%0 Journal Article %J Geohealth %D 2024 %T PM Is Insufficient to Explain Personal PAH Exposure. %A Lisa M Bramer %A Holly Dixon %A Diana Rohlman %A Richard P Scott %A Miller, Rachel L %A Laurel D Kincl %A Julie Herbstman %A Katrina M Waters %A Kim A Anderson %X

To understand how chemical exposure can impact health, researchers need tools that capture the complexities of personal chemical exposure. In practice, fine particulate matter (PM) air quality index (AQI) data from outdoor stationary monitors and Hazard Mapping System (HMS) smoke density data from satellites are often used as proxies for personal chemical exposure, but do not capture total chemical exposure. Silicone wristbands can quantify more individualized exposure data than stationary air monitors or smoke satellites. However, it is not understood how these proxy measurements compare to chemical data measured from wristbands. In this study, participants wore daily wristbands, carried a phone that recorded locations, and answered daily questionnaires for a 7-day period in multiple seasons. We gathered publicly available daily PM AQI data and HMS data. We analyzed wristbands for 94 organic chemicals, including 53 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Wristband chemical detections and concentrations, behavioral variables (e.g., time spent indoors), and environmental conditions (e.g., PM AQI) significantly differed between seasons. Machine learning models were fit to predict personal chemical exposure using PM AQI only, HMS only, and a multivariate feature set including PM AQI, HMS, and other environmental and behavioral information. On average, the multivariate models increased predictive accuracy by approximately 70% compared to either the AQI model or the HMS model for all chemicals modeled. This study provides evidence that PM AQI data alone or HMS data alone is insufficient to explain personal chemical exposures. Our results identify additional key predictors of personal chemical exposure.

%B Geohealth %V 8 %P e2023GH000937 %8 2024 Feb %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1029/2023GH000937 %0 Journal Article %J J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol %D 2024 %T Predicting personal PAH exposure using high dimensional questionnaire and wristband data. %A McLarnan, Sarah M %A Lisa M Bramer %A Holly Dixon %A Richard P Scott %A Lehyla Calero %A Darrell Holmes %A Gibson, Elizabeth A %A Cavalier, Haleigh M %A Diana Rohlman %A Miller, Rachel L %A Laurel D Kincl %A Katrina M Waters %A Kim A Anderson %A Julie Herbstman %X

BACKGROUND: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of pervasive environmental pollutants with a variety of known health effects. While significant work has been completed to estimate personal exposure to PAHs, less has been done to identify sources of these exposures. Comprehensive characterization of reported sources of personal PAH exposure is a critical step to more easily identify individuals at risk of high levels of exposure and for developing targeted interventions based on source of exposure.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we leverage data from a New York (NY)-based birth cohort to identify personal characteristics or behaviors associated with personal PAH exposure and develop models for the prediction of PAH exposure.

METHODS: We quantified 61 PAHs measured using silicone wristband samplers in association with 75 questionnaire variables from 177 pregnant individuals. We evaluated univariate associations between each compound and questionnaire variable, conducted regression tree analysis for each PAH compound and completed a principal component analysis of for each participant's entire PAH exposure profile to determine the predictors of PAH levels.

RESULTS: Regression tree analyses of individual compounds and exposure mixture identified income, time spent outdoors, maternal age, country of birth, transportation type, and season as the variables most frequently predictive of exposure.

%B J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol %8 2024 Jan 05 %G eng %R 10.1038/s41370-023-00617-y %0 Journal Article %J J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol %D 2017 %T Preparation and performance features of wristband samplers and considerations for chemical exposure assessment. %A Kim A Anderson %A Points, Gary L %A Carey E Donald %A Holly Dixon %A Richard P Scott %A Glenn R Wilson %A Lane G Tidwell %A Peter D Hoffman %A Julie Herbstman %A Steven G O'Connell %X

Wristbands are increasingly used for assessing personal chemical exposures. Unlike some exposure assessment tools, guidelines for wristbands, such as preparation, applicable chemicals, and transport and storage logistics, are lacking. We tested the wristband's capacity to capture and retain 148 chemicals including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, flame retardants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). The chemicals span a wide range of physical-chemical properties, with log octanol-air partitioning coefficients from 2.1 to 13.7. All chemicals were quantitatively and precisely recovered from initial exposures, averaging 102% recovery with relative SD ≤21%. In simulated transport conditions at +30 °C, SVOCs were stable up to 1 month (average: 104%) and VOC levels were unchanged (average: 99%) for 7 days. During long-term storage at -20 °C up to 3 (VOCs) or 6 months (SVOCs), all chemical levels were stable from chemical degradation or diffusional losses, averaging 110%. Applying a paired wristband/active sampler study with human participants, the first estimates of wristband-air partitioning coefficients for PAHs are presented to aid in environmental air concentration estimates. Extrapolation of these stability results to other chemicals within the same physical-chemical parameters is expected to yield similar results. As we better define wristband characteristics, wristbands can be better integrated in exposure science and epidemiological studies.Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology advance online publication, 26 July 2017; doi:10.1038/jes.2017.9.

%B J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol %8 2017 Jul 26 %G eng %R 10.1038/jes.2017.9 %0 Generic %D 2016 %T Presidential Citation for Exemplary Service %A Holly Dixon %B Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry %8 2016 %G eng