Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Outdoor air pollution is associated with increased lung cancer risk based on several epidemiologic studies over the past 20 years, and was recently classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Additional studies link air pollution to other chronic diseases, as well as pregnancy related outcomes. However, the majority of these studies have been conducted in populations exposed to high levels of air pollution. Little is known about whether Canadians are exposed to levels high enough to lead to early detectable biological changes, or which specific components of outdoor air lead to these effects. The proposed study will be the first to study these relationships using a cohort of Canadian adults, as well as a vulnerable population of pregnant women who may experience higher doses of air pollution in the body due to pregnancy-related changes. The currently proposed epidemiology study will use a combination of satellite-based and ground monitor air pollution data to determine detailed exposure information for several components in outdoor air. Blood-samples from two national cohorts (Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project [CPTP] and Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals [MIREC]) will be used to assess the relationship between the different components of outdoor air and oxidative stress - an early marker of cancer, chronic diseases, as well as pregnancy outcomes. We will also take into account individuals' genetic susceptibility to these exposures in terms of their ability to detoxify chemical exposures. Outdoor air pollution is an increasing concern, both in Canada and globally. This examination of air pollution in relation to an early marker of disease will inform on the early health effects of different air pollution components and levels, a necessary step in setting public health policy to reduce the burden of disease associated with Canadian air pollution.