruit flavors in open-system devices. Concentrations of As, Fe, and Mn were higher in tobacco flavored aerosols compared to menthol flavors in both types of devices. The median Pb concentration decreased significantly from 15.8 to 0.88 μg/kg when nicotine content increased from 0 to 59 mg/mL, and median Ni concentration was 9.60 times higher in aerosols with nicotine of 59 mg/mL compared to 24 mg/mL (11.9 vs. 1.24 μg/kg) for closed-system devices. No significant differences were observed in aerosol metal concentrations for different puff durations. Aerosol metal concentrations varied widely between different flavors and nicotine content but not by puff duration. Flavor and nicotine content of the e-liquid could be potential factors in metal emissions. Some elements showed higher concentrations under certain conditions, highlighting the urgent need of developing strict product regulations, especially on e-liquid composition and nicotine content to inform e-cigarette users about metal exposure through vaping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhao
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Vesna Ilievski
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vesna Slavkovich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pablo Olmedo
- Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain
| | - Arce Domingo-Relloso
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Norman J Kleiman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Markus Hilpert
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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24
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Hansel NN, Putcha N, Woo H, Peng R, Diette GB, Fawzy A, Wise RA, Romero K, Davis MF, Rule AM, Eakin MN, Breysse PN, McCormack MC, Koehler K. Randomized Clinical Trial of Air Cleaners to Improve Indoor Air Quality and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Health: Results of the CLEAN AIR Study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2022; 205:421-430. [PMID: 34449285 PMCID: PMC8886948 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202103-0604oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Indoor particulate matter is associated with worse chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outcomes. It remains unknown whether reductions of indoor pollutants improve respiratory morbidity. Objectives: To determine whether placement of active portable high-efficiency particulate air cleaners can improve respiratory morbidity in former smokers. Methods: Eligible former smokers with moderate-to-severe COPD received active or sham portable high-efficiency particulate absolute air cleaners and were followed for 6 months in this blinded randomized controlled trial. The primary outcome was 6-month change in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Secondary outcomes were exacerbation risk, respiratory symptoms, rescue medication use, and 6-minute-walk distance (6MWD). Intention-to-treat analysis included all subjects, and per-protocol analysis included adherent participants (greater than 80% use of air cleaner). Measurements and Main Results: A total of 116 participants were randomized, of which 84.5% completed the study. There was no statistically significant difference in total SGRQ score, but the active filter group had greater reduction in SGRQ symptom subscale (β, -7.7 [95% confidence interval (CI), -15.0 to -0.37]) and respiratory symptoms (Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale, β, -0.8 [95% CI, -1.5 to -0.1]); and lower rate of moderate exacerbations (incidence rate ratio, 0.32 [95% CI, 0.12-0.91]) and rescue medication use (incidence rate ratio, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.33-0.86]) compared with sham group (all P < 0.05). In per-protocol analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in primary outcome between the active filter versus sham group (SGRQ, β -4.76 [95% CI, -9.2 to -0.34]) and in moderate exacerbation risk, Breathlessness, Cough, and Sputum Scale, and 6MWD. Participants spending more time indoors were more likely to have treatment benefit. Conclusions: This is the first environmental intervention study conducted among former smokers with COPD showing potential health benefits of portable high-efficiency particulate absolute air cleaners, particularly among those with greater adherence and spending a greater time indoors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia N. Hansel
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland;,Department of Environmental Health and Engineering and
| | - Nirupama Putcha
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Han Woo
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Roger Peng
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland; and
| | - Gregory B. Diette
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland;,Department of Environmental Health and Engineering and
| | - Ashraf Fawzy
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Robert A. Wise
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Karina Romero
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Ana M. Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering and
| | - Michelle N. Eakin
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Patrick N. Breysse
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering and,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Meredith C. McCormack
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland;,Department of Environmental Health and Engineering and
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25
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Tehrani MW, Newmeyer MN, Rule AM, Prasse C. Response to Letter to the Editor Regarding Characterizing the Chemical Landscape in Commercial E-Cigarette Liquids and Aerosols by Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. Chem Res Toxicol 2021; 35:1-2. [PMID: 34932311 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mina W Tehrani
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Matthew N Newmeyer
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Ana M Rule
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Carsten Prasse
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
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26
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Lupolt SN, Santo RE, Kim BF, Green C, Codling E, Rule AM, Chen R, Scheckel KG, Strauss M, Cocke A, Little NG, Rupp VC, Viqueira R, Illuminati J, Epp Schmidt A, Nachman KE. The Safe Urban Harvests Study: A Community-Driven Cross-Sectional Assessment of Metals in Soil, Irrigation Water, and Produce from Urban Farms and Gardens in Baltimore, Maryland. Environ Health Perspect 2021; 129:117004. [PMID: 34766834 PMCID: PMC8589016 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence suggests social, health, environmental, and economic benefits of urban agriculture (UA). However, limited work has characterized the risks from metal contaminant exposures faced by urban growers and consumers of urban-grown produce. OBJECTIVES We aimed to answer community-driven questions about the safety of UA and the consumption of urban-grown produce by measuring concentrations of nine metals in the soil, irrigation water, and urban-grown produce across urban farms and gardens in Baltimore, Maryland. METHODS We measured concentrations of 6 nonessential [arsenic (As), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni)] and three essential [copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn)] metals in soil, irrigation water, and 13 types of urban-grown produce collected from 104 UA sites. We compared measured concentrations to existing public health guidelines and analyzed relationships between urban soil and produce concentrations. In the absence of guidelines for metals in produce, we compared metals concentrations in urban-grown produce with those in produce purchased from farmers markets and grocery stores (both conventionally grown and U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified organic). RESULTS Mean concentrations of all measured metals in irrigation water were below public health guidelines. Mean concentrations of nonessential metals in growing area soils were below public health guidelines for Ba, Cd, Pb, and Ni and at or below background for As and Cr. Though we observed a few statistically significant differences in concentrations between urban and nonurban produce items for some combinations, no consistent or discernable patterns emerged. DISCUSSION Screening soils for heavy metals is a critical best practice for urban growers. Given limitations in existing public health guidelines for metals in soil, irrigation water, and produce, additional exposure assessment is necessary to quantify potential human health risks associated with exposure to nonessential metals when engaging in UA and consuming urban-grown produce. Conversely, the potential health benefits of consuming essential metals in urban-grown produce also merit further research. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9431.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara N. Lupolt
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Raychel E. Santo
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Brent F. Kim
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carrie Green
- Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Eton Codling
- Adaptive Cropping Systems Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ana M. Rule
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kirk G. Scheckel
- Land and Materials Management Division, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Abby Cocke
- Baltimore Office of Sustainability, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Neith G. Little
