Association between coarse particulate matter and inflammatory and hemostatic markers in a cohort of midlife women.

Background: Exposure to particulate matter air pollution has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality; however, most studies have focused on fine particulate matter (PM) exposure and CVD. Coarse particulate matter (PM) exposure has not been extensively studied, particularly for long-term exposure, and the biological mechanisms remain uncertain.

Methods: We examined the association between ambient concentrations of PM and inflammatory and hemostatic makers that have been linked to CVD.

Associations between fine particulate matter and changes in lipids/lipoproteins among midlife women.

Fine particles (PM) are known to increase risks of cardiovascular diseases, but it is unclear how they affect plasma lipid levels. In this study, we examined the associations between PM exposure and lipid/lipoprotein levels from 2289 midlife women enrolled in the longitudinal Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. The average exposure to PM and gaseous co-pollutants during the prior one year, six months, 30 days, and one day were estimated for each woman based on U.

Residential Exposure to PM and Ozone and Progression of Subclinical Atherosclerosis Among Women Transitioning Through Menopause: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

This article aims to examine the association between long-term ambient air pollution and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis with 2-year follow-up among midlife women from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Carotid duplex ultrasonography was performed in participants from a SWAN ancillary study carried out at the Pittsburgh and Chicago sites. Mean and maximum carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque burden were assessed throughout the common, bulb, and internal carotid artery.

Five-year exposure to PM and ozone and subclinical atherosclerosis in late midlife women: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.

Introduction: Effects of more than one-year exposure to air pollution on atherosclerosis is seldom studied. This paper aims to examine the association between five-year exposure to particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM), ozone (O) and atherosclerosis observed about seven years later in late midlife women.

Association between gaseous air pollutants and inflammatory, hemostatic and lipid markers in a cohort of midlife women.

Background: Exposures to ambient gaseous pollutants have been linked to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), but the biological mechanisms remain uncertain.

Objectives: This study examined the changes in CVD marker levels resulting from elevated exposure to ambient gaseous pollutants in midlife women.

Methods: Annual repeated measurements of several inflammatory, hemostatic and lipid makers were obtained from 2306 midlife women enrolled in the longitudinal Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) between 1999 and 2004.

Estimating the associations of apparent temperature and inflammatory, hemostatic, and lipid markers in a cohort of midlife women.

Associations between temperature and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality have been reported, but the underlying biological mechanisms remain uncertain. We explored the association between apparent temperature and serum biomarkers for CVD. Using linear mixed effects models, we examined the relationships between residence-proximate apparent temperature (same day and 1, 7, and 30 days prior) and several inflammatory, hemostatic, and lipid biomarkers for midlife women from 1999 through 2004.

A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Study of Ambient Ozone Exposure and Emergency Department Visits for Specific Respiratory Diagnoses in California (2005-2008).

Background: Studies have explored ozone's connection to asthma and total respiratory emergency department visits (EDVs) but have neglected other specific respiratory diagnoses despite hypotheses relating ozone to respiratory infections and allergic responses.

Objective: We examined relationships between ozone and EDVs for respiratory visits, including specifically acute respiratory infections (ARI), asthma, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and upper respiratory tract inflammation (URTI).

Methods: We conducted a multi-site time-stratified case-crossover study of ozone exposures for approximately 3.

Long- and Short-term Exposure to Air Pollution and Inflammatory/Hemostatic Markers in Midlife Women.

Background: Studies have reported associations between long-term air pollution exposures and cardiovascular mortality. The biological mechanisms connecting them remain uncertain.

Methods: We examined associations of fine particles (PM2.

A Case-Crossover Study of Temperature and Infant Mortality in California.

Background: While most research on temperature and mortality has focused on the elderly, little has concentrated on infants, who may also lack thermoregulatory responses to heat exposure.

