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National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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Your Environment. Your Health.

Publication Detail

Title: Factors influencing time-location patterns and their impact on estimates of exposure: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution (MESA Air).

Authors: Spalt, Elizabeth W; Curl, Cynthia L; Allen, Ryan W; Cohen, Martin; Williams, Kayleen; Hirsch, Jana A; Adar, Sara D; Kaufman, Joel D

Published In J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol, (2016 06)

Abstract: We assessed time-location patterns and the role of individual- and residential-level characteristics on these patterns within the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution (MESA Air) cohort and also investigated the impact of individual-level time-location patterns on individual-level estimates of exposure to outdoor air pollution. Reported time-location patterns varied significantly by demographic factors such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, education, and employment status. On average, Chinese participants reported spending significantly more time indoors and less time outdoors and in transit than White, Black, or Hispanic participants. Using a tiered linear regression approach, we predicted time indoors at home and total time indoors. Our model, developed using forward-selection procedures, explained 43% of the variability in time spent indoors at home, and incorporated demographic, health, lifestyle, and built environment factors. Time-weighted air pollution predictions calculated using recommended time indoors from USEPA overestimated exposures as compared with predictions made with MESA Air participant-specific information. These data fill an important gap in the literature by describing the impact of individual and residential characteristics on time-location patterns and by demonstrating the impact of population-specific data on exposure estimates.

PubMed ID: 25921081 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Adult; African Americans; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Asian Americans; Atherosclerosis; Cohort Studies; Environmental Exposure/analysis*; Environmental Exposure/statistics & numerical data*; Ethnic Groups/statistics & numerical data*; European Continental Ancestry Group/statistics & numerical data*; Female; Geography; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Residence Characteristics; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time; United States

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