%0 Journal Article %J BMC Public Health %D 2019 %T Development of an environmental health tool linking chemical exposures, physical location and lung function. %A Diana Rohlman %A Holly Dixon %A Laurel D Kincl %A Larkin, Andrew %A Evoy, Richard %A Michael L Barton %A Phillips, Aaron %A Elena S Peterson %A Scaffidi, Christopher %A Julie Herbstman %A Katrina M Waters %A Kim A Anderson %X

BACKGROUND: A challenge in environmental health research is collecting robust data sets to facilitate comparisons between personal chemical exposures, the environment and health outcomes. To address this challenge, the Exposure, Location and lung Function (ELF) tool was designed in collaboration with communities that share environmental health concerns. These concerns centered on respiratory health and ambient air quality. The ELF collects exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), given their association with diminished lung function. Here, we describe the ELF as a novel environmental health assessment tool.

METHODS: The ELF tool collects chemical exposure for 62 PAHs using passive sampling silicone wristbands, geospatial location data and respiratory lung function measures using a paired hand-held spirometer. The ELF was tested by 10 individuals with mild to moderate asthma for 7 days. Participants wore a wristband each day to collect PAH exposure, carried a cell phone, and performed spirometry daily to collect respiratory health measures. Location data was gathered using the geospatial positioning system technology in an Android cell-phone.

RESULTS: We detected and quantified 31 PAHs across the study population. PAH exposure data showed spatial and temporal sensitivity within and between participants. Location data was used with existing datasets such as the Toxics Release Inventory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hazard Mapping System. Respiratory health outcomes were validated using criteria from the American Thoracic Society with 94% of participant data meeting standards. Finally, the ELF was used with a high degree of compliance (> 90%) by community members.

CONCLUSIONS: The ELF is a novel environmental health assessment tool that allows for personal data collection spanning chemical exposures, location and lung function measures as well as self-reported information.

%B BMC Public Health %V 19 %P 854 %8 2019 Jul 01 %G eng %N 1 %R 10.1186/s12889-019-7217-z %0 Audiovisual Material %D 2019 %T Discovery of common chemical exposures across three continents using silicone wristbands %A Holly Dixon %A Armstrong, Georgina %A Michael L Barton %A Alan J Bergmann %A Melissa Bondy %A Mary L Halbleib %A Erin N Haynes %A Julie Herbstman %A Winnifred Hamilton %A Peter D Hoffman %A Paul C Jepson %A Molly Kile %A Laurel D Kincl %A Paul J Laurienti %A Paula E North %A LB Paulik %A Petrosino, Joe %A Points, Gary L %A Carolyn M Poutasse %A Diana Rohlman %A Richard P Scott %A Brian W Smith %A Lane G Tidwell %A Cheryl Walker %A Katrina M Waters %A Kim A Anderson %B EMT Research Day, Corvallis, OR %C Corvallis, OR %8 01/2019 %G eng %0 Journal Article %J R Soc Open Sci %D 2019 %T Discovery of common chemical exposures across three continents using silicone wristbands. %A Holly Dixon %A Armstrong, Georgina %A Michael L Barton %A Alan J Bergmann %A Melissa Bondy %A Mary L Halbleib %A Winnifred Hamilton %A Erin N Haynes %A Julie Herbstman %A Peter D Hoffman %A Paul C Jepson %A Molly Kile %A Laurel D Kincl %A Paul J Laurienti %A Paula E North %A Paulik, L Blair %A Petrosino, Joe %A Points, Gary L %A Carolyn M Poutasse %A Diana Rohlman %A Richard P Scott %A Brian W Smith %A Lane G Tidwell %A Cheryl Walker %A Katrina M Waters %A Kim A Anderson %X

To assess differences and trends in personal chemical exposure, volunteers from 14 communities in Africa (Senegal, South Africa), North America (United States (U.S.)) and South America (Peru) wore 262 silicone wristbands. We analysed wristband extracts for 1530 unique chemicals, resulting in 400 860 chemical data points. The number of chemical detections ranged from 4 to 43 per wristband, with 191 different chemicals detected, and 1339 chemicals were not detected in any wristband. No two wristbands had identical chemical detections. We detected 13 potential endocrine disrupting chemicals in over 50% of all wristbands and found 36 chemicals in common between chemicals detected in three geographical wristband groups (Africa, North America and South America). U.S. children (less than or equal to 11 years) had the highest percentage of flame retardant detections compared with all other participants. Wristbands worn in Texas post-Hurricane Harvey had the highest mean number of chemical detections (28) compared with other study locations (10-25). Consumer product-related chemicals and phthalates were a high percentage of chemical detections across all study locations (36-53% and 18-42%, respectively). Chemical exposures varied among individuals; however, many individuals were exposed to similar chemical mixtures. Our exploratory investigation uncovered personal chemical exposure trends that can help prioritize certain mixtures and chemical classes for future studies.

%B R Soc Open Sci %V 6 %P 181836 %8 02/2019 %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1098/rsos.181836 %0 Generic %D 2018 %T Discovery of common chemical exposures across three continents using silicone wristbands %A Holly Dixon %A Armstrong, Georgina %A Michael L Barton %A Bergmann AJ %A Melissa Bondy %A Mary L Halbleib %A Erin N Haynes %A Julie Herbstman %A Winnifred Hamilton %A Peter D Hoffman %A Paul C Jepson %A Molly Kile %A Laurel D Kincl %A Paul J Laurienti %A Paula E North %A LB Paulik %A Petrosino, Joe %A Points, Gary L %A Carolyn M Poutasse %A Diana Rohlman %A Richard P Scott %A Brian W Smith %A Lane G Tidwell %A Cheryl Walker %A Katrina M Waters %A Kim A Anderson %B FSES External Advisory Committee Meeting, Yachats, OR %8 10/2018 %G eng %0 Audiovisual Material %D 2015 %T Development of an online platform to promote environmental public health within citizen scientists %A Diana Rohlman %A Kevin A Hobbie %A Michael L Barton %A Josh A Willmarth %A Laurel D Kincl %A Kim A Anderson %B SETAC North America 36th Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, Utah %8 11/2015 %G eng