- Baltimore City Office, University of Maryland Extension, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Rachel Viqueira
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jotham Illuminati
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Audrey Epp Schmidt
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Keeve E. Nachman
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Risk Sciences and Public Policy Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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27
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Tehrani MW, Newmeyer MN, Rule AM, Prasse C. Characterizing the Chemical Landscape in Commercial E-Cigarette Liquids and Aerosols by Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. Chem Res Toxicol 2021; 34:2216-2226. [PMID: 34610237 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The surge in electronic cigarette (e-cig) use in recent years has raised questions on chemical exposures that may result from vaping. Previous studies have focused on measuring known toxicants, particularly those present in traditional cigarettes, while fewer have investigated unknown compounds and transformation products formed during the vaping process in these diverse and constantly evolving products. The primary aim of this work was to apply liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) and chemical fingerprinting techniques for the characterization of e-liquids and aerosols from a selection of popular e-cig products. We conducted nontarget and quantitative analyses of tobacco-flavored e-liquids and aerosols generated using four popular e-cig products: one disposable, two pod, and one tank/mod. Aerosols were collected using a condensation device and analyzed in solution alongside e-liquids by LC-HRMS. The number of compounds detected increased from e-liquids to aerosols in three of four commercial products, as did the proportion of condensed-hydrocarbon-like compounds, associated with combustion. Kendrick mass defect analysis suggested that some of the additional compounds detected in aerosols belonged to homologous series resulting from decomposition of high-molecular-weight compounds during vaping. Lipids in inhalable aerosols have been associated with severe respiratory effects, and lipid-like compounds were observed in aerosols as well as e-liquids analyzed. Six potentially hazardous additives and contaminants, including the industrial chemical tributylphosphine oxide and the stimulant caffeine, were identified and quantified in the e-cig liquids and aerosols analyzed. The obtained findings demonstrate the potential of nontarget LC-HRMS to identify previously unknown compounds and compound classes in e-cig liquids and aerosols, which is critical for the assessment of chemical exposures resulting from vaping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina W Tehrani
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Matthew N Newmeyer
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Ana M Rule
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Carsten Prasse
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
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28
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Louis LM, Kavi LK, Boyle M, Pool W, Bhandari D, De Jesús VR, Thomas S, Pollack AZ, Sun A, McLean S, Rule AM, Quirós-Alcalá L. Biomonitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) among hairdressers in salons primarily serving women of color: A pilot study. Environ Int 2021; 154:106655. [PMID: 34090205 PMCID: PMC8221536 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Hairdressers are exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), many of which have been linked to acute and chronic health effects. Those hairdressers serving an ethnic clientele may potentially experience disproportionate exposures from frequent use of products containing VOCs or different VOC concentrations contained in products which are marketed to the specific needs of their clientele. However, no biomonitoring studies have investigated occupational exposures in this population. In the present pilot study, we sought to characterize concentrations and exposure determinants for 28 VOC biomarkers in post-shift urine samples among 23 hairdressers primarily serving an ethnic clientele. VOC biomarker concentrations among hairdressers of color were compared to concentrations among a comparison group of 17 office workers and a representative sample of women participating in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. VOC biomarkers were detected in all hairdressers with higher concentrations observed among hairdressers serving a predominantly Black versus Latino clientele, and among hairdressers overall versus office workers and women in the U.S. general population. Median biomarker concentrations for acrolein,1,3-butadiene, and xylene in hairdressers were more than twice as high as those observed among office workers. Median concentrations for 1-bromopropane, acrolein and 1,3-butadiene were more than four times higher among all hairdressers compared to those reported among women in the U.S. general population. Select salon services (e.g., sister locs, flat ironing, permanent hair coloring, permanent waves or texturizing, Brazilian blowout or keratin treatment, etc.) were also associated with higher VOC biomarker concentrations among hairdressers. This pilot study represents the first biomonitoring analysis to characterize VOC exposures among women hairdressers of color and to provide evidence that this occupational population may experience elevated VOC exposures compared to women in the U.S. general population. Results from our study represent an important first step in elucidating occupational VOC exposures in this understudied occupational group. Larger studies among a racially and ethnically diverse cohort of hairdressers are warranted to confirm our findings and inform future exposure interventions in this understudied occupational population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia M Louis
- Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lucy K Kavi
- Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Meleah Boyle
- Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | | | - Deepak Bhandari
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Víctor R De Jesús
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stephen Thomas
- University of Maryland, School of Public Health, College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Anna Z Pollack
- Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Angela Sun
- Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Seyrona McLean
- Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá
- Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA; Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
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Berges AJ, Lina IA, Ospino R, Tsai HW, Brenner MJ, Pandian V, Rule AM, Hillel AT. Quantifying Viral Particle Aerosolization Risk During Tracheostomy Surgery and Tracheostomy Care. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2021; 147:797-803. [PMID: 34292321 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2021.1383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Importance During respiratory disease outbreaks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, aerosol-generating procedures, including tracheostomy, are associated with the risk of viral transmission to health care workers. Objective To quantify particle aerosolization during tracheostomy surgery and tracheostomy care and to evaluate interventions that minimize the risk of viral particle exposure. Design, Setting, and Participants This comparative effectiveness study was conducted from August 2020 to January 2021 at a tertiary care academic institution. Aerosol generation was measured in real time with an optical particle counter during simulated (manikin) tracheostomy surgical and clinical conditions, including cough, airway nebulization, open suctioning, and electrocautery. Aerosol sampling was also performed during in vivo swine tracheostomy procedures (n = 4), with or without electrocautery. Fluorescent dye was used to visualize cough spread onto the surgical field during swine tracheostomy. Finally, 6 tracheostomy coverings were compared with no tracheostomy covering to quantify reduction in particle aerosolization. Main Outcomes and Measures Respirable aerosolized particle concentration. Results Cough, airway humidification, open suctioning, and electrocautery produced aerosol particles substantially above baseline. Compared with uncovered tracheostomy, decreased aerosolization was found with the use of tracheostomy coverings, including a cotton mask (73.8% [(95% CI, 63.0%-84.5%]; d = 3.8), polyester gaiter 79.5% [95% CI, 68.7%-90.3%]; d = 7.2), humidification mask (82.8% [95% CI, 72.0%-93.7%]; d = 8.6), heat moisture exchanger (HME) (91.0% [95% CI, 80.2%-101.7%]; d = 19.0), and surgical mask (89.9% [95% CI, 79.3%-100.6%]; d = 12.8). Simultaneous use of a surgical mask and HME decreased the particle concentration compared with either the HME (95% CI, 1.6%-12.3%; Cohen d = 1.2) or surgical mask (95% CI, 2.7%-13.2%; d = 1.9) used independently. Procedures performed with electrocautery increased total aerosolized particles by 1500 particles/m3 per 5-second interval (95% CI, 1380-1610 particles/m3 per 5-second interval; d = 1.8). Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this laboratory and animal comparative effectiveness study indicate that tracheostomy surgery and tracheostomy care are associated with significant aerosol generation, putting health care workers at risk for viral transmission of airborne diseases. Combined HME and surgical mask coverage of the tracheostomy was associated with decreased aerosolization, thereby reducing the risk of viral transmission to health care workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J Berges
