The challenge of preventing environmentally related disease in young children: community-based research in New York City.

Abstract

Rates of developmental and respiratory diseases are disproportionately high in underserved, minority populations such as those in New York City's Washington Heights, Harlem, and the South Bronx. Blacks and Latinos in these neighborhoods represent high risk groups for asthma, adverse birth outcomes, impaired development, and some types of cancer. The Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health in Washington Heights uses molecular epidemiologic methods to study the health effects of urban indoor and outdoor air pollutants on children, prenatally and postnatally, in a cohort of over 500 African-American and Dominican (originally from the Dominican Republic) mothers and newborns. Extensive data are collected to determine exposures to particulate matter < 2.5 microm in aerodynamic diameter (PM(2.5)), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), diesel exhaust particulate (DEP), nitrogen oxide, nonpersistent pesticides, home allergens (dust mite, mouse, cockroach), environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and lead and other metals. Biomarkers, air sampling, and clinical assessments are used to study the effects of these exposures on children's increased risk for allergic sensitization, asthma and other respiratory disorders, impairment of neurocognitive and behavioral development, and potential cancer risk. The center conducts its research and community education in collaboration with 10 community-based health and environmental advocacy organizations. This unique academic-community partnership helps to guide the center's research so that it is most relevant to the context of the low-income, minority neighborhoods in which the cohort resides, and information is delivered back to these communities in meaningful ways. In turn, communities become better equipped to relay environmental health concerns to policy makers. In this paper we describe the center's research and its academic-community partnership and present some preliminary findings.

Environmental factors contributing to the development of childhood leukemia in children with Down's syndrome

“…7 Passive child exposure to tobacco smoke had a higher risk than the one reported elsewhere. As shown by others, 8 when several subjects smoked in front of the child, the risk was evident; large amounts of carcinogenic, volatile nitrosamines and aromatic amines are present in the inhaled smoke stream, although the concentration of these compounds is about two orders of magnitude lower than in active cigarette smokers, suggesting that some risk genotypes are particularly susceptible to low doses of carcinogens. It has been claimed that smoke exposure is prevalent among Hispanics and Afro-Americans.…”

“…In these groups, the population of children is larger than in Caucasians and they are more vulnerable to the toxic effects of environmental tobacco smoke. 8 Other possible mechanisms may include stimulation of angiogenesis and tumor growth promotion by nicotine. Angiogenesis has indeed been associated with AL.…”

Unexpected Benefits: Pathways From Smoking Restrictions in the Home to Psychological Well-Being and Distress Among Urban Black and Puerto Rican Americans

“…Given evidence that urban Black and Latino Americans seem to experience disproportionately severe consequences as a result of ETS (e.g., CDC, 1998;Perera et al, 2002;Wilson, Kahn, Khoury, & Lanphear, 2005), this finding constitutes an important concern for public health.…”

“…If individuals become aware of these less obvious benefits of introducing smoking restrictions into their homes, they may be more willing to take this important step in creating a healthier environment for themselves and their families, thereby reducing the risks (e.g., asthma) associated with ETS. This is of particular importance among Blacks and Latinos as they seem to suffer particularly severe consequences as a result of exposure to ETS (CDC, 1998;Perera et al, 2002;Wilson et al, 2005). The dissemination of these findings by clinicians, public health advocates, and smoking cessation experts is therefore of vital importance in contributing to the expansion of smoke-free environments in urban Black and Latino communities.…”

Design and sampling methodology for a large study of preschool children's aggregate exposures to persistent organic pollutants in their everyday environments

“…The increased emphasis on children's exposures to pesticides and other organic pollutants has led to a surge in recent years in the number of research studies aimed at this specific susceptible population (Duggan et al, 1985;Lewis et al, 1994;Stanek and Calabrese, 1995;Heil et al, 1996;Wilson et al, 1996Wilson et al, , 1999Wilson et al, , 2000Wilson et al, , 2001Wilson et al, , 2003Chuang et al, 1998Chuang et al, , 1999aGurunathan et al, 1998;Mukerjee, 1998;Vonmanikowsky et al, 1998;Landrigan et al, 1999;Adgate et al, 2000Adgate et al, , 2001Akland et al, 2000;Fenske et al, 2000aFenske et al, , b, 2002aLandrigan, 2001;Nishioka et al, 2001;O'Rourke et al, 2000;Freeman et al, 2001;Freedman et al, 2001;Heudorf and Angerer, 2001;Karmaus et al, 2001;Lu et al, 2001;Mills and Zahm, 2001;Rigas et al, 2001;Baker et al, 2002;Brock et al, 2002;Buckley et al, 2000;Koch et al, 2002;Perera et al, 2002;Raymer et al, 2002;Tulve et al, 2002a, b;Wilhelm et al, 2002). However, large gaps in the available data still exist (Cohen Hubal et al, 2000a, b;…”