The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50137

Frederica Perera, DrPH, Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, 60 Haven Avenue, Room B-116, New York, NY 10032, 212-304-7280, fpp1@columbia.edu

The Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) is conducting a prospective cohort study to evaluate prenatal and early postnatal risk factors in neurocognitive development, asthma etiology and cancer risk in African American and Latina mothers and newborns. 700 women are being enrolled during pregnancy and the infants are followed for five years. CCCEH researchers employ a battery of data collection strategies that includes multiple biomarkers, air monitoring and detailed questionnaires to determine exposure levels to a range of common urban air pollutants, pesticides and indoor allergens. Specifically, researchers collect personal indoor and outdoor ambient air monitoring samples pre- and postnatally, and biologic samples - maternal blood, cord blood, urine, meconium - which are analyzed for markers of exposure and potential risk. Multiple questionnaires are administered to determine exposures to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), particulate matter (PM2.5) including diesel exhaust particulates (DEP), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), nonpersistent pesticides, and home allergens (dust mite, mouse, cockroach). Social stressors, genetic and nutritional factors are also evaluated. The effects of these exposures on children's respiratory health, early development and cancer risk are estimated using intermediate biomarkers (e.g. allergic sensitization, DNA damage) and clinical data on neurodevelopment, asthma and other respiratory disorders. Data will be presented regarding exposure-outcome relationships. This comprehensive collection of data affords the opportunity to assess correlations between types of data and understand the extent to which each type of dataset predicts outcomes.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• identify data collection techniques, including multiple biomarkers, used to measure specific environmental exposures in fetuses, newborns and adults;
• discuss the relationships of specific environmental exposures to developmental and respiratory outcomes in children; and
• compare these exposure-outcome associations to own data or other scientific studies using similar measurements.

Keywords: Children's Health, Environmental Exposures

Related Web page: cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/sph/ccceh/index.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, Columbia University
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.