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ioan A Lina
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Rafael Ospino
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Hsiu-Wen Tsai
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Michael J Brenner
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
| | - Vinciya Pandian
- Department of Nursing Faculty, and Outcomes After Critical Illness and Surgery (OACIS) Research Group, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Alexander T Hillel
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland
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Shao Y, Kavi L, Boyle M, Louis LM, Pool W, Thomas SB, Wilson S, Rule AM, Quiros-Alcala L. Real-time air monitoring of occupational exposures to particulate matter among hairdressers in Maryland: A pilot study. Indoor Air 2021; 31:1144-1153. [PMID: 33682973 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hairdressers are exposed to particulate matter (PM), a known air pollutant linked to adverse health effects. Still, studies on occupational PM exposures in hair salons are sparse. We characterized indoor air PM concentrations in three salons primarily serving an African/African American (AA) clientele, and three Dominican salons primarily serving a Latino clientele. We also assessed the performance of low-cost sensors (uRAD, Flow, AirVisual) by comparing them to high-end sensors (DustTrak) to conduct air monitoring in each salon over 3 days to quantify work shift concentrations of PM2.5 , respirable PM (RPM), and PM10 . We observed high spatial and temporal variability in 30-min time-weighted average (TWA) RPM concentrations (0.18-5518 μg/m3 ). Readings for the uRAD and AirVisual sensors were highly correlated with the DustTrak (R2 = 0.90-0.99). RPM 8-hour TWAs ranged from 18 to 383 µg/m3 for AA salons, and 9-2115 µg/m3 for Dominican salons. Upper 95th percentiles of daily RPM exposures ranged from 439 to 2669 µg/m3 . The overall range of 30-min TWA PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations was 0.13-5497 and 0.36-,541 μg/m3 , respectively. Findings suggest that hairdressers could be overexposed to RPM during an 8-hour shift. Additional comprehensive monitoring studies are warranted to further characterize temporal and spatial variability of PM exposures in this understudied occupational population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Shao
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lucy Kavi
- School of Public Health, Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health (MIAEH, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Meleah Boyle
- School of Public Health, Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health (MIAEH, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Lydia M Louis
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Stephen B Thomas
- Maryland Center for Health Equity, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Sacoby Wilson
- School of Public Health, Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health (MIAEH, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lesliam Quiros-Alcala
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- School of Public Health, Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health (MIAEH, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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Rajapaksha RD, Tehrani MW, Rule AM, Harb CC. A Rapid and Sensitive Chemical Screening Method for E-Cigarette Aerosols Based on Runtime Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:8090-8096. [PMID: 34018733 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Growing demand of Juul and other electronic cigarettes, despite critical knowledge gaps about their chemical composition, has led to concerns regarding their potential health effects. We introduce a novel analytical approach, runtime cavity ringdown spectroscopy (rtCRDS) for rapid detection of oxidative products in e-cigarette aerosols, to facilitate the study of aerosol from a single puff of e-liquid. We report a systematic investigation of three flavors of commercial Juul pods (Virginia tobacco, mango, and menthol) and known commercial e-liquid ingredients (propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), nicotine, ethyl maltol, benzoic acid, and nicotine benzoate) vaped using Juul devices. Juul e-liquids and neat chemical additives spiked into a 30:70 PG/VG solution were vaped and their aerosols were collected in 1-L Tedlar gas bags and analyzed using rtCRDS. Acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and acetone were identified as primary oxidative products in aerosolized PG/VG. Ethanol was detected as a major constituent of the three commercial Juul flavors. Spectral intensities of carbonyl compounds increased with the addition of spikes, benzoic acid, ethyl maltol, and nicotine to PG/VG, suggesting that oxidative product generation increases with common additives. The method of direct, rapid analysis of e-cig aerosols introduced here can be used to complement traditional methods in vaping exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mina W Tehrani
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Charles C Harb
- RingIR, 609 Broadway Blvd NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102, United States
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Boyle MD, Kavi LK, Louis LM, Pool W, Sapkota A, Zhu L, Pollack AZ, Thomas S, Rule AM, Quirós-Alcalá L. Occupational Exposures to Phthalates among Black and Latina U.S. Hairdressers Serving an Ethnically Diverse Clientele: A Pilot Study. Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:8128-8138. [PMID: 34078083 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hairdressers may be differentially exposed to phthalates through hair salon services provided and products used, yet no U.S. studies have investigated these exposures in this population. We characterized concentrations and exposure determinants to nine phthalate metabolites in postshift urine samples among 23 hairdressers from three Black and three Dominican salons, as well as a comparison group of 17 female office workers from the Maryland/Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Overall, hairdressers had higher metabolite concentrations than office workers. The geometric mean (GM) for monoethyl phthalate (MEP) was 10 times higher in hairdressers (161.4 ng/mL) than office workers (15.3 ng/mL). Hairdressers providing select services and using certain products had higher GM MEP concentrations than those who did not: permanent waves/texturizing (200.2 vs 115.4 ng/mL), chemical straightening/relaxing (181.6 vs 92.1 ng/mL), bleaching (182.3 vs 71.6 ng/mL), permanent hair color (171.9 vs 83.2 ng/mL), and Brazilian blowout/keratin treatments (181.4 vs 134.6 ng/mL). Interestingly, hairdressers providing natural services had lower GM MEP concentrations than those who did not: twists (129.1 vs 215.8 ng/mL), sister locs/locs (86.0 vs 241.9 ng/mL), and afros (94.7 vs 203.9 ng/mL). Larger studies are warranted to confirm our findings and identify disparities in occupational phthalate exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meleah D Boyle
- Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Lucy K Kavi
- Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Lydia M Louis
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Walkiria Pool
- Centro de Apoyo Familiar, Hyatsville, Maryland 20737, United States
| | - Amir Sapkota
- Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Linyan Zhu
- Maryland Institute of Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Anna Z Pollack
- Department of Global and Community Health, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia 22030, United States
| | - Stephen Thomas
- Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Ana M Rule
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Lesliam Quirós-Alcalá
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health & Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
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Hilpert M, Ilievski V, Hsu SY, Rule AM, Olmedo P, Drazer G. E-cigarette aerosol collection using converging and straight tubing Sections: Physical mechanisms. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 584:804-815. [PMID: 33268068 PMCID: PMC7736306 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Identification and quantification of harmful chemicals in e-cigarette aerosol requires collecting the aerosolized e-liquid for chemical analysis. In 2016, Olmedo at al. empirically developed a simple method for aerosol collection by directing the aerosol through a sequence of alternating straight and converging tubing sections, which drain the recovered e-liquid into a collection vial. The tubing system geometry and flow conditions promote inertial impaction of aerosolized e-liquid on tube walls, where it deposits and flows into the collection vial. EXPERIMENTS We use high-speed optical imaging to visualize aerosol transport in proxies of the collection system. We also determined collection efficiencies of various configurations of the collection system. FINDINGS A turbulent jet emerges from converging conical sections and impinges onto the wall of downstream tubing sections, resulting in inertial impaction and deposition of the aerosol. For inertial impaction to occur the tip radius of the converging section must be small enough for a jet to be formed and the sequence of tubing sections must be curved in a polygon-like manner such that the jet emerging from a converging section impinges on the downstream tube wall. The collection efficiency is significantly smaller without such curvature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Hilpert
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, United States.
