The Health Effects Institute
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2012 HEI Annual Conference
Chicago, IL, April 15 - 17, 2012
NEW Conference Program, Registration Materials, and Hotel Reservations Now Available, click here
The 2011 Annual Report describes the prominent role of HEI science in addressing continuing air pollution challenges and regulatory deliberations in the United States and Europe. The report also describes many strong scientific contributions HEI made this past year, including recent studies of air pollution hot spots and HEI's growing portfolio of air pollution research in developing countries of Asia. Read more about HEI's accomplishments and future goals in the 2011 Annual Report, The Road Ahead...
Research Report 161, Assessment of the Health Impacts of Particulate Matter Characteristics, by Dr. Michelle Bell of Yale University to evaluate the effects of exposure to components of the PM2.5 mixture on short-term morbidity and mortality, using data on 52 components of PM2.5 for 187 US counties. The report explores regional and seasonal variation in the chemical composition of PM2.5 and whether this variation affects the association between short-term exposure to PM and health effects. To download HEI Research Report 161, including a Commentary by the HEI Review Committee, click here.
The Winter 2012 Update is now available. Read about progress on the ACES study, a recent symposium on air toxics hot spots, and program and registration information for the upcoming 2012 HEI Annual Conference. Also included are new HEI reports on exposure of persons with asthma and allergy to diesel exhaust particles, and a wood stove changeout program and related improvements in health and air quality. To download the newsletter click here.
Research Report 162, Assessing the Impact of a Wood Stove Replacement Program on Air Quality and Children's Health, by Dr. Curtis Noonan of the University of Montana-Missoula and colleagues evaluated a community-wide program to improve air quality in a rural mountain community (Libby, Montana) by replacing older, more polluting wood stoves with new, less polluting stoves. Over the course of 4 winters, the investigators measured PM2.5 and markers for wood smoke outdoors, in schools, and in about 20 homes before and after stove changeout. In parallel, they tracked children's respiratory symptoms (based on parental surveys) and school absences. Click here to download HEI Research Report 162, including a Critique by the HEI Review Committee. Press Release
Research Report 164, Pulmonary Particulate Matter and Systemic Microvascular Dysfunction, by Dr. Timothy Nurkiewicz of the West Virginia University School of Medicine and colleagues evaluated whether exposure to fine or nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles may affect cardiovascular endpoints, in particular endothelium-dependent vascular dilation. Rats were exposed via inhalation to 0.5 to 20 mg/m3 TiO2 for up to 12 hours and evaluated for vascular dilation and for markers of oxidative stress, coagulation, and inflammation. To download HEI Research Report 164, including a Critique by the HEI Review Committee, click here.
The Fall 2011 Request for Applications includes RFA 11-2, Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award. The purpose of this award is to bring new, creative investigators into active research on the health effects of air pollution. For more information and deadlines, please visit our Funding page.
Research Report 163, The London Low Emission Zone Baseline Study, by Dr. Frank Kelly of King's College London and colleagues evaluated the feasibility of studying potential changes in air quality and health associated with the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which went into effect in 2008 and restricts entry of older, more polluting vehicles into Greater London. Based on their earlier study of London's Congestion Charging Scheme, the investigators conducted emissions and exposure modeling to estimate the projected effects of LEZ implementation. They also assessed the feasibility of using medical records from private practices to evaluate the relationships between exposure to traffic and indicators of respiratory and cardiovascular disease. To download HEI Research Report 163, including a Critique by the HEI Review Committee, click here.
Research Report 160, Personal and Ambient Exposures to Air Toxics in Camden, New Jersey, by Dr. Paul Lioy of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute of Piscataway, NJ and colleagues tested whether an air toxics “hot spot” existed in Camden, NJ. They evaluated ambient and personal exposures of nonsmoking residents to PM2.5, VOCs, aldehydes, and PAHs in two neighborhoods in Camden, NJ, one of which was hypothesized to be a regional air toxics "hot spot." The investigators compared concentrations of air pollutants in the two neighborhoods with each other and then with concentrations at other locations in the United States. They also assessed the effects of seasonality, contributions from mobile sources, and spatial variability. To download HEI Research Report 160, including a Commentary by the HEI Review Committee, click here.HEI report examines potential air toxics "hot spot" – August 2011
Research Report 158, Air Toxics Exposure from Vehicle Emissions at a U.S. Border Crossing: Buffalo Peace Bridge Study, by Dr. John Spengler of the Harvard School of Public Health and colleagues tested whether emissions from traffic caused an air toxics “hot spot” in a neighborhood in Buffalo, New York. The team hypothesized that vehicle-related emissions from heavy traffic at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, one of the nation’s busiest border crossings and a potential air pollution hot spot, would result in elevated downwind levels of mobile-source air toxics (MSATs) and other traffic-related pollutants. The investigators measured levels of a large number of MSATs as well as six criteria pollutants using both fixed-site and mobile monitoring in order to examine the relation between traffic at the bridge and the spatial distribution of ambient pollutant concentrations at the bridge and in an adjacent neighborhood. To download HEI Research Report 158, including a Commentary by the HEI Review Committee, click here.
HEI seeks a strong candidate to join the Institute's scientific staff with expertise in epidemiology and exposure assessment, ideally with an international perspective. Review of applicants will begin by July 31, 2011, but the position will be open until a suitable candidate is found. To read the full position announcement, click here.
We hope you find our website well organized and helpful. Comments on both the site and on our activities are welcome!
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