Scientific Papers
2019 - 2025
Tessa R Bloomquist, Abigail Gaylord, Whitney Cowell, Frederica Perera, Jia Guo, Shuang Wang, Pam Factor-Litvak, Andrea A Baccarelli, Julie B Herbstman, Allison Kupsco
Phthalates, a group of endocrine disrupting chemicals used in plastics, are ubiquitous in the environment and may influence cellular processes related to child health and development. The researchers utilized data from the Columbia Children’s Center for Environmental Health (CCCEH) Mothers and Newborns Cohort in Northern Manhattan and the South Bronx (New York City). Pregnant participants were enrolled in the third trimester; follow-ups occurred when children were ages 5 and 7. The study investigated whether gestational exposure to phthalates influences biomarkers associated with cellular aging
ECHO consortium, including Rachel Miller, Julie Herbstman
Common chemicals called phenols—found in many everyday products—may affect children’s immune and respiratory health before they are even born. Researchers studying more than 3,000 U.S. mother–child pairs found that higher prenatal levels of certain phenols, such as parabens, were linked to an increased risk of atopic dermatitis (e.g. eczema) in early childhood. Some effects differed between boys and girls, suggesting that girls may be more vulnerable to certain exposures. These results underscore the importance of reducing chemical exposures during pregnancy to help protect children’s long-term health.
Amy E. Margolis, Andrew Law, Emily A. Knapp, Paige Greenwood, Molly Algermissen,Lyndsay A. Avalos, Zoe Birnhak, Courtney Blackwell, Carrie Breton, Nicole R. Bush, Cristiane Duarte, Jean Frazier, Jody Ganiban, Julie Herbstman, Ixel Hernandez, Julie A. Hofheimer, Margaret R. Karagas, David Pagliaccio, Bruce Ramphal, Jacob W. Cohen, Danielle Roubinov, Darby Saxbe, Rebecca Schmidt, Phillip Sherlock, Carmen Velez-Vega, Xiaodan Tang, Virginia Rauh, Johnnye Lewis, Ghassan Hamra & Theresa M. Bastain
Traumatic stress symptoms increase the risk for mental health problems. We examine patterns of COVID-19-related changes in youth and family experiences (material hardships, behavior change, coping strategies), how these patterns vary with sociodemographic factors, and how COVID-19-related experiences associate with youth pandemic-related traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms.
ECHO consortium, including Amy Margolis
Toddlers assessed during the COVID-19 pandemic had slightly fewer emotional and behavioral problems compared to children assessed before the pandemic, suggesting some toddlers may have shown resilience during this time. This finding comes from a study of over 3,000 children across the United States using data from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort Consortium collected between September 2009 and July 2023.
Brain Abnormalities Seen in Children Exposed Prenatally to the Pesticide Chlorpyrifos; August 18, 2025 (Press release en español)
Bradley S Peterson, Sahar Delavari, Ravi Bansal, Siddhant Sawardekar, Chaitanya Gupte, Howard Andrews, Lori A Hoepner, Wanda Garcia, Frederica Perera, Virginia Rauh
A new study reports evidence of a link between prenatal exposure to the widely used insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) and structural brain abnormalities, as well as poorer motor function, in New York City children and adolescents. The findings are the first to demonstrate enduring and widespread molecular, cellular, and metabolic effects in the brain, as well as poorer fine motor control among youth with prenatal exposure to the insecticide. The study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Keck School of Medicine of USC is published in the journal JAMA Neurology.
Vitamin D During Pregnancy May Play a Role in Children’s Cognitive Development, ECHO Study Suggests, August 4, 2025 (Press release en español)
ECHO consortium, including Julie B. Herbstman
Higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy may be linked to better scores on cognitive tests, according to a new study by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort.
Program Collaborators for Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes, (ECHO) including: Julie B. Herbstman
Exposure to environmental chemicals before and shortly after birth can lead to various health issues for children. However, there is limited data on levels of these chemicals in young kids. This study used data from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort to examine chemical exposure in 201 children aged 2 to 4 years from 2010 to 2021. Researchers measured 111 different chemicals in urine samples from both the children and their mothers during pregnancy, comparing levels between the two.
Program Collaborators for Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes, (ECHO) including: Julie B. Herbstman
Evidence suggests prenatal phthalate exposure adversely affects children's behavior. However, epidemiological studies on alternative plasticizers remain scarce. This study investigated associations of gestational exposure to phthalates and alternative plasticizers with internalizing and externalizing behaviors in children aged 1.5-5 years.
Prenatal exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants and behavioral outcomes in early childhood in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort; June 16, 2025 (Press release en español)
Program Collaborators for Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes, (ECHO) including: Julie B. Herbstman
Prenatal exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) has been linked to neurotoxic effects in children; however, epidemiological evidence remains inconclusive. We investigated associations of prenatal OPE exposure with child behaviors. We analyzed data of 2948 mother-child dyads from 12 prospective cohorts of the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort. In the present study, we observed that maternal exposure to several OPEs during pregnancy was linked to more behavioral and emotional problems among toddlers and preschoolers.
Phenotypes of Atopic Dermatitis and Development of Allgic Diseases; June 12, 2025
ECHO Children's Respiratory and Environmental Workgroup including Julie Herbstman, Frederica Perera
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common inflammatory disease in childhood, and children with AD are more likely to develop other allergic diseases, including food allergy, allergic rhinitis, and asthma.
Intrinsic health as a foundation for a science of health; June 20, 2025
Alan A Cohen, Martin Picard, John R Beard , Daniel W Belsky, Julie Herbstman , Christine L Kuryla, Molei Liu 8, Nour Makarem, Daniel Malinsky, Sen Pei, Ying Wei, Linda P Fried
The health sciences largely focus on disease. However, the interconnected determinants of diseases suggest that we need a science of health, a framework to examine the biology of homeodynamics in a changing environment and how this affects the health we value. We build on first principles and recent discoveries on biological system dynamics to develop the concept of intrinsic health, a field-like state emerging from the dynamic interplay of energy, communication, and structure within the organism, giving rise to robustness/resilience, plasticity, performance, and sustainability. Intrinsic health is a quantifiable property of individuals that declines with age and interacts with context. We propose a measurement framework and describe how it will contribute to achieving the shared goals of medicine and public health.