| | - Vesna Ilievski
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, United States
| | - Shao-Yiu Hsu
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, United States
| | - Pablo Olmedo
- Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Granada, Spain
| | - German Drazer
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, United States
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Koehler K, Ruggles J, Rule AM. Above and beyond: when we ask personal protective equipment to be community protective equipment. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2021; 31:31-33. [PMID: 33311603 PMCID: PMC7733137 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-020-00281-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Koehler
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Janice Ruggles
- Office of Safety, Health & Environmental Management, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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35
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Durrani K, El Din SMA, Sun Y, Rule AM, Bressler J. Ethyl maltol enhances copper mediated cytotoxicity in lung epithelial cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 410:115354. [PMID: 33271249 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2020.115354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Ethyl maltol (EM) is a flavoring agent commonly used in foods that falls under the generally recognized as safe category. It is added to many commercial e-cigarette vaping fluids and has been detected in the aerosols. Considering that EM facilitates heavy metal transport across plasma membranes, and that heavy metals have been detected in aerosols generated from e-cigarettes, this study examines whether EM enhances heavy metal mediated toxicity. A decrease in viability was observed in the Calu-6 and A549 lung epithelial cell lines co-exposed to EM and copper (Cu) but no decrease was observed after co-exposure to EM with iron (Fe). Interestingly, co-exposure to EM and Fe decreased viability of the HEK293 and IMR-90 fibroblast cell lines but co-exposure to EM and Cu did not. Increases in the apoptotic markers Annexin V staining and fragmented nuclei were observed in Calu-6 cells co-exposed to EM and Cu. Co-exposure to EM and Cu in Calu-6 cells resulted in DNA damage as indicated by activation of ATM and expression of γH2A.x foci. Finally, co-exposure to EM and Cu caused oxidative stress as indicated by increases in the generation of reactive oxygen species and the expression of ferritin light chain mRNA and hemeoxygenase-1 mRNA and protein. These data show that co-exposure to EM and Cu, at concentrations that are not toxic for either chemical individually, induce apoptosis and evoke oxidative stress and DNA damage in lung epithelial cells. We suggest that there is a greater risk of lung damage in users of c-cigarette who vape with vaping fluid containing EM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kulsoom Durrani
- Department of Neurology, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA; Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
| | - Sarah-Marie Alam El Din
- Department of Neurology, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA; Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
| | - Yuchen Sun
- Department of Neurology, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA; Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
| | - Joseph Bressler
- Department of Neurology, Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA; Environmental Health and Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA.
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Aherrera A, Aravindakshan A, Jarmul S, Olmedo P, Chen R, Cohen JE, Navas-Acien A, Rule AM. E-cigarette use behaviors and device characteristics of daily exclusive e-cigarette users in Maryland: Implications for product toxicity. Tob Induc Dis 2020; 18:93. [PMID: 33209101 PMCID: PMC7668279 DOI: 10.18332/tid/128319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Few studies to date have characterized daily exclusive e-cigarette users, device characteristics, and use behaviors. This study describes daily e-cigarette user characteristics, and assesses the association between user behaviors and demographics. METHODS From 2015–2017, 100 daily exclusive e-cigarette users and 50 non-users were recruited in Maryland, USA. Sociodemographic characteristics, health status, e-cigarette/tobacco use behaviors, device characteristics, and reasons for e-cigarette use were collected by interview. Chi-squared tests (categorical variables), Student’s t-test (continuous variables), and linear regressions were used to assess relationships between variables. RESULTS Most daily exclusive e-cigarette users were men, White, former smokers, used MODs/tanks, and vaped on average 365 puffs/day (SD: 720). A third of users first vaped within 5 minutes of waking in the morning, and 56% vaped throughout the day. E-liquid consumption ranged from 5–240 mL/week (median: 32.5), with nicotine concentration 0–24 mg/mL (median: 3). E-cigarette users were more likely to report wheezing/whistling and hypertension than controls, although the finding was not statistically significant after adjustment. Less than half planned to quit vaping. CONCLUSIONS Daily e-cigarette users between 2015–2017 most commonly vaped MOD/tank devices. Being male and of lower education was associated with higher usage. Daily users with no intention to quit may be at risk for increased exposure to emissions from e-cigarettes that include inorganic (metals) and organic (e.g. acrolein, formaldehyde) compounds with known toxic effects, particularly to the lung. Further research is needed to characterize the long-term health effects of daily e-cigarette use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Aherrera
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States.,Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Atul Aravindakshan
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Stephanie Jarmul
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States.,Department of Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pablo Olmedo
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, United States.,Department of Legal Medicine, Toxicology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Rui Chen
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Joanna E Cohen
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States.,Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, United States
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Afshar-Mohajer N, Lam A, Dora L, Katz J, Rule AM, Koehler K. Impact of dispersant on crude oil content of airborne fine particulate matter emitted from seawater after an oil spill. Chemosphere 2020; 256:127063. [PMID: 32438130 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Inhalation of PM2.5, particles with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm, from sea spray after crude oil spills could present serious health concerns. The addition of dispersants to effectively spread the crude oil throughout the water column has been practiced in recent years. Here, we investigated the possibility of an increase in the toxic content of fine PM after adding dispersant. A laboratory setup consisted of a vertical tank filled with seawater, 31.5 L airspace for aerosol sampling, and a bubble generating nozzle that aerosolized the oily droplets. Four different cases were studied: no slick, 0.5-mm-thick slick of pure crude oil (MC252 surrogate), dispersant (Corexit 9500A) mixed with crude oil at dispersant to oil ratio (DOR) 1:25, and DOR 1:100. The resulting airborne droplets were sampled for gravimetric and chemical analyses through development of a gas chromatography and mass spectrometry technique. Also, PM2.5 particles were size-fractioned into 13 size bins covering <60 nm to 12.1 μm using a low-pressure cascade impactor. The highest PM2.5 concentration (20.83 ± 5.21 μg/m3) was released from a slick of DOR 1:25, 8.83× greater than the case with pure crude oil. The average ratio of crude oil content from the slick of DOR 1:25 to the case with pure crude oil was 2.37 (1.83 vs 0.77 μg/m3) that decreased to 1.17 (0.90 vs 0.77 μg/m3) at DOR 1:100. For particles <220 nm, the resultant crude oil concentrations were 0.64 and 0.29 μg/m3 at DOR 1:25 and 1:100, both higher than 0.11 μg/m3 from the slick of pure crude oil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nima Afshar-Mohajer
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Gradient Corporation, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Andres Lam
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lakshmana Dora
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph Katz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kirsten Koehler
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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40