Methods: We examined mean daily apparent temperature, a combination of temperature and humidity, and infant deaths in California during the warm season of May through October 1999 to 2011. Deaths from all causes and specifically from congenital malformations, sudden infant death syndrome, abnormal gestation duration, respiratory causes, and circulatory causes were considered in a time-stratified case-crossover analysis of 12 356 infant deaths.

Chronic PM2.5 exposure and inflammation: determining sensitive subgroups in mid-life women.

Background: Several cohort studies report associations between chronic exposure to ambient fine particles (PM2.5) and cardiovascular mortality. Uncertainty exists about biological mechanisms responsible for this observation, but systemic inflammation has been postulated.

Effects of fine particulate matter and its constituents on low birth weight among full-term infants in California.

Relationships between prenatal exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) and birth weight have been observed previously. Few studies have investigated specific constituents of PM2.

Coarse particles and respiratory emergency department visits in California.

Although respiratory disease has been strongly connected to fine particulate air pollution (particulate matter <2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5)), evidence has been mixed regarding the effects of coarse particles (particulate matter from 2.

The effect of high ambient temperature on emergency room visits.

Background: The association between temperature and mortality has been widely researched, although the association between temperature and morbidity has been less studied. We examined the association between mean daily apparent temperature and emergency room (ER) visits in California.

Methods: We used a time-stratified case-crossover design, restricting our data to the warm seasons of 2005-2008 in 16 climate zones.

The effect of temperature on hospital admissions in nine California counties.

Objectives: This study examined the association between mean daily apparent temperature and hospital admissions for several diseases in nine California counties from May to September, 1999 to 2005.

Methods: We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study limited to cases with residential zip codes located within 10 km of a temperature monitor. County-specific estimates were combined, using a random effects meta-analysis.

Evaluation and application of the RD50 for determining acceptable exposure levels of airborne sensory irritants for the general public.

Background: The RD(50) (exposure concentration producing a 50% respiratory rate decrease) test evaluates airborne chemicals for sensory irritation and has become an American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard method. Past studies reported good correlations (R(2)) between RD(50)s and the occupational exposure limits, particularly threshold limit values (TLVs).

Objective: The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between RD(50)s and human sensory irritation responses in a quantitative manner, particularly for chemicals that produce burning sensation of the eyes, nose, or throat, based on lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs) reported for human subjects.

Developing asthma in childhood from exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke: insights from a meta-regression.

Objective: Studies have identified associations between household secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure and induction of childhood asthma. However, the true nature and strength of this association remains confounded in many studies, producing inconsistent evidence. To look for sources of potential bias and try to uncover consistent patterns of relative risk estimates (RRs), we conducted a meta-analysis of studies published between 1970 and 2005.

The effects of components of fine particulate air pollution on mortality in california: results from CALFINE.

Objective: Several epidemiologic studies provide evidence of an association between daily mortality and particulate matter < 2.5 pm in diameter (PM2.5).

The association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and breast cancer: a review by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Background: The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) recently completed a health effects assessment of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) which resulted in California listing ETS as a Toxic Air Contaminant in January 2006. As part of the assessment, studies on the association between exposure to ETS and breast cancer were reviewed.

Methods: Twenty-six published reports (including 3 meta-analyses) evaluating the association between ETS exposure and breast cancer were reviewed.

Fine particulate air pollution and mortality in nine California counties: results from CALFINE.

Many epidemiologic studies provide evidence of an association between daily counts of mortality and ambient particulate matter<10 microm in diameter (PM10). Relatively few studies, however, have investigated the relationship of mortality with fine particles [PM<2.5 microm in diameter (PM2.

Characterization of the LOAEL-to-NOAEL uncertainty factor for mild adverse effects from acute inhalation exposures.

This analysis was undertaken to reduce uncertainty in acute inhalation risk assessment for mild acute effects. Applying uncertainty factors (UFs) to the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) is the primary approach used in threshold-based risk assessments. When a NOAEL is unavailable, a UF of 10 is often applied to a lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) to estimate the NOAEL.