Exposure to Low Levels of Arsenic in Public Drinking Water Linked to Lower Birthweight, Preterm Birth, Study Finds; June 16, 2025 (Press release en español)
Anne E. Nigra,Tessa R. Bloomquist, Tushara Rajeev, Mohamad Burjak, Joan A. Casey, Dana E. Goin, Julie B. Herbstman, Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne, Blair J. Wylie et al; Program Collaborators for Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes
Babies born to mothers potentially exposed to low levels of arsenic in public drinking water—even at levels below the federal safety standard—were more likely to be born preterm, with lower birthweight, or be smaller than expected, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health’s Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets a maximum contaminant level of 10 micrograms per liter for arsenic in public water systems, this study examines how even lower-level arsenic exposures may still affect pregnancy outcomes in a large population. Previous research largely focused on private wells or smaller study groups.
Newborn blood DNA methylation and childhood asthma: findings from the ECHO program; May 26, 2025
Program Collaborators for Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes, (ECHO) including: Julie B. Herbstman
DNA methylation (DNAm) at birth has been linked to childhood asthma in epigenome-wide association studies (EWASs). However, existing EWASs have limited representation of non-European and extremely preterm participants and have not explored sex-specific DNAm differences. This study examined the association between DNAm in newborn blood and subsequent childhood asthma risk in a diverse population.
Hrerrera-Moreno JF, Tejo-Valdivia B, Tolentino M, Wright RO, Baccarelli AA, Wright RJ, Niedzwieck MM, Téllez-Rojo MM, Tamayo-Ortiz M
The Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) refers to the increase in cortisol levels that occurs within 30 to 40 minutes after waking up. This phenomenon is commonly studied in stress research. We hypothesized that negative CAR values could indicate an underlying health issue, as reflected in hematological parameters, or be linked to environmental exposures, such as lead (Pb), which is known to affect neuroendocrine functions, including altered cortisol rhythms throughout the day. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of negative CAR values and their association with hematological parameters and blood lead (BPb) levels in pregnant women (n = 900). We conclude that negative CAR values could be an indicator of an underlying health condition or associated with environmental exposures such as Pb
Marcela R Abrego, Andrew G Rundle, Saralyn F Foster, Daniel A Powers, Lori A Hoepner, Eliza W Kinsey, Frederica Perera, Elizabeth M Widen
High gestational weight gain (GWG) is positively associated with acute postpartum adiposity, long-term postpartum weight retention (LPPWR), and later cardiometabolic health, but whether associations persist into midlife remains unknown.
How climate change could affect arsenic in rice, April 18, 2025 (Press release en español)
BBC; Amanda Ruggeri
Rice is a staple food for billions of people around the planet, but a new study suggests climate change may increase arsenic levels contained within the grain. Rice is a staple food for more than half of the global population. It is consumed on a daily basis by more people than either wheat or maize, also known as corn. So it is with some concern that scientists have unveiled a recent finding: that as carbon emissions rise and the Earth continues to warm, so too will arsenic levels in rice. Scientific Publication
Periods of susceptibility for associations between phthalate exposure and preterm birth: Results from a pooled analysis of 16 US cohorts; April 20205
Phthalate exposure during pregnancy has been associated with preterm birth, but mechanisms of action may depend on the timing of exposure. We investigated critical periods of susceptibility during pregnancy for associations between urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations and preterm birth. We found the association of preterm birth with gestational biomarkers of DEHP exposure, but not other phthalate metabolites, differed by the timing of exposure. First and second trimester exposures demonstrated the greatest associations. Our study also highlights methodological considerations for critical periods of susceptibility analyses in pooled studies.
Amy E Margolis, Alex Dranovsky, David Pagliaccio, Gazi Azad, Virginia Rauh, Julie Herbstman
Although awareness of the role of environmental exposures in children's cognitive development is increasing, learning difficulties have not yet been a major focus of environmental health science. Learning difficulties disproportionately affect children living in economic disadvantage, yielding an ‘achievement gap.’ Studies examining the neurobiology of reading and math have mostly included economically advantaged youth, leaving a great deal unknown about the neural underpinnings of reading and math difficulties in youth living in disadvantaged contexts.
Prenatal Exposure to Phenols and Parabens Appear to Be Higher Among Minority Populations, ECHO Study Finds, March 7, 2025 (Press release en español)
Collaborative research including Julie Herbstman
Pregnant women in Hispanic and Black communities may experience greater prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including environmental phenols (EPs) and parabens, according to a study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
EDCs are commonly encountered during pregnancy through everyday items such as plastics, food packaging, and personal care products. Although these products break down quickly in the body, EDCs can cross the placenta and accumulate in fetal tissue. Prenatal exposure has been linked to pregnancy complications, developmental challenges, and long-term health risks.
Manish Soni, Saravanan Arunachalam, M V S Ramarao, Christos I Efstathiou, Christopher Rick, Laura Buckley, C Dinesh, Mary Willis, Frederica Perera, Patrick Kinney, Jonathan I Levy, Jonathan Buonocore
Onroad vehicular emissions can adversely affect the health of people both near-road and regionally through exposure to O3, NO2, and PM2.5. While multiple studies have characterized the overall air quality and health benefits of emissions from the transportation sector, fewer studies have modeled the benefits of transportation policies at higher geographic resolution relevant to communities.
California assembly member proposes ban on certain anti-aging products for minors; February 19, 2025
CBS8, San Diego, CA News
Author: Esmeralda Perez
Dr. Julie Herbstman was recently featured on CBS8, a San Diego news station. A new bill in California aims to prohibit the sale of certain anti-aging cosmetic products to individuals under 18 years old. Dr. Herbstman commented on the negative impacts of adolescents using anti-aging cosmetics. Separately, she notes, “The FDA does not require screening of these products, so the pressure is on parents to understand what is safe for their children. This bill could remove some of the burden from parents, but ideally the FDA would screen products before they are on the shelves, similar to what is done in the EU."