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McGrath-Morrow SA, Gorzkowski J, Groner JA, Rule AM, Wilson K, Tanski SE, Collaco JM, Klein JD. The Effects of Nicotine on Development. Pediatrics 2020; 145:peds.2019-1346. [PMID: 32047098 PMCID: PMC7049940 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-1346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, there has been a significant increase in the use of noncombustible nicotine-containing products, including electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Of increasing popularity are e-cigarettes that can deliver high doses of nicotine over short periods of time. These devices have led to a rise in nicotine addiction in adolescent users who were nonsmokers. Use of noncombustible nicotine products by pregnant mothers is also increasing and can expose the developing fetus to nicotine, a known teratogen. In addition, young children are frequently exposed to secondhand and thirdhand nicotine aerosols generated by e-cigarettes, with little understanding of the effects these exposures can have on health. With the advent of these new nicotine-delivery systems, many concerns have arisen regarding the short- and long-term health effects of nicotine on childhood health during all stages of development. Although health studies on nicotine exposure alone are limited, educating policy makers and health care providers on the potential health effects of noncombustible nicotine is needed because public acceptance of these products has become so widespread. Most studies evaluating the effects of nicotine on health have been undertaken in the context of smoke exposure. Nevertheless, in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies strongly indicate that nicotine exposure alone can adversely affect the nervous, respiratory, immune, and cardiovascular systems, particularly when exposure occurs during critical developmental periods. In this review, we have included both preclinical and clinical studies to identify age-related health effects of nicotine exposure alone, examining the mechanisms underlying these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon A. McGrath-Morrow
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and
| | - Julie Gorzkowski
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois
| | - Judith A. Groner
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Ana M. Rule
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Karen Wilson
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Kravis Children’s Hospital, New York, New York
| | - Susanne E. Tanski
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Department of Pediatrics, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Lebanon, New Hampshire; and
| | - Joseph M. Collaco
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Eudowood Division of Pediatric Respiratory Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and
| | - Jonathan D. Klein
- Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Itasca, Illinois;,Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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Zhao D, Aravindakshan A, Hilpert M, Olmedo P, Rule AM, Navas-Acien A, Aherrera A. Metal/Metalloid Levels in Electronic Cigarette Liquids, Aerosols, and Human Biosamples: A Systematic Review. Environ Health Perspect 2020; 128:36001. [PMID: 32186411 PMCID: PMC7137911 DOI: 10.1289/ehp5686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become popular, in part because they are perceived as a safer alternative to tobacco cigarettes. An increasing number of studies, however, have found toxic metals/metalloids in e-cigarette emissions. OBJECTIVE We summarized the evidence on metal/metalloid levels in e-cigarette liquid (e-liquid), aerosols, and biosamples of e-cigarette users across e-cigarette device systems to evaluate metal/metalloid exposure levels for e-cigarette users and the potential implications on health outcomes. METHODS We searched PubMed/TOXLINE, Embase®, and Web of Science for studies on metals/metalloids in e-liquid, e-cigarette aerosols, and biosamples of e-cigarette users. For metal/metalloid levels in e-liquid and aerosol samples, we collected the mean and standard deviation (SD) if these values were reported, derived mean and SD by using automated software to infer them if data were reported in a figure, or calculated the overall mean (mean ± SD) if data were reported only for separate groups. Metal/metalloid levels in e-liquids and aerosols were converted and reported in micrograms per kilogram and nanograms per puff, respectively, for easy comparison. RESULTS We identified 24 studies on metals/metalloids in e-liquid, e-cigarette aerosols, and human biosamples of e-cigarette users. Metal/metalloid levels, including aluminum, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, selenium, tin, and zinc, were present in e-cigarette samples in the studies reviewed. Twelve studies reported metal/metalloid levels in e-liquids (bottles, cartridges, open wick, and tank), 12 studies reported metal/metalloid levels in e-cigarette aerosols (from cig-a-like and tank devices), and 4 studies reported metal/metalloid levels in human biosamples (urine, saliva, serum, and blood) of e-cigarette users. Metal/metalloid levels showed substantial heterogeneity depending on sample type, source of e-liquid, and device type. Metal/metalloid levels in e-liquid from cartridges or tank/open wicks were higher than those from bottles, possibly due to coil contact. Most metal/metalloid levels found in biosamples of e-cigarette users were similar or higher than levels found in biosamples of conventional cigarette users, and even higher than those found in biosamples of cigar users. CONCLUSION E-cigarettes are a potential source of exposure to metals/metalloids. Differences in collection methods and puffing regimes likely contribute to the variability in metal/metalloid levels across studies, making comparison across studies difficult. Standardized protocols for the quantification of metal/metalloid levels from e-cigarette samples are needed. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5686.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhao
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Atul Aravindakshan
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Markus Hilpert
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pablo Olmedo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana M. Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Angela Aherrera
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Anastasiou E, Feinberg A, Tovar A, Gill E, Ruzmyn Vilcassim MJ, Wyka K, Gordon T, Rule AM, Kaplan S, Elbel B, Shelley D, Thorpe LE. Secondhand smoke exposure in public and private high-rise multiunit housing serving low-income residents in New York City prior to federal smoking ban in public housing, 2018. Sci Total Environ 2020; 704:135322. [PMID: 31787288 PMCID: PMC6939143 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, with 41,000 deaths attributable to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. On July 30, 2018, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development passed a rule requiring public housing authorities to implement smoke-free housing (SFH) policies. OBJECTIVES Prior to SFH policy implementation, we measured self-reported and objective SHS incursions in a purposeful sample of 21 high-rise buildings (>15 floors) in New York City (NYC): 10 public housing and 11 private sector buildings where most residents receive federal housing subsidies (herein 'Section 8' buildings). METHODS We conducted a baseline telephone survey targeting all residents living on the 3rd floor or higher of selected buildings: NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents were surveyed in April-July 2018 (n = 559), and residents in 'Section 8' buildings in August-November 2018 (n = 471). We invited non-smoking household participants to enroll into a longitudinal air monitoring study to track SHS exposure using: (1) nicotine concentration from passive, bisulfate-coated nicotine filters and (2) particulate matter (PM2.5) from low-cost particle monitors. SHS was measured for 7-days in non-smoking households (NYCHA n = 157, Section 8 n = 118 households) and in building common areas (n = 91 hallways and stairwells). RESULTS Smoking prevalence among residents in the 21 buildings was 15.5%. Two-thirds of residents reported seeing people smoke in common areas in the past year (67%) and 60% reported smelling smoke in their apartments coming from elsewhere. Most stairwells (88%) and hallways (74%) had detectable nicotine levels, but nicotine was detected in only 9.9% of non-smoking apartments. Substantial variation in nicotine and PM2.5 was observed between and within buildings; on average nicotine concentrations were higher in NYCHA apartments and hallways than in Section 8 buildings (p < 0.05), and NYCHA residents reported seeing smokers in common areas more frequently. CONCLUSIONS SFH policies may help in successfully reducing SHS exposure in public housing, but widespread pre-policy incursions suggest achieving SFH will be challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elle Anastasiou
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Alexis Feinberg
- Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Albert Tovar
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Emily Gill
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - M J Ruzmyn Vilcassim
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 341 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010, USA.
