Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37644126›Full record

ArticleJournal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology2024

Environmental exposures and pulmonary function among adult residents of rural Appalachian Kentucky.

John C Flunker, Wayne T Sanderson, W Jay Christian, David M Mannino, Steven R Browning

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 49% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Identifying risk factors for adverse lung health outcomes among rural Appalachian women.The Journal of rural health : official journal of the American Rural Health Association and the National Rural Health Care Association · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

John C FlunkerDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA. Johnflunker@gmail.com.
Wayne T SandersonDepartment of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, College of Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-9460-0450
W Jay ChristianDepartment of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
David M ManninoDepartment of Pulmonology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Steven R BrowningDepartment of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
University of Kentucky · USUniversity of Washington · US

Funding

Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention-RenewalU54OH007547 · OH · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · PI SANDERSON, WAYNE T. · 2011 to 2025
$21.2M
Pilot Project ProgramP30ES026529 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · PI Erin N Haynes · 2017 to 2026
$15.4M
Biostatistics, Epidemiologic & Bioinformatic Training in Environmental HealthT32ES015459 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · PI June T. Spector · 2009 to 2026
$10.6M
Community-Engaged Research and Action to Reduce Respiratory Disease in AppalachiaR01ES024771 · NIEHS · UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY · PI BROWNING, STEVEN R, SCHOENBERG, NANCY E. · 2015 to 2019
$2.5M
NIEHS NIH HHS P30 ES026529NIEHS NIH HHS R01 ES024771NIEHS NIH HHS T32 ES015459NIOSH CDC HHS T42 OH010278NIOSH CDC HHS U54 OH007547
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEstimated residential exposures of adults to roadway density and several metrics of resource extraction, including coal mining and oil and gas drilling, were hypothesized to contribute to the prevalence of respiratory disease in rural Appalachia.

objectiveDetermine how small-area geographic variation in residential environmental exposures impacts measures of pulmonary function among adults in a community-based study.

methodsWe examined associations between residential environmental respiratory exposures and pulmonary function among 827 adult participants of the "The Mountain Air Project", a community-based, cross-sectional study in Southeastern Kentucky during 2016-2018. Exposures characterized the density of roadways, oil/gas wells, or current/past surface and underground coal mining at the level of 14-digit hydrologic unit code (HUC), or valley "hollow" where participants resided. Each participant completed an in-person interview to obtain extensive background data on risk factors, health history, and occupational and environmental exposures, as well as a spirometry test administered by experienced study staff at their place of residence. Multivariable linear regression was used to model the adjusted association between each environmental exposure and percent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV

resultsAdjusted regression models indicate persons living in HUCs with the highest level of roadway density experienced a reduction in both FEV IMPACT STATEMENT: Our work demonstrates the potential adverse impact of roadway-related exposures on the respiratory health of rural Appalachia residents. We employed a novel method of small-area exposure classification based on the hydrologic unit code (HUC), representing potential exposure levels per hollow occurring  in proximity to the residence, and controlled for individual-level risk factors for reduced respiratory health. We highlight an overlooked yet ubiquitous source of residential exposure from motor vehicles that may contribute to the regionally high prevalence of respiratory disease in rural Appalachia.

Indexed as

Environmental ExposureRural PopulationAdultAgedAir PollutantsAppalachian RegionCoal MiningCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleForced Expiratory VolumeHumansKentuckyLungMaleMiddle AgedOil and Gas FieldsAir PollutantsHydrologic unit codePulmonary functionResource extractionRespiratoryRoadway exposure

Identifiers

PMID37644126
OpenAlexW4386244213

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.