Racial and ethnic differences in prenatal exposure to environmental phenols and parabens in the ECHO Cohort; February 15, 2025 (Press release en español)
Michael S. Bloom, Sudhi Upadhyaya, Adaeze W. Nzegwu, Jordan R. Kuiper, Jessie P. Buckley, Judy Aschner, Dana Barr, Emily S. Barrett, Deborah H. Bennett, Dana Dabelea, Anne L. Dunlop, Alma Fuller, Margaret Karagas, Donghai Liang, John Meeker, Rachel Miller, Thomas G. O’Connor, Megan E. Romano, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Anne P. Starling, Annemarie Stroustrup, Deborah J. Watkins, Julie B. Herbstman, Amy Margolis for the ECHO Cohort Consortium
Research suggests racial/ethnic disparities in prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting environmental phenols (EPs) in limited populations. However, no studies have investigated racial/ethnic disparities in prenatal EP exposure across the U.S.
program collaborators for Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes
Effective measurement of positive child health is critical in improving public health. A proposed measure of positive health, a positive child health index (PCHI), is based on how many of 11 specific physical, developmental, and mental health conditions a child has (ranging from 0 to 11). Accepted measures of positive health, Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) measures of global health, meaning and purpose, and life satisfaction, are based on child and caregiver perceptions.
USA TODAY You Might Have a Spoon's Worth of Microplastics - in Your Brain; February 3, 20205
The quality of the research was extremely good, said Gary Miller, a professor of environmental health sciences at Columbia University, who was not involved in the research. These kinds of studies, especially on human brains, are difficult and require great care to ensure that there's been no contamination of the tissue, he said. "This was a very well-conducted study with excellent technique that clearly demonstrates these things are in people's brains," he said.
ET. Marcelle, H. Yang, JW. Cohen, B. Ramphal, D. Pagliaccio, V. Rauh, BS. Peterson, F. Perera, H. Andrews, AG. Rundle, J. Herbstman, AE. Margolis; Study summary: Erica Tyler, EHS
Dr. Frederica Perera and Dr. Julie Herbstman were among the authors of, "The role of the hippocampus in working memory and word reading: Novel neural correlates of reading among youth living in the context of economic disadvantage”. Living in economic disadvantage brings with it exposure to stress and other environmental factors that affect brain structure and function.
Changes in urinary concentrations of contemporary and emerging chemicals in commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) programMaking; January 24, 2025
Megan E. Romano, Jessie P. Buckley, Xiuhong Li, Julie B. Herbstman, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Sunmi Lee, Susan L. Schantz, Leo Trasande, Margaret R. Karagas, Frederica Perera, for the ECHO Cohort Consortium
A "natural experiment" happens when some people in a group face different exposure to a possible risk factor without any assignment from researchers. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique chance to study changes in environmental exposures due to widespread policies aimed at controlling the virus's spread. Lockdowns and restrictions led to altered behaviors, which likely affected people's exposure to environmental factors. The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, a U.S. wide consortium-based initiative, is well-suited to explore changes in environmental exposures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Making Ourselves Heard; January 13, 2025
By Christina Hernandez Sherwood | Illustration by David Cooper
A science storytelling class with the Columbia School of Journalism...
There is no denying it: Today’s information landscape is punctuated by an increased mistrust of science, a partisan political climate, and a cacophony of social media voices. Public health experts must shout—strategically— in order to be heard. This has led to expanded interest in a skill that Columbia Mailman School has long emphasized: public health communication— that is, the act of conveying public health information not only to peers, but also to society at large. Public health professionals are realizing they need to change the way they think about this key skill.
Federal Policy Platforms and Public Health: Reinforcing the Benefits of Air Pollution Control Devices at Power Plants in the United States; January 2025;
American Journal of Public Health (ajph) -Jonathan J. Buonocore ScD, MS, Jeremy Fisher PhD, ScM, Daniel Prull PhD, MS, Mary D. Willis PhD, MPH, Saravanan Arunachalam PhD, MS, Frederica Perera DrPH, PhD, Patrick Kinney ScD, MS, Brian Sousa BS, and Jonathan I. Levy ScD
Recent federal policy platforms have been proposed that include substantial changes to environmental regulation at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For instance, the 2025 Presidential Transition Project (“Project 2025”)1 has a number of proposals to change the Clean Air Act (CAA); and the America First Agenda2 has proposals to “modernize” the CAA. If implemented, these measures may sharply reduce the future public health benefits of the CAA. These include possible harms from ceasing operation of air pollution control devices (APCDs) at power plants, which have been a bedrock of national-scale air pollution reductions for decades.
Distribution of air quality health benefits of medium and heavy-duty electrification policies in New York City; January 3, 2025
Brian Naess, Jonathan Buonocore, Veronica Southerland, Muskaan Khemani, Catherine Seppanen, Ananya Roy, Frederica Perera, Kaitlyn E Coomes, Rick Rykowski and Saravanan Arunachalam*
This study's objective is to evaluate the distribution of air quality health benefits resulting from Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle (MHDEV) policies in New York City (NYC), focusing on differences across neighborhoods (census tracts) and among various population subgroups (based on race and ethnicity).
Climate Change and Clean Air Policies Bring Major Health Benefits to Children and Adults; December 16, 2024
Frederica Perera and Kathleen Lau
Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health find that clean air and climate policies aimed at reducing fossil fuel emissions and air pollution prevent large numbers of deaths and illness in adults and children. The new analysis of peer-reviewed scientific findings also reports substantial economic benefits.
Divya Keerthy , Miranda J. Spratlen , Lingsheng Wen , Dwayne Seeram , Heekuk Park , Lehyla Calero , Anne-Catrin Uhlemann , Julie B. Herbstman
In utero exposure to environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) is associated with neurodevelopmental impairments, prematurity and low birthweight. The gut microbiome serves as an intermediary between self and external environment; therefore, exploring the impact of PAH on microbiota may elucidate their role in disease. Here, we evaluated the effect of in utero PAH exposure on meconium microbiome.
ECHO Study Investigates Nutrition During Pregnancy and Infant Growth Outcomes; November 21, 2024
Authors: Monique Hedderson, Assiamira Ferrara, et al. (ECHO Cohort Consortium, including CCCEH Researchers, Drs. Julie B. Herbstman and Amy Margolis)
Nearly one-third of children in the U.S. have overweight or obesity, putting them at risk of adverse health outcomes later in life. More research is needed to inform prevention strategies during critical periods of growth, including pregnancy. This study aimed to understand the association between diet quality during pregnancy and infant growth.
NIH Study Finds Exposure to Flame-Retardant Chemicals During Pregnancy Was Associated with Varying Childhood Obesity Risks; November 4, 2024 (Press release en español)
Study reveals a complex link between pregnancy exposure to common chemicals and childhood obesity, researchers say.
Exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs)—chemicals found in everyday products that use plastics and flame retardants—during pregnancy may have varying effects on the risks of childhood obesity, according to a new study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health.
Clean Air and Climate Policies Provide Health Benefits to New Yorkers, October 17, 2024 (Press Release en español)
A new study analyzes the links between the enactment of major air pollution and climate policies in New York City and significant improvement in air quality from 1998 to 2021. It finds a cumulative beneficial effect of these policies both city-wide and among residents in communities disproportionately affected by air pollution.
Kathleen Lau, Jia Guo, Yuqi Miao, Zev Ross, Kylie W. Riley, Shuang Wang, Julie Herbstman, Frederica Perera
The study by environmental health scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health is published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Public Health
Emily S Barrett, Jennifer L Ames, Stephanie M Eick, Alicia K Peterson, Zorimar Rivera-Núñez, Anne P Starling, Jessie P Buckley and among ECHO Consortium includes Julie Herbstman
While specific environmental chemical exposures have been proven to impact child well-being, exposure studies are often limited in size and diversity, limiting the ability to draw generalizable conclusions from results. With data from more than 60,000 participants from 69 groups of pregnant participants, the ECHO program is the largest study of U.S. children’s health and a unique opportunity for more-representative research.
Mariah DeSerisy, Leilani Salas, Emiliya Akhundova, Dahiana Pena, Jacob W Cohen, David Pagliaccio, Julie Herbstman, Virginia Rauh, Amy E Margolis
PAH exposure has detrimental impacts on both maternal and child mental health.
Our study extends previous work by examining trajectories of PAH-related maternal demoralization symptoms and adolescent mental health. Our findings support an intergenerational transmission of PAH-related psychological distress such that mothers exposed to PAH during pregnancy are more likely to demonstrate higher demoralization over time and in turn their children report higher mental and behavioral health symptoms.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted daily life and has raised concerns about its impact on children’s well-being. A new study from the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Program (ECHO) sheds light on how a neighborhood’s physical and social environment influenced a child’s well-being before and during the pandemic. Read Full Publication: Environmental Research
Modeling Air Pollution-Related Health Benefits of Transportation Scenarios: A Collaboration Between Academic Researchers and Environmental Justice Organizations; (Por Sarah Derouin, articulo Press release en español)
Co-authors in EJ/academic partnership include Dr. Frederica Perera, Katy Coomes, and Kathleen Lau, CCCEH Team First published: 30 July 2024
Transportation is a leading contributor to emissions and is a focus for climate policies. Traffic-related air pollution disproportionately affects environmental justice (EJ) communities, but health impact assessments rarely center EJ issues or prioritize the concerns of EJ communities. Community Science https://doi.org/10.1029/2023CSJ000041
New ECHO Research Investigates Relationship Between Phthalate Exposure and High Blood Pressure, Related Complications During Pregnancy; (Press release en español)
Julie B. Herbstman contributing author; Posted on
Collaborative ECHO research led by John Meeker, ScD of the University of Michigan, and Jordan Kuiper, PhD of George Washington University, investigates the relationship between phthalate exposure and high blood pressure during pregnancy. This research, titled “Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites in relation to preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program,” is published in Environment International.
Protecting the Developing Brains of Children from the Harmful Effects of Plastics and Toxic Chemicals in Plastics, April 2024
Recommendations for Essential Policy Reforms in the New Global Treaty on Plastics
Project TENDRA authors include Dr. Frederica Perera and research referenced includes Dr. Julie Herbstman and others at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health Environmental Health Sciences Department. As experts in the effects of toxic chemicals on neurodevelopment, and as scientists, clinicians, and children’s health advocates in Project TENDR (Targeting Environmental NeuroDevelopment Risks), we are deeply concerned about mounting scientific evidence showing that plastics and toxic chemicals in plastics are contributing to neurodevelopmental disabilities and cognitive deficits in children. We summarize the evidence of widespread fetal and early childhood exposures to plastics and resulting harm to children’s brains and offer recommendations to strengthen the global treaty on plastics pollution to ensure it addresses the toxicity and proliferation of plastics and petrochemicals.
Climate Policies to Reduce Motor Vehicle Emissions Can Improve Children’s Health (Press release en español)
A new study finds that policies to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from motor vehicles combined with investments in electric vehicles and public transportation would reduce air pollution and bring large benefits to children’s health. They would also save money. Environmental Research Letters; Alique G Berberian, Frederica Perera, Saravanan Arunachalam, Jonathan I Levy, Laura Buckley, Calvin Arter, Kaitlyn E Coomes and Jonathan J Buonocore; March 13, 2024
Curbing Coal Emissions Translates to Health Gains for Children
Residential heating by coal has for decades been the major contributor to the high levels of air pollution in Krakow, Poland. New research finds a nearly 40 percent decline in the annual average concentration of respirable particulate matter (PM2.5) in Kraków, Poland, between 2010 and 2019 following the implementation of policies targeting emissions from the burning of coal and other solid fuels. Researchers show the improvement in air quality translated to substantial benefits for children’s outcomes, including fewer cases of asthma and better birth outcomes. Environmental Research Letters Agnieszka Pac, Renata Majewska, Natalia Nidecka, Elzbieta Sochacka-Tatara and Frederica P Perera; March 13, 2024
Extreme heat events are a major public health concern and are only expected to increase in intensity and severity as climate change continues to accelerate. Pregnant people are physiologically more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat, and exposure can induce harm on both the pregnant person and the fetus. Enviornmental Health Perspectives; Gabriella Y. Meltzer , Pam Factor-Litvak, Julie B. Herbstman, Blair J. Wylie, and Diana Hernández; March 6, 2024
ECHO Researchers Find Link Between Phthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth, Estimate Potential Costs; (Press release en español)
Julie B. Herbstman contributing author; Posted on
Collaborative ECHO research led by Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP of NYU Langone Health investigates the potential connections between phthalates, their metabolites in the urine of pregnant individuals, and birth outcomes. This research, titled “Prenatal phthalate exposure and adverse birth outcomes in the USA: a prospective analysis of births and estimates of attributable burden and costs,” is published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
ECHO NIH STUDY FINDS FLAME-RETARDANT CHEMICALS MAY INCREASE RISK OF PRETERM BIRTH, HIGHER BIRTH WEIGHT; (Press release en español)
Julie B. Herbstman contributing author; Environmental Health Perspectives; January 25, 2024
An NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort study finds that certain organophosphate esters (OPEs) were linked to increased odds of preterm birth, especially in girls.Pregnant individuals exposed to specific classes of flame-retardant chemicals known as organophosphate esters (OPEs) may face an increased risk of preterm birth, especially for baby girls, or higher birth weights for girls and boys, according to a recently published study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program at the National Institutes of Health.
