Effects of Transportation Choices on Commuter Health

NCT05758714 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: 22-272-1R00ES029116
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 65
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The primary project objective is to investigate how an individual's choices influence personal exposures to traffic-related air pollutants (TRAPs) and the corresponding acute health effects. TRAPs are a complex mixture of particulate and gaseous pollutants that vary considerably spatially and temporally. There is increasing evidence that TRAPs inflict a broad range of deleterious health effects in both health-compromised and healthy individuals, and it has been reported that traffic pollutants may cause up to half of all air pollution-related mortalities. Despite the burden from such widespread, involuntary exposures, few studies have examined the magnitude of personal exposures due to commuting exposures. Most commuters travel to and from work during two peak travel periods, which occur during weekday mornings and evenings. Public transportation, bicycling, and walking have been promoted as ways to reduce air pollution by reducing the vehicle fleet, yet few studies have examined how exposures are modified due to an intentional change in the time of commute or the subsequent health effects.

Conditions

Pollution; Exposure

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Blood Pressure measurements before and after the sampling period

  Systolic and Diastolic measured on the non-dominant arm

  Collected pre and post each 48-hour sampling period of each participant (4 measurements per participant). Participants will complete all measurements within one season.

• Changes in FEV1 (Spirometry)

  FEV is short for forced expiratory volume. FEV1 is the amount of air you can force from your lungs in one second. It's measured during a spirometry test, also known as a pulmonary function test, which involves forcefully breathing out into a mouthpiece connected to a spirometer machine.

  Collected pre and post each 48-hour sampling period; also collected after each commute (8 measurements per participant). Participants will complete all measurements within one season.

• Changes in FVC (Spirometry)

  Forced vital capacity (FVC) is the total amount of air exhaled during the FEV test. Forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity are lung function tests that are measured during spirometry.

  Collected pre and post each 48-hour sampling period; also collected after each commute (8 measurements per participant). Participants will complete all measurements within one season.

• Exhaled Nitric Oxide before and after sampling period

  Identifies airway inflammation

  Collected pre and post each 48-hour sampling period (4 measurements per participant). Participants will complete all measurements within one season.

• Presence of urinary biomarkers of exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAHs (nPAHs) in urine

  Urinary biomarkers of PAHs and nPAHs exposures can be utilized to evaluate systemic inflammation.

  Collected after each 48-hour sampling period (2 measurements per participant). Participants will complete all measurements within one season.

Study Arms (1)

Hartford Commuters

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 99 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This study will include 65 working adults (age 18 years and over) who live in Hartford County, CT. Both males and females will be recruited into the study. The study will include all racial/ethnic groups for this study in an attempt to be representative of the Hartford population.

Must be YES to qualify 1. Do you live or work in Hartford County? 2. Do you normally commute for more than 20 minutes in the morning? 3. Does your normal route to work include a heavily trafficked road? 4. Can you work outside your home for at least 2 days in a row during the sampling week? 5. You will be asked to commute to work by car for two days between 6:30-8:30 am (during rush hour) and outside of the rush hours (before or after that time range) on two different days of the study. You may be the passenger or driver during the commute. Is this something you are willing and able to do? 6. Are you willing and able to complete questionnaires/ surveys in English by text message or email? 7. Do you have access to e-mail? 8. Are you 18 years or older? Must be NO to qualify 1. Are you currently pregnant? 2. Do you smoke? 3. Do you have usual exposure to environmental tobacco smoke? 4. Have you been diagnosed with a chronic lung disease, such as COPD or asthma? Must not have an episode/exacerbation within the last six months 5. Are you currently taking hypertension medications?

Contact the study team to discuss eligibility requirements. They can help determine if this study is right for you.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• UConn Health: lead
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

UConn Health

Farmington, Connecticut, 06030, United States

Location

Study Officials

• Misti L Zamora, PhD

  UConn Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 15, 2023
• First Posted: March 7, 2023
• Study Start: February 6, 2023
• Primary Completion: April 14, 2025
• Study Completion: April 24, 2025
• Last Updated: June 11, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)