Pollution and Lung Health in Active Youth (PLAY) at School

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Over 3 million children in the United States attend schools within 100 meters of a major roadway, resulting in significant exposure to traffic-related air pollutants during school hours and while commuting to and from school. In our prior work, we have identified commuting as a period of high-intensity exposure and have obtained evidence linking school pollution exposure to airway inflammation. Moreover, we found that individual-level exposure to black carbon (BC)/soot varies significantly among children within an urban community, and we hypothesize that changes in respiratory patterns associated with physical activity may directly influence inhaled BC mass during active vs. passive commuting. Critically, however, there remains a gap in our knowledge regarding evidence-based targets for interventions to reduce exposures while children commute and play in school. We plan to bridge this scientific gap using our innovative approaches to assessing air pollution exposure and by leveraging our strong community partnerships. Recent advances in wearable technology now allow us to simultaneously measure: 1) BC pollutant concentrations in the breathing zone, 2) minute ventilation (VE; i.e., tidal volume x respiratory rates), and 3) locations of activity with global positioning system (GPS) data. In the current study, we will collect detailed measurements of inhaled mass of BC particulate pollutant in a cohort of 40 children in grades 7–12 who live and attend school in an urban community. After conducting cardiopulmonary exercise testing to calibrate HR sensors at the individual level, we will ask children to wear HR sensors and BC monitors in their natural environment for 48 hours and repeat measurements after 6 months. We will compare inhaled mass of BC during periods of activity vs. rest (Aim 1), among children who engage in active (e.g., walking) vs. passive (e.g., bus or subway) commuting to/from school (Aim 2a) and across four different time periods throughout the school day (i.e. morning commute, school hours, afternoon commute, non-school hours) (Aim 2b).Our overall hypothesis is that inhaled BC mass during periods of high activity contributes a large percentage to daily exposure. We further hypothesize that children who engage in active commuting will have greater inhaled mass of BC compared to children who engage in passive commuting and that exposures will be greatest during the morning commute. Our study will provide preliminary data for a future intervention study aimed at determining the safest routes to and from school for reducing personal exposure to air pollutants. Thus, this proposal aligns with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s strategic objective to optimize technological developments to facilitate lifestyle interventions and improve the maintenance of health and wellness. Data derived from this R03 study also will have a direct impact on informing local legislation and could affect policy in similar communities where schools are located adjacent to major traffic routes.