Replacement flame retardant chemicals linked to preterm birth, new study finds EWG ; Alex Friedman, Ph.D. February 5, 2024
A new study finds a link between premature birth and exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants, or OPEs, used in furniture and foam for mattresses and more. The study also found the risk of preterm birth was greater for pregnant people who gave birth to female babies.
To understand how chemical exposure can impact health, researchers need tools that capture the complexities of personal chemical exposure in addition to outdoor stationary monitors such as AQI, air quality index and Hazard Mapping System (HMS), smoke density data from satellites.
LisaM.Bramer, HollyM.Dixon, DianaRohlman, RichardP.Scott, Rachel L.Miller, LaurelKincl, JulieB.Herbstman,KatrinaM.Waters and KimA.Anderson; January 22,2024
Wristband Monitors Provide Detailed Account of Air Pollution Exposure (Press release en español)
The researchers examined an unprecedented number of 61 air pollution compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and compared them to 75 questionnaire variables, making the study the most comprehensive analysis of its kind. PAHs are created by combustion and can be found in sources like automotive exhaust and tobacco smoke; exposure to these compounds has been linked to various adverse health effects, including those related to fetal growth and neurodevelopment. The study’s findings appear online in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. Sarah M. McLarnan, Lisa M. Bramer, Holly M. Dixon , Richard P. Scott , Lehyla Calero, Darrell Holmes, Elizabeth A. Gibson, Haleigh M. Cavalier, Diana Rohlman, Rachel L. Miller , Laurel Kincl, Katrina M. Waters, Kim A. Anderson and Julie B. Herbstman; January 5, 2024
Trajectory analysis of rhinitis in a birth cohort from lower-income NYC neighborhoods (Press release en español)
Nasal symptoms including congestion, runny nose, itching and/or sneezing may be a sign of rhinitis. Rhinitis is a prevalent, chronic nasal condition associated with asthma.To better understand and characterize the developmental course of rhinitis and how it may shed light as an early predictor of asthma, the study examined the course of rhinitis from infancy to adolescence. CCCEH’s longitudinal birth cohort participated in the study. Children who experienced "persistent and late onset", and /or "frequent" rhinitis are associated with increased risk of asthma diagnosis and symptoms during adolescence. The findings inform us that children experiencing repeat or persistent rhinitis symptoms early in life may warrant more vigilant monitoring for asthma symptoms and asthma triggers. Developing interventions aimed at the prevention, early diagnosis, and/or treatment of rhinitis could potentially avoid subsequentasthma development. Flores NM, Lovinsky-Desir S, Divjan A, Hoepner LA, Zou J, Miller RL, Herbstman JB, Perera FP, Perzanowski MS, Chen Q, The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology December 15, 2023
Association between mitochondrial bio markers, urban residential exposures and childhood asthma outcomes over 6 months (Press release en español)
Determining biomarkers of these responses to exposures and evaluating whether they predict worse lung function or higher airway inflammation may help optimize environmental and medical approaches to childhood asthma. Miller RL, Rivera J, Lichtiger L, Govindarajulu US, Jung KH, Lovinsky-Desir S, Perera F, Balcer Whaley S, Newman M, Grant TL, McCormack M, Perzanowski M, Matsui, E.C.; Enviornmental Research, December 15, 2023
Environmental health literacy (EHL) is an emerging field that combines elements from different disciplines, including health literacy, risk communication, environmental health, communications
This study aimed to identify contextual factors associated with life satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic for adolescents with mental, emotional, behavioral, and developmental (MEBD) disabilities. Conclusion: Findings from this study highlight the importance of interventions aimed specifically at increasing adolescent social connectedness, family engagement, and access to medical support for adolescents with MEBD disabilities, particularly in the face of stressors, such as a global pandemic. Sherlock P, Mansolf M, Blackwell CK, Blair C, Cella D, Deoni S, Fry RC, Ganiban J, Gershon R, Herbstman JB, Lai JS, Leve LD, LeWinn KZ, Margolis AE, Miller EB, Neiderhiser JM, Oken E, O'Shea TM, Stanford JB, Zelazo; Pediatric Research; October 24, 2023 research, and safety culture. Building on the concept of health literacy, as EHL increases, it is anticipated that informed individuals can take control of their own health and be aware of how their actions may reduce exposure or mitigate risk from environmental hazards. Kylie W Riley, Kimberly Burke, Anabel Cole, Maricela Ureno, Holly M Dixon, Lehyla Calero, Lisa M Bramer, Katrina M Waters, Kim A Anderson, Julie B Herbstman, and Diana Rohlman; International Public Health Journal; September 26, 2023
Science News, Climate change puts children's health at risk now and in the future
Heat Waves, wildfires, and other climate related effects on the environment are particularly hard on children's physical and mental health. Aimee Cunnigham, August 3, 2023
Study Finds Most U.S. Children Use Potentially Toxic Makeup Products, Often During Play (Press release en español)
A study by scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Earthjustice found that most children in the United States use makeup and body products that may contain carcinogens and other toxic chemicals. Results are published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
The study, based on more than 200 surveys, found that 79 percent of parents say their children 12 or younger use makeup and body products marketed to children, like glitter, face paint, and lip gloss.Prior research has shown that these products often have toxic chemicals, like lead, asbestos, PFAS, phthalates, and formaldehyde in them. Toxic chemicals found in children’s makeup and body products (CMBP), like heavy metals, are especially harmful to infants and children. These chemicals, whether intentionally added or present as contaminants, have been linked to cancer, neurodevelopmental harm, and other serious and irreversible health effects.
Medley, E.A.; Kruchten, K.E.; Spratlen, M.J.; Ureño, M.; Cole, A.; Joglekar, R.; Herbstman, J.B. Usage of Children’s Makeup and Body Products in the United States and Implications for Childhood Environmental Exposures. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health January 24, 2023, 20, 2114. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032114
Cap and Invest Policy Could Pay Dividends for Children's Health: Study (Press release en español)
A cap-and-invest strategy to cut transportation-related carbon emissions could provide substantial health benefits to children in New York City, with greater benefits among Black and Hispanic children. The results of the study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health are published in Environmental Research.
