Members of the Centers’ Respiratory Disease Core have made substantial progress in observing strong associations between pollution levels and chronic respiratory effects in children. Two major papers, currently in press, demonstrated that wheezing prevalence in boys is associated with exposure to NO2 and acid vapor. In addition, the breathing capacity is lower in girls living in the most polluted communities with NO2 and particulate matter (PM) having the strongest effects. Boys also have lower breathing capacity if they live in communities with high O3 levels and if they spend more time outdoors (where O3 concentrations are higher). When girls with asthma are considered, those living in communities with high O3 have lower lung capacity. While previous studies have demonstrated acute effects of air pollution, the studies add strong evidence that chronic effects are occurring in children. The different responses by gender are being explored by following the children through time and monitoring their exposures more carefully.

Members of the Center’s Adult Cancer Core have made substantial progress in identifying risk and protective factors for adenomatous polyps, precursor lesions for colon adenocarcinomas. A series of papers were published in the past year: (1) demonstrating the complex interplay among folate intake, alcohol consumption and smoking risk of polyps; (2) demonstrating the interrelationship between NAT1 “fast” genotypes and GSTM1 null genotypes in reducing risk of polyps; and (3) showing in a clinical trial that calcium supplementation can greatly reduce risk of polyps. The study of GSTM1 and diet is of special interest as it represents an outstanding example of risk modification according to genotype. Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that induces phase 2 enzymes such as GSTM1. As predicted, GSTM1 protects against polyps especially in individuals with high broccoli intake. The clinical trial results are also highly noteworthy as calcium is known to reduce proliferation in colonic mucosa and this represents one of the few successful chemoprevention trials to date in which risk of cancer or a known precursor has been prevented by an exogenous agent.