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Translator Exposure APIs: Open Access to Data on Airborne Pollutant Exposures, Roadway Exposures, and Socio-Environmental Exposures and Use Case Application

Author

Listed:
  • Alejandro Valencia

    (Environmental Sciences and Engineering Department, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Lisa Stillwell

    (Renaissance Computing Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA)

  • Stephen Appold

    (Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Saravanan Arunachalam

    (Institute for the Environment, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA)

  • Steven Cox

    (Renaissance Computing Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA)

  • Hao Xu

    (Renaissance Computing Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA)

  • Charles P. Schmitt

    (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA)

  • Shepherd H. Schurman

    (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA)

  • Stavros Garantziotis

    (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA)

  • William Xue

    (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA)

  • Stanley C. Ahalt

    (Renaissance Computing Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA)

  • Karamarie Fecho

    (Renaissance Computing Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA
    Copperline Professional Solutions, Pittsboro, NC 27312, USA)

Abstract

Environmental exposures have profound effects on health and disease. While public repositories exist for a variety of exposures data, these are generally difficult to access, navigate, and interpret. We describe the research, development, and application of three open application programming interfaces (APIs) that support access to usable, nationwide, exposures data from three public repositories: airborne pollutant estimates from the US Environmental Protection Agency; roadway data from the US Department of Transportation; and socio-environmental exposures from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Three open APIs were successfully developed, deployed, and tested using random latitude/longitude values and time periods as input parameters. After confirming the accuracy of the data, we used the APIs to extract exposures data on 2550 participants from a cohort within the Environmental Polymorphisms Registry (EPR) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and we successfully linked the exposure estimates with participant-level data derived from the EPR. We then conducted an exploratory, proof-of-concept analysis of the integrated data for a subset of participants with self-reported asthma and largely replicated our prior findings on the impact of select exposures and demographic factors on asthma exacerbations. Together, the three open exposures APIs provide a valuable resource, with application across environmental and public health fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Alejandro Valencia & Lisa Stillwell & Stephen Appold & Saravanan Arunachalam & Steven Cox & Hao Xu & Charles P. Schmitt & Shepherd H. Schurman & Stavros Garantziotis & William Xue & Stanley C. Ahalt &, 2020. "Translator Exposure APIs: Open Access to Data on Airborne Pollutant Exposures, Roadway Exposures, and Socio-Environmental Exposures and Use Case Application," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:14:p:5243-:d:387298
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gregory C. Pratt & Monika L. Vadali & Dorian L. Kvale & Kristie M. Ellickson, 2015. "Traffic, Air Pollution, Minority and Socio-Economic Status: Addressing Inequities in Exposure and Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Alexander, Diane & Currie, Janet, 2017. "Is it who you are or where you live? Residential segregation and racial gaps in childhood asthma," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 186-200.
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