Kaitlyn E. Coomes, Jonathan J. Buonocore, Jonathan I. Levy, Calvin Arter, Saravanan Arunachalam, Laura Buckley, Alique Berberian, Jonathan Gunasti, Frederica Perera,
Assessment of the health benefits to children of a transportation climate policy in New York City, Environmental Research, 2022,114165, ISSN 0013-9351,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.114165. Online September 7, 2022
New York City Switch to Clean Buses Cut Air Pollution (Press release en español)
The transition of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus fleet in New York City to cleaner fuels and engines was followed by declines in air pollution, particularly nitrous oxide. The study was led by scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, CCCEH, Columbia Irving Medical Center, and Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health. The findings are published in the Journal Of Exposure Science And Environmental Epidemiology.
Gina S. Lovasi1 , Christian A. Treat1,2, Dustin Fry 1✉, Isha Shah3 , Jane E. Clougherty3,4, Alique Berberian3 , Frederica P. Perera3,5 and Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou5, Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-022-00454-5.Online July 20, 2022.
Climate Change, Fossil - Fuel Pollution and Children's Health (Press release en español)
The combustion of fossil fuels (coal, petroleum [oil], and natural gas) is the major source of both air pollution and the greenhouse-gas emissions driving climate change. The fetus, infant, and child are especially vulnerable to exposure to air pollution and climate change, which are already taking a major toll on the physical and mental health of children. Given the frequent co-occurrence of various fossil-fuel exposures, their interactions and cumulative environmental impacts are a growing concern. All children are at risk, but the greatest burden falls on those who are socially and economically disadvantaged. Protection of children’s health requires that health professionals understand the multiple harms to children from climate change and air pollution and use available strategies to reduce these harms.
Perera, Frederica Dr.P.H., Ph.D., Nadeau, Kari M.D., Ph.D. Solomon, Caren G., M.D., M.P. H.,Editor, Salas, Renee, N. M.D., M.P.H., Guest Editor 16 June 2022; N Engl J Med 2022; 386:2303-2314; DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra2117706,Published online, July 20, 2022.
Prenatal exposure to air pollution disrupts cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development. The brain disturbances associated with prenatal air pollution are largely unknown. In this prospective cohort study, we estimated prenatal exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and then assessed their associations with measures of brain anatomy, tissue microstructure, neurometabolites, and blood flow in 332 youth, 6–14 years old. We then assessed how those brain disturbances were associated with measures of intelligence, ADHD and anxiety symptoms, and socialization.
Bradley S. Peterson, Ravi Bansal, Siddhant Sawardekar, Carlo Nati, Eman R. Elgabalawy, Lori A. Hoepner, Wanda Garcia, Xuejun Hao, Amy Margolis, Frederica Perera, Virginia Rauh; Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry; First published: 14 February 2022 https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13578
Previously, we found that reported infant rhinorrhea and watery eyes without a cold (RWWC) predicted school age exercise-induced wheeze, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. These findings were independent of allergic sensitization, and we theorized that increased parasympathetic tone underlay the association. We also reported that increased heart-rate variability (HRV) in infants predicted wheeze in 2– 3 year-olds. In a convenience sample of children participating in a birth cohort study, we tested the hypothesis that infants with RWWC would have elevated HRV, indicating increased parasympathetic tone.
Laura A Conrad, Natalie Buchinsky, Luis M Acosta, J David Nugent, Khalil W Savary, Rachel L Miller, Nurdant Emanet, Julie Herbstman, Beatrice Beebe, Michael M Myers, William P Fifer, Matthew S Perzanowski. 9 November 2021 Volume 2021:14 Pages 1349—1354.
Our findings suggest that maternal ETS exposure during pregnancy has deleterious effects on the structure and function of cognitive control circuitry which in turn affects attentional capacity in school-age children. These findings are consistent with prior findings documenting the effects of active maternal smoking on chidlren's neurodevleoment, pointing to the neurotixicity of nicotine regardless of exposure pathway.
Margolis AE, Pagliaccio D, Ramphal B, Banker S, Thomas L, Robinson M, Honda M, Sussman T, Posner J, Kannan K, Herbstman J, Rauh V, Marsh R. Prenatal environmental tobacco smoke exposure alters children's cognitive controlcircuitry: A preliminary study. Environ Int. 2021 Oct;155:106516. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2021.106516. Epub 2021 May 6. PMID: 33964643; PMCID:PMC8292185.
Telomere dynamics across the early life course: Findings from a longitudinal study in children
Telomeres are protective caps on chromosome ends that shorten with each cell division. Telomere length (TL) predicts the onset of cellular senescence and correlates with longevity and age-related disease risk. Previous research suggests that adults display fixed ranking and tracking of TL by age 20 years, supporting the importance of TL at birth and attrition during childhood. However, longitudinal research examining telomere dynamics during early life is sparse. Here, we used monochrome multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction to measure relative TL in leukocytes isolated from cord blood and child blood collected at ages 3, 5, 7, and 9 years among 224 minority children enrolled in a New York City-based birth cohort. We also measured maternal TL at delivery in a subset of 197 participants with a biobanked blood sample. TL decreased most rapidly in the first years of life (birth to 3 years), followed by a period of maintenance into the pre-puberty period.
Cowell W, Tang D, Yu J, Guo J, Wang S, Baccarelli AA, Perera F, Herbstman JB. Telomere dynamics across the early life course: Findings from a longitudinalstudy in children. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2021 Jul;129:105270. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105270. Epub 2021 May 14. PMID: 34020264; PMCID: PMC8217283.
Improved understanding of how prenatal exposure to environmental mixtures influences birth weight or other adverse outcomes is essential in protecting child health. We illustrate a novel exposure continuum mapping (ECM) framework that combines the self-organizing map (SOM) algorithm with generalized additive modeling (GAM) in order to integrate spatially-correlated learning into the study mixtures of environmental chemicals. We demonstrate our method using biomarker data on chemical mixtures collected from a diverse mother-child cohort.
Pearce JL, Neelon B, Bloom MS, Buckley JP, Ananth CV, Perera F, Vena J, Hunt K; program collaborators for Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes. Exploring associations between prenatal exposure to multiple endocrine disruptors and birth weight with exposure continuum mapping. Environ Res. 2021 Jun 2;200:111386. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111386. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34087191.
Prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with childhood inhibitory control and adolescent academic achievement (Press release en español)
Prenatal air pollution exposure is associated with reductions in self-regulation and academic achievement. Self-regulation has been separately linked with academic achievement. Understudied, however, are the contributions of pollution exposure to inhibitory control, a facet of self-regulation, and whether pollution-related inhibitory control deficits are associated with impairment in academic achievement.
Amy E. Margolis, Bruce Ramphal, David Pagliaccio, Sarah Banker, Ena Selmanovic, Lauren Thomas, Pam Factor-Litvak, Frederica Perera, Bradley S. Peterson, Andrew Rundle, Julie Herbstman, Jeff Goldsmith, Virginia Rauh, Prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with childhood inhibitory control and adolescent academic achievement,Environmental Research, 2021,111570, ISSN 0013-9351, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111570.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935121008641)
Telomere Length, a Longevity Measure, May Be Determined Early in Life (Press release en español)
A new research study finds that telomeres shorten most rapidly during early childhood, replicating, for the first time, studies done in animal models.
Telomeres are protective caps on DNA that shorten as we grow older. Now, one of the first studies to examine telomere length (TL) in childhood finds that the initial setting of TL during prenatal development and in the first years of life may determine one’s TL throughout childhood and potentially even into adulthood or older age. The study also finds that TL decreases most rapidly from birth to age 3, followed by a period of maintenance into the pre-puberty period, although it was sometimes seen to lengthen.
Citation: Whitney Cowell, Deliang Tang, Jie Yu, Jia Guo, Shuang Wang, Andrea A. Baccarelli, Frederica Perera, Julie B. Herbstman,
Telomere dynamics across the early life course: Findings from a longitudinal study in children, Psychoneuroendocrinology, Volume 129, 2021, 105270, ISSN 0306-4530, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105270. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030645302100144X)
The field of environmental health has lacked an accessible biomarker to identify newborns at elevated risk as a result of a toxic prenatal exposure, one that is feasible in a small sample of DNA in cord blood or in a bloodspot. Such a biomarker could be used to identify highly exposed newborns at increased risk of adverse outcomes, such as neurodevelopmental problems and other chronic illness, in order to initiate early interventions.
Citation: Ya Wang , Frederica Perera , Jia Guo , Kylie W. Riley , Teresa Durham , Zev Ross , Cande V. Ananth , Andrea Baccarelli , Shuang Wang & Julie B. Herbstman (2021): A methodological pipeline to generate an epigenetic marker of prenatal exposure to air pollution indicators, Epigenetics, DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2021.1872926, 2021 January 21.
New York City (NYC) experienced a sharp decline in air pollution during the COVID-19 shutdown period (March 15, 2020 to May 15, 2020)-albeit at high social and economic costs. It provided a unique opportunity to simulate a scenario in which the city-wide air quality improvement during the shutdown were sustained over the five-year period, 2021 through 2025, allowing us to estimate the potential public health benefits to children and adults and their associated economic benefits. We focused on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and modeled potential future health benefits to children and adults. The analysis considered outcomes in children that have not generally been accounted for in clean air benefits assessments, including preterm birth, term low birthweight, infant mortality, child asthma incidence, child asthma hospital admissions and emergency department visits, autism spectrum disorder, as well as adult mortality.
Citation: Perera F, Berberian A, Cooley D, Shenaut E, Olmstead H, Ross Z, Matte T. Potential health benefits of sustained air quality improvements in New York City: A simulation based on air pollution levels during the COVID-19 shutdown. Environ Res. 2021 Feb;193:110555. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110555. Epub 2020 Dec 4. PMID: 33285156.
Characterizing peak exposure of secondhand smoke using a real-time PM 2.5 monitor
Although short-duration elevated exposures (peak exposures) to pollutants may trigger adverse acute effects, epidemiological studies to understand their influence on different health effects are hampered by lack of methods for objectively identifying peaks. Secondhand smoke from cigarettes (SHS) in the residential environment can lead to peak exposures. The aim of this study was to explore whether peaks in continuous PM2.5 data can indicate SHS exposure. A total of 41 children (21 with and 20 without SHS exposure based on self-report) from 28 families in New York City (NY, USA) were recruited. Both personal and residential continuous PM2.5 monitoring were performed for five consecutive days using MicroPEM sensors (RTI International, USA).
Citation: Zhang T, Chillrud SN, Yang Q, Pitiranggon M, Ross J, Perera F, Ji J, Spira A, Breysse PN, Rodes CE, Miller R, Yan B. Characterizing peak exposure of secondhand smoke using a real-time PM2.5 monitor. Indoor Air. 2020 Jan;30(1):98-107. doi: 10.1111/ina.12611. Epub 2019 Dec 11. PMID: 31610044; PMCID: PMC7137634.
Air pollution exposure is ubiquitous with demonstrated effects on morbidity and mortality. A growing literature suggests that prenatal air pollution exposure impacts neurodevelopment. We posit that the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program will provide unique opportunities to fill critical knowledge gaps given the wide spatial and temporal variability of ECHO participants.
Citation: Volk HE, Perera F, Braun JM, Kingsley SL, Gray K, Buckley J, Clougherty JE, Croen LA, Eskenazi B, Herting M, Just AC, Kloog I, Margolis A, McClure LA, Miller R, Levine S, Wright R; Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes. Prenatal air pollution exposure and neurodevelopment: A review and blueprint for a harmonized approach within ECHO. Environ Res. 2020 Oct 22:110320. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110320. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33098817.
Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) during pregnancy is a risk factor for adverse neurobehavioral development outcomes. Mitochondrial DNA are sensitive to environmental toxicants due to the limited ability of repairing. The change of mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) might be a biologically mechanism linking PAH exposure and children's neurobehavioral impairment. Our aims are to explore whether PAH metabolites in maternal urine were associated with children's neurobehavioral development at 2 years old and umbilical cord blood mtDNAcn, and whether mtDNAcn was a mediator of PAH-related neurobehavioral development.
