CCCEH Research: Discover Initiative
CCCEH’s newest research undertaking is four coordinated studies funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science’s (NIEHS) new centers program, Disease Investigation through Specialized Clinically-Oriented Ventures In Environmental Research (DISCOVER). The overall goal of the project is to understand when and how air pollutants increase the risk for childhood asthma.
Project 1 — Time Windows of Asthma Vulnerability
Project 1 is being directed by our lead asthma expert, Dr. Rachel Miller, MD. The primary goal of Project 1 is to determine at what point in their development young inner-city children are most vulnerable to air pollution exposure. Project 1 is also monitoring the effects of recent policy changes on exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Specifically, policy changes in 2003 resulted in stricter regulations of diesel emissions from traffic. Scientists are therefore investigating whether the downward trends in traffic related air pollution since 2003 have resulted in decreased exposure on an individual level among children in the Center’s Mothers & Newborns Study cohort.
Implications of Study: Previous research has suggested that there is a direct relationship between exposure to air pollution, obesity, and an increase in allergy and asthma-related symptoms. CCCEH investigators expect that the results of Project 1 will be able to provide more data to verify this relationship.
These findings could have important public health implications for members of inner-city communities in New York City. The results will be translated into useable recommendations for parents on how they can reduce risks in the home, possible identifiers for children at risk of asthma from air pollutants, and information for physicians on the role of air pollutants as triggers for asthma.
Project 2 — New Air Sampling Technology
Project 2 is being directed by Dr. Patrick L. Kinney, Sc.D. The first goal of Project 2 is to develop a small lightweight, personal air sampling system (the size of an iPod) for children in our cohort to wear while the child is at home, in school, and in transit. Data is being collected from asthmatic and non-asthmatic children wearing this system in the Center’s Mothers & Newborns Study cohort. The second goal of Project 2 is to understand how exposure to diesel exhaust can exacerbate asthma symptoms in young children.
Implications of Study: By monitoring diesel exposure in a variety of settings, scientists will be able to gauge the importance of these different environments on personal exposure to traffic-related air pollutants. CCCEH hopes to translate the results of this study into useable health information for physicians, parents, and other community members. Specifically, Project 2 will provide further information for physicians on the role of certain air pollutants as asthma triggers, including its relationship to obesity and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The results will also provide recommendations for parents on how to reduce asthma risks in their home or community, identify cohort children at risk for asthma. The results of Project 2 will also potentially serve as a means for collaboration with community partners and advocacy groups to support diesel reduction initiatives.
Project 3 — Genes & Asthma
Dr. Frederica Perera, Dr.P.H., and her colleagues at CCCEH are collaborating closely with Dr. Shuk Mei Ho, PhD and the Environmental Health Sciences Lab at the University of Cincinnati on Project 3. Previous research has shown that prenatal exposure to air pollutants can lead to the development of asthma in young children. However, the exact cause is not yet fully understood. Project 3 scientists will therefore be looking at modifications on a genetic level to see if these genetic changes are involved in the process of childhood asthma development.
Implications of Study: If changes in specific genes in utero are found to predict asthma, researchers may be able to confirm clinically relevant biomarkers that would recognize children at higher risk of asthma. As a result, children and their physicians would be able to recognize and learn to control for asthma symptoms at an earlier age.
Project 4 — Air Pollution & Asthma Medicine
Project 4 is being directed by Dr. Phillip H. Factor, D.O. This project is examining the effects of traffic related pollutants on specific cell receptors (β2-adrenergic receptors or β2AR). These receptors play an important role in airway dilation. When a child has asthma, the medication given contains certain compounds that work with the receptors to relax smooth muscles and promote airway dilation. However, previous studies have suggested that certain air pollutants interact with these cell receptors and inhibit their ability to function properly. As a result, some asthma medications are ineffective and a child’s asthma symptoms can progress or get worse.
Implications of Study: The analyses of this study will examine if certain traffic-related air pollutants affect the proper function of these cell receptors (β2AR) and also study if these PAHs alter β2AR in early life exposures. Once the true effect of air pollutants on these receptors are known, effective asthma medications can be developed and asthma symptoms in young children can be effectively alleviated.