| | - Katarzyna Wyka
- Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY 10027, USA.
| | - Terry Gordon
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 341 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010, USA.
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Sue Kaplan
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Brian Elbel
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA; Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, 295 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012, USA.
| | - Donna Shelley
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - Lorna E Thorpe
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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Moon KA, Rule AM, Magid HS, Ferguson JM, Susan J, Sun Z, Torrey C, Abubaker S, Levshin V, Çarkoglu A, Radwan GN, El-Rabbat M, Cohen JE, Strickland P, Breysse PN, Navas-Acien A. Biomarkers of Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Waterpipe Tobacco Venue Employees in Istanbul, Moscow, and Cairo. Nicotine Tob Res 2019; 20:482-491. [PMID: 28582531 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntx125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Background Most smoke-free legislation to reduce secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure exempts waterpipe (hookah) smoking venues. Few studies have examined SHS exposure in waterpipe venues and their employees. Methods We surveyed 276 employees of 46 waterpipe tobacco venues in Istanbul, Moscow, and Cairo. We interviewed venue managers and employees and collected biological samples from employees to measure exhaled carbon monoxide (CO), hair nicotine, saliva cotinine, urine cotinine, urine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), and urine 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG). We estimated adjusted geometric mean ratios (GMR) of each SHS biomarker by employee characteristics and indoor air SHS measures. Results There were 73 nonsmoking employees and 203 current smokers of cigarettes or waterpipe. In nonsmokers, the median (interquartile) range concentrations of SHS biomarkers were 1.1 (0.2, 40.9) µg/g creatinine urine cotinine, 5.5 (2, 15) ng/mL saliva cotinine, 0.95 (0.36, 5.02) ng/mg hair nicotine, 1.48 (0.98, 3.97) pg/mg creatinine urine NNAL, 0.54 (0.25, 0.97) pmol/mg creatinine urine 1-OHPG, and 1.67 (1.33, 2.33) ppm exhaled CO. An 8-hour increase in work hours was associated with higher urine cotinine (GMR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.20, 2.37) and hair nicotine (GMR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.43). Lighting waterpipes was associated with higher saliva cotinine (GMR: 2.83, 95% CI: 1.05, 7.62). Conclusions Nonsmoking employees of waterpipe tobacco venues were exposed to high levels of SHS, including measurable levels of carcinogenic biomarkers (tobacco-specific nitrosamines and PAHs). Implications Smoke-free regulation should be extended to waterpipe venues to protect nonsmoking employees and patrons from the adverse health effects of SHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Moon
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Hoda S Magid
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jacqueline M Ferguson
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jolie Susan
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Zhuolu Sun
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Christine Torrey
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Salahaddin Abubaker
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | | | - Asli Çarkoglu
- Department of Psychology, Kadir Has University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ghada Nasr Radwan
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Maha El-Rabbat
- Department of Psychology, Kadir Has University, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Joanna E Cohen
- Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Paul Strickland
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Patrick N Breysse
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY
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Zhao D, Navas-Acien A, Ilievski V, Slavkovich V, Olmedo P, Adria-Mora B, Domingo-Relloso A, Aherrera A, Kleiman NJ, Rule AM, Hilpert M. Metal concentrations in electronic cigarette aerosol: Effect of open-system and closed-system devices and power settings. Environ Res 2019; 174:125-134. [PMID: 31071493 PMCID: PMC7079580 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes) generate aerosol containing metal contaminants. Our goals were to quantify aerosol metal concentrations and to compare the effects of power setting and device type (closed-system vs. open-system) on metal release. METHODS Aerosol samples were collected from two closed-system devices (a cigalike and pod) and two open-system devices (mods). Each open-system device was operated at three different power settings to examine the effect of device power on metal release. Concentrations of 14 metals in e-cigarette aerosol collected via droplet deposition were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Aerosol metal concentrations were reported as mass fractions (μg/kg) in the e-liquid. RESULTS For open-system device 1 (OD1), median arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), tin (Sn), and zinc (Zn) concentrations increased 14, 54, 17, 30, 41, 96, 14, 81, 631, and 7-fold when the device power was increased from low (20 W) to intermediate (40 W) setting. When the power was further increased from intermediate (40 W) to high (80 W) setting, concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Sb did not change significantly. For open-system device 2 (OD2), Cr and Mn concentrations increased significantly when device power was increased from low (40 W) to intermediate (120 W) setting, and then decreased significantly when power was further increased from intermediate (120 W) to high (200 W) setting. Among the four devices, aerosol metal concentrations were higher for the open-system than the closed-system devices, except for aluminum (Al) and uranium (U). For Cr, median (interquartile range) concentrations (μg/kg) from the open-system devices were 2.51 (1.55, 4.23) and 15.6 (7.88, 54.5) vs. 0.39 (0.05, 0.72) and 0.41 (0.34, 0.57) for the closed-system devices. For Ni, concentrations (μg/kg) from the open-system devices were 793 (508, 1169) and 2148 (851, 3397) vs. 1.32 (0.39, 3.35) and 11.9 (10.7, 22.7) from the closed-system devices. Inhalation of 0% and 100% of samples from OD1, 7.4% and 88.9% from OD2 by typical e-cigarette users would exceed chronic minimum risk levels (MRL) of Mn and Ni, respectively. No MRL exceedance was predicted for the closed-system devices. A large fraction of users of OD1 (100%) and OD2 (77.8%) would be exposed to Ni levels higher than those from reference tobacco cigarette 3R4F. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that power setting and device type affect metal release from devices to aerosol which would subsequently be inhaled by users. Metal concentrations from open-system devices first increased with device power, and then leveled off for most metals. Open-system devices generate aerosol with higher metal concentrations than closed-system devices. These findings inform tobacco regulatory science, policy makers and health professionals on potential metal health risks associated with e-cigarette use, design and manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vesna Ilievski
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vesna Slavkovich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Pablo Olmedo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain
| | - Bernat Adria-Mora
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arce Domingo-Relloso
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Angela Aherrera
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Norman J Kleiman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Markus Hilpert