Citation: Cao X, a1, Lia J, 1, Chenga L, Denga, Y, Lia Y, Yana Z, Duana L, Yanga, J, Niua Q, Perer F ab, Nie J ab, Tang D b. 2020, April 16.
a Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Xinjiannan Road 56, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
b Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722W. 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
COVID-19 Related School Closings and Risk of Weight Gain Among Children
Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic is causing substantial morbidity and mortality, straining health care systems, shutting down economies, and closing school districts. While it is a priority to mitigate its immediate impact, we want to call attention to the pandemic's longer-term effect on children's health: COVID-19, via these school closures, may exacerbate the epidemic of childhood obesity and increase disparities in obesity risk.
Citation: Rundle AG, Park Y, Herbstman JB, Kinsey EW, Wang YC. COVID-19 Related School Closings and Risk of Weight Gain Among Children. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2020 Mar 30. doi: 10.1002/oby.22813.
Fossil fuel combustion by-products, including particulate matter (PM2.5), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), are a significant threat to children's health and equality. Various policies to reduce emissions have been implemented to reduce air pollution and mitigate climate change, with sizeable estimated health and economic benefits. However, only a few adverse outcomes in children have been considered, resulting in an undercounting of the benefits to this vulnerable population.
Citation: Shea E, Perera F, Mills D. ; Environmental Research, Elsevier, March 2020
Phthalates are a group of high production chemicals, generally used as plasticizers and odor enhancers. Phthalates cross the blood-placenta barrier and are associated with deficits in cognitive functions and behavior problems in offspring. We previously reported sex-specific associations with motor function when phthalates are considered singly. Because exposure to phthalates usually occurs as mixtures, here we assess these associations between a mixture of phthalates and motor function at age 11 years.
Citation: Sharon Daniela,b, Arin A. Balalianc, Robin M. Whyattd, Xinhua Liue, Virginia Rauhf, Julie Herbstmand, Pam Factor-Litva, Environment International, Volume 136, March 2020, 105424
Abstract: Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation plays a crucial role in human health. Studies have demonstrated associations between DNA methylation and environmental factors with evidence also supporting the idea that DNA methylation may modify the risk of environmental factors on health outcomes.
Citation: Wang Y, Qian M, Tang D, Herbstman J, Perera F, Wang S. A powerful and flexible weighted distance-based method incorporating interactions between DNA methylation and environmental factors on health outcomes, Bioinformatics, Volume 36, Issue 3, 1 February 2020, Pages 653–659, https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btz630
Abstract: Risk for childhood psychopathology is complex and multifactorial, implicating direct and interacting effects of familial and environmental factors. The role of environmental neurotoxicants in psychiatric risk is of growing concern, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), common in air pollution.
Citation: Pagliaccio D, Herbstman JB, Perera F, Tang D, Goldsmith J, Peterson BS, Rauh V, Margolis AE. Prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons modifies the effects of early life stress on attention and Thought Problems in late childhood. J Child Psychology Psychiatry. 2020 Jan 7. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13189.
The Association Between Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Lipids in Cord Blood
Abstract: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were among various persistent organic pollutants suspected to have been released during the collapse of the World Trade Center (WTC) on 9/11/2001. Evidence suggests that PFAS may have cardiometabolic effects, including alterations in lipid profiles. This study evaluated the association between cord blood PFAS and lipids in a population prenatally exposed to the WTC disaster.
Citation: Miranda J Spratlen, Frederica P Perera, Sally Ann Lederman, Morgan Robinson, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Julie Herbstman, Leonardo Trasande, The Association Between Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Lipids in Cord Blood, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 105, Issue 1, January 2020, Pages 43–54, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgz024
Impacts on children's health are under-represented in benefits assessments of policies related to ambient air quality and climate change. To complement our previous compilation of concentration-response (C-R) functions for a number of children's health outcomes associated with air pollution, we provide per-case monetary estimates of the same health outcomes.
Citation: Shea E, Perera F, Mills D. Towards a fuller assessment of the economic benefits of reducing air pollution from fossil fuel combustion: Per-case monetary estimates for children's health outcomes. Environ Res. 2020;182:109019. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2019.109019
Whether maternal obesity and gestational weight gain (GWG) are associated with early-childhood development in low-income, urban, minority populations, and whether effects differ by child sex remain unknown. This study examined the impact of prepregnancy BMI and GWG on early childhood neurodevelopment in the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health Mothers and Newborns study. ...We found that prepregnancy obesity was associated with lower PDI scores at 3 years in boys, but not girls. The mechanisms underlying this sex-specific association remain unclear, but due to elevated obesity exposure in urban populations, further investigation is warranted.
Citation: Amy R. Nichols (a1), Andrew G. Rundle (a2) (a3), Pam Factor-Litvak (a3), Beverly J. Insel (a3) ..
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S2040174419000412
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 September 2019
Development and validation of a method to quantify benefits of clean-air taxi legislation (May 2019)
Air pollution from motor vehicle traffic remains a significant threat to public health. Using taxi inspection and trip data, we assessed changes in New York City’s taxi fleet following Clean Air Taxi legislation enacted in 2005–2006. Inspection and trip data between 2004 and 2015 were used to assess changes in New York’s taxi fleet and to estimate and spatially apportion annual taxi-related exhaust emissions of nitric oxide (NO) and total particulate matter (PMT). These emissions changes were used to predict reductions in NO and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations estimates using data from the New York City Community Air Survey (NYCCAS) in 2009–2015.
Citation: Fry, D., Kioumourtzoglou, M., Treat, C.A. et al. Development and validation of a method to quantify benefits of clean-air taxi legislation. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-019-0141-6
The Case of Juliana v. U.S. Children and the Health Burdens of Climate Change
On June 4, 2019, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in Juliana v. United States to determine whether the case will proceed to trial in district court in Oregon. Nearly 4 years ago, 21 children and adolescents between 8 and 19 years of age, including Kelsey Juliana from Oregon, filed suit against the federal government, charging that the government’s inaction on addressing climate change violated their constitutional right to life, liberty, and property.1 To date, no such lawsuit against the federal government has succeeded in the United States, despite a sharp increase in the number of similar suits filed by young people, municipalities, and state governments. Indeed, none of these lawsuits has gone to trial. As the Juliana plaintiffs argue — and we agree — climate change is the greatest public health emergency of our time and is particularly harmful to fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents.
Citation: Renee N. Salas, M.D., M.P.H., Wendy Jacobs, J.D., and Frederica Perera, Dr.P.H., Ph.D. May 30, 2019 N Engl J Med 2019; 380:2085-2087 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1905504