Dataset Information

A Generalizable Evaluated Approach, Applying Advanced Geospatial Statistical Methods, to Identify High Lead Exposure Locations at Census Tract Scale: Michigan Case Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite great progress in reducing environmental lead (Pb) levels, many children in the United States are still being exposed.

Objective

Our aim was to develop a generalizable approach for systematically identifying, verifying, and analyzing locations with high prevalence of children's elevated blood Pb levels (EBLLs) and to assess available Pb models/indices as surrogates, using a Michigan case study.

Methods

We obtained ∼1.9 million BLL test results of children <6 years of age in Michigan from 2006-2016; we then evaluated them for data representativeness by comparing two percentage EBLL (%EBLL) rates (number of children tested with EBLL divided by both number of children tested and total population). We analyzed %EBLLs across census tracts over three time periods and between two EBLL reference values (≥5 vs. ≥10μg/dL) to evaluate consistency. Locations with high %EBLLs were identified by a top 20 percentile method and a Getis-Ord Gi* geospatial cluster "hotspot" analysis. For the locations identified, we analyzed convergences with three available Pb exposure models/indices based on old housing and sociodemographics.

Results

Analyses of 2014-2016 %EBLL data identified 11 Michigan locations via cluster analysis and 80 additional locations via the top 20 percentile method and their associated census tracts. Data representativeness and consistency were supported by a 0.93 correlation coefficient between the two EBLL rates over 11 y, and a Kappa score of ∼0.8 of %EBLL hotspots across the time periods (2014-2016) and reference values. Many EBLL hotspot locations converge with current Pb exposure models/indices; others diverge, suggesting additional Pb sources for targeted interventions.

Discussion

This analysis confirmed known Pb hotspot locations and revealed new ones at a finer geographic resolution than previously available, using advanced geospatial statistical methods and mapping/visualization. It also assessed the utility of surrogates in the absence of blood Pb data. This approach could be applied to other states to inform Pb mitigation and prevention efforts. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9705.

SUBMITTER: Xue J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9327739 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

A Generalizable Evaluated Approach, Applying Advanced Geospatial Statistical Methods, to Identify High Lead Exposure Locations at Census Tract Scale: Michigan Case Study.

Xue Jianping J Zartarian Valerie V Tornero-Velez Rogelio R Stanek Lindsay W LW Poulakos Antonios A Walts Alan A Triantafillou Kathy K Suero Maryann M Grokhowsky Nicholas N

Environmental health perspectives 20220727 7

<h4>Background</h4>Despite great progress in reducing environmental lead (Pb) levels, many children in the United States are still being exposed.<h4>Objective</h4>Our aim was to develop a generalizable approach for systematically identifying, verifying, and analyzing locations with high prevalence of children's elevated blood Pb levels (EBLLs) and to assess available Pb models/indices as surrogates, using a Michigan case study.<h4>Methods</h4>We obtained ∼1.9 million BLL test results of children ...[more]

PMID: 35894594

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Project description:We present a microarray experiment with the same tet-inducible system but with multiple time points within 24 hr to capture early responses to Oct4 suppression. These data were analyzed together with published genome-wide ChIP data. We found that most tentative target genes (TTG) of Oct4 in ES cells were activated by Oct4 and only a few genes were suppressed. The same method was then applied to find target genes of Sox2 and Nanog based mostly on previously published data. Because the interaction between Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog is supported by immunoprecipitation, functional analysis, and co-localization of binding sites, we explored the relationships between their target genes. Keywords: time series design We used ZHBTc4 ES cells with a Tet-inducible Oct4 transgene. Cells were cultured for 2 passages on gelatin-coated plates in order to remove feeder cells and then transferred to gelatin-coated 6-well plates at the density of 1-2x105 cells/well and cultured in complete ES medium. Tetrocycline (TC) was added at 24 hr after cell plating, and then cells were harvested at 0hr (before adding TC), 3 hr, 6 hr, 12 hr, and 24 hr (2 replications each). RNA samples for later time points (24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hr) were obtained from our earlier experiment with 3 replications. Two Nanog over-expressing clones were tested: (1) integrated transgene in MG1.19 parental cell line and (2) episomal transgene in EBRTcH3 parental line. EBRTcH3 and MG1.19 ESC lines were kind gifts of Dr. Hitoshi Niwa (RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, Kobe, Japan). Both transgenic and parental cell lines were cultured for 2 passages on gelatin-coated plates and then transferred to gelatin-coated 6-well plates at the density of 1-2x105 cells/well and cultured for 3 days in 3 different conditions: (1) complete ES medium (see above); (2) complete medium without LIF, and (3) complete medium with 1 uM RA. Cells were cultured at 37 0C and 5% CO2 condition and the culture medium was changed daily. Over-expression of Nanog was evaluated by PCR. Total RNAs were extracted using TrizolTM (Invitrogen, USA) and Phase lock gelTM columns (Eppendorf/Brinkman) according to the manufacturer???s protocol. Total RNAs were precipitated with isopropanol, washed with 70% ethanol, and dissolved in DEPC-treated H2O. 2.5 ug of total RNA samples were labeled with Cy3-CTP using a Low RNA Input Fluorescent Linear Amplification Kit (Agilent, USA). A reference target (Cy5-CTP-labeled) was prepared from the Universal Mouse Reference (UMR) RNA (Stratagene, USA).

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Dataset Information

A Generalizable Evaluated Approach, Applying Advanced Geospatial Statistical Methods, to Identify High Lead Exposure Locations at Census Tract Scale: Michigan Case Study.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Discussion

Publications

A Generalizable Evaluated Approach, Applying Advanced Geospatial Statistical Methods, to Identify High Lead Exposure Locations at Census Tract Scale: Michigan Case Study.

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