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Cardozo RA, Feinberg A, Tovar A, Vilcassim MJR, Shelley D, Elbel B, Kaplan S, Wyka K, Rule AM, Gordon T, Thorpe LE. A protocol for measuring the impact of a smoke-free housing policy on indoor tobacco smoke exposure. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:666. [PMID: 31146711 PMCID: PMC6543633 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7043-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tobacco remains a leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., responsible for more than 440,000 deaths each year. Approximately 10% of these deaths are attributable to exposure of non-smokers to secondhand smoke (SHS). Residents living in public multi-unit housing (MUH) are at excess risk for SHS exposure compared to the general population. On November 30, 2016, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) passed a rule requiring all public housing agencies to implement smoke-free housing (SFH) policies in their housing developments by July 30, 2018. METHODS As part of a larger natural experiment study, we designed a protocol to evaluate indoor SHS levels before and after policy implementation through collection of repeat indoor air samples in non-smoking apartments and common areas of select high-rise NYCHA buildings subject to the HUD SFH rule, and also from socio-demographically matched private-sector high-rise control buildings not subject to the rule. A baseline telephone survey was conducted in all selected buildings to facilitate rapid recruitment into the longitudinal study and assess smoking prevalence, behaviors, and attitudes regarding the SFH policy prior to implementation. Data collection began in early 2018 and will continue through 2021. DISCUSSION The baseline survey was completed by 559 NYCHA residents and 471 comparison building residents (response rates, 35, and 32%, respectively). Smoking prevalence was comparable between study arms (15.7% among NYCHA residents and 15.2% among comparison residents). The majority of residents reported supporting a building-wide smoke-free policy (63.0 and 59.9%, respectively). We enrolled 157 NYCHA and 118 comparison non-smoking households into the longitudinal air monitoring study and performed air monitoring in common areas. Follow up surveys and air monitoring in participant households occur every 6 months for 2.5 years. Capitalizing on the opportunity of this federal policy rollout, the large and diverse public housing population in NYC, and robust municipal data sources, this study offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the policy's direct impacts on SHS exposure. Methods in this protocol can inform similar SFH policy evaluations elsewhere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Arce Cardozo
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Alexis Feinberg
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Albert Tovar
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - M. J. Ruzmyn Vilcassim
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 341 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010 USA
| | - Donna Shelley
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Brian Elbel
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Sue Kaplan
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Katarzyna Wyka
- Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, NY 10027 USA
| | - Ana M. Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615N Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Terry Gordon
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 341 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010 USA
| | - Lorna E. Thorpe
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, 180 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review current indoor allergen sampling devices, including devices to measure allergen in reservoir and airborne dust, and personal sampling devices, with attention to sampling rationale and major indoor allergen size and characteristics. RECENT FINDINGS While reservoir dust vacuuming samples and airborne dust volumetric air sampling remain popular techniques, recent literature describes sampling using furnace filters and ion-charging devices, both which help to eliminate the need for trained staff; however, variable correlation with reservoir dust and volumetric air sampling has been described. Personal sampling devices include intra-nasal samples and personal volumetric air samples. While these devices may offer better estimates of breathable allergens, they are worn for short periods of time and can be cumbersome. Reservoir dust sampling is inexpensive and is possible for families to perform. Airborne dust sampling can be more expensive and may better quantify cat, dog, and mouse allergen exposure. Personal sampling devices may offer a better representation of breathable air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torie Grant
- Division of Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kirsten Koehler
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert A Wood
- Division of Pediatric Allergy/Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Matsui
- Departments of Population Health and Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1701 Trinity St., Stop Z0500, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
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Bose S, Diette GB, Woo H, Koehler K, Romero K, Rule AM, Detrick B, Brigham E, McCormack MC, Hansel NN. Vitamin D Status Modifies the Response to Indoor Particulate Matter in Obese Urban Children with Asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2019; 7:1815-1822.e2. [PMID: 30763731 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2019.01.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Indoor fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) is linked to asthma morbidity; however, whether vitamin D status influences individual susceptibility to airborne exposures is unclear. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine if vitamin D modifies the effects of indoor PM2.5 on asthma symptoms in urban children. METHODS A total of 120 children aged 5 to 12 years with physician-diagnosed asthma were evaluated at baseline and every 3 months for 9 months. Indoor PM2.5, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH D) levels, and asthma symptoms were simultaneously assessed at each time point. Adjusting for confounders, generalized estimating equations assessed the 3-way interaction effects of 25-OH D, obesity, and PM on asthma symptoms. RESULTS Children were of mean (standard deviation [SD]) age 9.7 (2.2) years, 36% were obese, and 95% self-reported black race. Mean (SD) PM2.5 indoor exposure was 38.2 (42.9) μg/m3 and 25-OH D was 19.1 (7.5) ng/mL. Three-way interaction models demonstrated significantly greater PM2.5-associated effects on daytime asthma symptoms only among obese children with low 25-OH D levels (odds ratio [OR]PM2.5 = 1.26, P = .049 at vitamin D = 15.5 ng/mL, increasingly stronger PM effects at levels <15.5 ng/mL). In homes with increased PM2.5, higher 25-OH D was associated with decreased symptom odds (eg, ORVitamin D = 0.87; P = .049 at PM2.5 = 52.5 μg/m3, increasingly protective effects >52.5 μg/m3) among obese children. CONCLUSIONS Among obese urban children with asthma, low individual 25-OH D enhanced adverse respiratory effects associated with indoor PM2.5. In high PM2.5 environments, 25-OH D was protective against asthma symptoms. Optimizing vitamin D status in children may help reduce asthma morbidity driven by indoor air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Bose
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Gregory B Diette
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md; Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md
| | - Han Woo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Kirsten Koehler
- Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md
| | - Karina Romero
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Ana M Rule
- Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md
| | - Barbara Detrick
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Emily Brigham
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md
| | - Meredith C McCormack
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md; Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md
| | - Nadia N Hansel
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md; Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md.
