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

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 26, pages 341–348 (2016)Cite this article

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An Erratum to this article was published on 16 June 2016

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.

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Acknowledgements

This publication was developed under a STAR research assistance agreement, No. RD831697 (MESA Air) and grant No. RD-83479601-0 (CCAR) by the US Environmental Protection Agency. It has not been formally reviewed by the EPA. The views expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and the EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publication. Support for MESA is provided by contracts N01-HC-95159, N01-HC-95160, N01-HC-95161, N01-HC-95162, N01-HC-95163, N01-HC-95164, N01-HC-95165, N01-HC-95166, N01-HC-95167, N01-HC-95168, and N01-HC-95169 and CTSA UL1-RR-024156. Funding for the MESA Family study is provided by grants R01-HL-071051, R01-HL-071205, R01-HL-071250, R01-HL-071251, R01-HL-071252, R01-HL-071258, R01-HL-071259, UL1-RR-025005 by the National Center for Research Resources, Grant UL1RR033176, and is now at the National Center for Advanced Translational Sciences, Grant UL1TR000124. Funding for MESA Neighborhood was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) (Grant NIH 2R01 HL071759) and from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Active Living Research Program (Grant #52319). Additional support was provided from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences through grants K24ES013195, P50ES015915, and P30ES07033. This research received support from the Population Research Training grant (T32 HD007168) and the Population Research Infrastructure Program (R24 HD050924) awarded to the Carolina Population Center at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Elizabeth W Spalt, Cynthia L Curl & Martin Cohen

  2. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada

    Ryan W Allen

  3. Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Washington, DC, USA,

    Kayleen Williams

  4. Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Jana A Hirsch

  5. Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Sara D Adar

  6. Departments of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Joel D Kaufman

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  1. Elizabeth W Spalt
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  4. Martin Cohen
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  6. Jana A Hirsch
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  7. Sara D Adar
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Correspondence to Elizabeth W Spalt.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology website

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Spalt, E., Curl, C., Allen, R. et al. Factors influencing time-location patterns and their impact on estimates of exposure: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution (MESA Air). J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 26, 341–348 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2015.26

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