Journal article
Testing the metals hypothesis in Spokane, Washington
Environmental health perspectives, Vol.110(Suppl 4), pp.547-552
08/2002
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/108730
PMCID: PMC1241203
PMID: 12194884
Abstract
A >7-year, time-series, epidemiologic study is ongoing in Spokane, Washington, to examine the associations between ambient particulate constituents or sources and health outcomes such as emergency department (ED) visits for asthma or respiratory problems. One of the hypotheses being tested is that particulate toxic metals are associated with these health outcomes. Spokane is a desirable city in which to conduct this study because of its relatively high concentrations of particulate matter, low concentrations of potentially confounding air pollutants, variability of particulate sources, and presence of several potential particulate metals sources. Daily fine- and coarse-fraction particulate samples are analyzed for metals via energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and instrumental neutron activation analysis. Particulate sources are determined using receptor modeling, including chemical mass balancing and positive matrix factorization coupled with partial source contribution function analysis. Principal component analysis has also been used to examine the influence of sources on the daily variability of the chemical composition of particulate samples. Based upon initial analyses using the EDXRF elemental analyses, statistically significant associations were observed between ED visits for asthma and increased combustion products, air stagnation, and fine particulate Zn. Although there is a significant soil particulate component, increased crustal particulate levels were not found to be associated with ED visits for asthma. Further research will clarify whether there is an association between specific health outcomes and either coarse or fine particulate metal species.
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Details
- Title
- Testing the metals hypothesis in Spokane, Washington
- Creators
- Candis S Claiborn - Laboratory for Atmospheric Research and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-2910, Washington, USA. claiborn@wsu.eduTimothy Larson - Laboratory for Atmospheric Research and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-2910, Washington, USA. claiborn@wsu.eduLianne Sheppard - Laboratory for Atmospheric Research and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-2910, Washington, USA. claiborn@wsu.edu
- Publication Details
- Environmental health perspectives, Vol.110(Suppl 4), pp.547-552
- Academic Unit
- Carson College of Business; Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of
- Identifiers
- 99900547357501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article