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Groner JA, Rule AM, McGrath-Morrow SA, Collaco JM, Moss A, Tanski SE, McMillen R, Whitmore RM, Klein JD, Winickoff JP, Wilson K. Assessing pediatric tobacco exposure using parent report: comparison with hair nicotine. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2018; 28:530-537. [PMID: 30013229 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-018-0051-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between screening questions for secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and biomarker results using hair nicotine levels. Our ultimate goal was to develop sensitive and valid screening tools in pediatric clinical settings for SHS exposure. METHODS Investigators developed a core set of questions regarding exposure. Data from two separate ongoing studies of well children and those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were used to assess the concordance between responses and hair nicotine levels. Sensitivity, a positive predictive value, and accuracy were examined. RESULTS There was no single question with similar sensitivity in both populations. The question with the highest positive predictive value (90.8% well-cohort and 84.6% BPD cohort) for both the groups was whether the child had been exposed to in-home smoking in the last 7 days. The question with the highest accuracy for both groups was the number of smokers at home (0 vs ≥ 1), with an accuracy of 72.4% for well children and 79.0% for the BPD cohort. CONCLUSIONS There was a wide variability in the performance of specific questions. These data demonstrate that a "one-size-fits-all" approach to screening for secondhand tobacco smoke exposure may not be appropriate for all pediatric populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith A Groner
- AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Ana M Rule
- AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sharon A McGrath-Morrow
- AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joseph M Collaco
- AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Angela Moss
- Adult and Child Center for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Susanne E Tanski
- AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Robert McMillen
- AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
- Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS, USA
| | - Regina M Whitmore
- AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
| | - Jonathan D Klein
- AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jonathan P Winickoff
- AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital Division of General Pediatrics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Karen Wilson
- AAP Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, Elk Grove Village, IL, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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49
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Chen R, Aherrera A, Isichei C, Olmedo P, Jarmul S, Cohen JE, Navas-Acien A, Rule AM. Assessment of indoor air quality at an electronic cigarette (Vaping) convention. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2018; 28:522-529. [PMID: 29288255 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-017-0005-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
E-cigarette (vaping) conventions are public events promoting electronic cigarettes, in which indoor use of e-cigarettes is allowed. The large concentration of people using e-cigarettes and poor air ventilation can result in indoor air pollution. In order to estimate this worst-case exposure to e-cigarettes, we evaluated indoor air quality in a vaping convention in Maryland (MD), USA. Real-time concentrations of particulate matter (PM10) and real-time total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), CO2 and NO2 concentrations were measured. Integrated samples of air nicotine and PM10 concentrations were also collected. The number of attendees was estimated to range from 75 to 600 at any single observation time. The estimated 24-h time-weighted average (TWA) PM10 was 1800 μg/m3, 12-fold higher than the EPA 24-h regulation (150 μg/m3). Median (range) indoor TVOCs concentration was 0.13 (0.04-0.3) ppm. PM10 and TVOC concentrations were highly correlated with CO2 concentrations, indicating the high number of people using e-cigarettes and poor indoor air quality. Air nicotine concentration was 125 μg/m3, equivalent to concentrations measured in bars and nightclubs. E-cigarette aerosol in a vaping convention that congregates many e-cigarette users is a major source of PM10, air nicotine and VOCs, impairing indoor air quality. These findings also raise occupational concerns for e-cigarette vendors and other venue staff workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Angela Aherrera
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Chineye Isichei
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Pablo Olmedo
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie Jarmul
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joanna E Cohen
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society and Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ana M Rule
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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50
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Ahrenholz SH, Brueck SE, Rule AM, Noti JD, Noorbakhsh B, Blachere FM, de Perio MA, Lindsley WG, Shaffer RE, Fisher EM. Assessment of environmental and surgical mask contamination at a student health center - 2012-2013 influenza season. J Occup Environ Hyg 2018; 15:664-675. [PMID: 30081757 PMCID: PMC9006334 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2018.1486509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Increased understanding of influenza transmission is critical for pandemic planning and selecting appropriate controls for healthcare personnel safety and health. The goals of this pilot study were to assess environmental contamination in different areas and at two time periods in the influenza season and to determine the feasibility of using surgical mask contamination to evaluate potential exposure to influenza virus. Bioaerosol samples were collected over 12 days (two 6-day sessions) at 12 locations within a student health center using portable two-stage bioaerosol samplers operating 8 hr each day. Surface samples were collected each morning and afternoon from common high-contact non-porous hard surfaces from rooms and locations where bioaerosol samplers were located. Surgical masks worn by participants while in contact with patients with influenza-like illness were collected. A questionnaire administered to each of the 12 participants at the end of each workday and another at the end of each workweek assessed influenza-like illness symptoms, estimated the number of influenza-like illness patient contacts, hand hygiene, and surgical mask usage. All samples were analyzed using qPCR. Over the 12 days of the study, three of the 127 (2.4%) bioaerosol samples, 2 of 483 (0.41%) surface samples, and 0 of 54 surgical masks were positive for influenza virus. For the duration of contact that occurred with an influenza patient on any of the 12 days, nurse practitioners and physicians reported contacts with influenza-like illness patients >60 min, medical assistants reported 15-44 min, and administrative staff reported <30 min. Given the limited number of bioaerosol and surface samples positive for influenza virus in the bioaerosol and surface samples, the absence of influenza virus on the surgical masks provides inconclusive evidence for the potential to use surgical masks to assess exposure to influenza viruses. Further studies are needed to determine feasibility of this approach in assessing healthcare personnel exposures. Information learned in this study can inform future field studies on influenza transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven H Ahrenholz
- a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Scott E Brueck
- a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - Ana M Rule
- b Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Environmental Health and Engineering , Baltimore , Maryland
| | - John D Noti
- c Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Bahar Noorbakhsh
- c Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Francoise M Blachere
- c Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Marie A de Perio
- a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Cincinnati , Ohio
| | - William G Lindsley
- c Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Ronald E Shaffer
- d Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Edward M Fisher
- d Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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