Tag: Environment

CanPath data sheds light on air pollution’s hidden role in rheumatic disease

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Air pollution isn’t just a lung issue. It has far-reaching effects on immune function and autoimmune diseases. CanPath’s vast dataset offers researchers a unique opportunity to explore these connections and advance air pollution and autoimmune disease research. Air pollution is often associated with respiratory conditions, but emerging research reveals its impact extends beyond the lungs, influencing immune system function and contributing to autoimmune and rheumatic diseases. Understanding these connections is critical for disease prevention, treatment, and public health strategies. Dr. Sasha Bernatsky, a rheumatologist and epidemiologist, has been at the forefront of this research. Her work highlights how air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), may act as an environmental trigger for immune dysfunction. CanPath, Canada’s largest population health study, provides researchers with the data needed to examine these links in depth. How air pollution affects the immune system and autoimmune disease Air pollutants include PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone, and other entities. PM2.5 can enter the bloodstream, triggering systemic inflammation and immune dysregulation. While air pollution’s effects on respiratory conditions like asthma and lung cancer are well documented, its role in autoimmune diseases is a newer area of investigation. “One of the really cool things about these kinds of analyses was that it provided one of the first indications that air pollution may affect the immune system,” said Dr. Bernatsky. “Prior to these kinds of analyses, we had good data on what happens when you are exposed to PM2.5 in terms of asthma risk or lung cancer. That makes sense because you breathe in the air, and there’s a local effect. But this was one of the first analyses looking at a totally different kind of disease. It convinced people at Health Canada’s air health effects assessment division that, indeed, you can have health effects far beyond just the lung.” This growing body of research underscores the need for large-scale, longitudinal data to better understand the full spectrum of air pollution’s impact on immune-mediated conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus. CanPath’s role in advancing rheumatic disease research Arthritis data resources in CanPath: Biosamples, genotyping, and self-reported diagnoses for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other forms CanPath’s large-scale, longitudinal dataset is an invaluable resource for researchers undertaking air pollution and autoimmune disease research. By linking environmental exposure data to genetic, lifestyle, and health information, CanPath enables scientists to explore how air pollution contributes to immune-mediated diseases over time. “CanPath serum samples and data were extremely helpful,” Dr. Bernatsky emphasized. “In fact, I just don’t see any way we could have done what we did without CanPath.”  Dr. Trevor Dummer, an expert in environmental health, reflected on the study’s evolution and its potential for continued discoveries: “It’s nice to see some of those results because I can think back to many, many years ago. You know, CanPath has been going for 15 years. Now it’s a considerable amount of time. I recall the early collaboration, so it’s great to see the fruits of all of those labours.” This extensive dataset allows researchers to track patterns over time, assessing how long-term exposure to air pollution affects disease development and progression. Implications for future research and public health The insights gained from CanPath’s data have the potential to: Inform air quality policies and environmental regulations Improve public health strategies for reducing autoimmune disease risks Enlighten scientific, patient and physician groups regarding immune-mediated disease etiology As air pollution remains a global concern, leveraging large-scale datasets will be key to understanding and mitigating its impact. Researchers can utilize CanPath data linked with environmental exposure data from the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE) to investigate immune-mediated diseases and the environment. Explore available datasets and application processes on the CanPath Portal By continuing to explore how pollution influences immune-mediated disease, researchers can also help shape policies and interventions that protect both individual and population health. For those looking to advance this work, CanPath data is invaluable for uncovering new insights in environmental and autoimmune disease research.

New environmental exposure data added to CanPath: Greenness, air quality, and accessibility

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CanPath is excited to continue collaborating with the CIHR-funded Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE) by linking a third round of environmental exposure data to the national harmonized CanPath datasets. Since 2016, CANUE has gathered and standardized environmental exposure data on air and noise pollution, land use, community amenities, green spaces, climate, and socioeconomic conditions. This data is then linked to Canadian cohort studies and health databases. CANUE and CanPath conducted their first linkage activity in May 2019, followed by a second round of linkage in June 2021. The CANUE environmental exposure data was merged with CanPath’s national harmonized datasets using participants’ 6-digit residential postal codes and are available to researchers. This year, 17 new datasets were added to the existing 27 environmental exposure datasets, providing additional measures of greenness, air quality, accessibility, and socioeconomic factors. “The key strength of CanPath’s collaboration with CANUE is the wide-ranging environmental exposures captured, allowing for diverse analyses beyond disease prevention, including developing healthier environments,” says Sheraz Cheema, CanPath Data Manager. “This longitudinal data is invaluable for researchers assessing prolonged exposure impacts on health. CanPath aims to continue collecting data for 20-30 years, increasing its value over time.” Green spaces and vegetation CANUE develops data on neighbourhood greenness from two main sources. First, the MODIS satellite program has provided a consistent measure of greenness across Canada from 2000 to 2023, using a single sensor to ensure data reliability at a 250-meter resolution. Greenness is measured using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) scale to characterize an area’s vegetation density. Secondly, the Landsat-based Vegetative Greenness Fractions dataset offers a finer 30-meter resolution and measures greenness. This dataset can even detect roads and buildings beneath tree canopies, offering a more detailed view. “This could be an excellent opportunity to study those vertical layers,” says Joey Syer, CANUE Data Director, “as opposed to just the horizontal layer of greenness.” New datasets linked to CanPath include: Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) (2000-2013) Landsat – Greenest Pixel (2000-2017) Landsat – Growing Season (2000-2019) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) – Annual Max (2000-2023) MODIS – Annual Mean (2000-2023) MODIS – Growing Season Max (2000-2023) MODIS – Growing Season Mean (2000-2023) Air quality One of the relatively new datasets in CANUE’s data holdings is the Canadian Optimized Statistical Smoke Model (CanOSSEM), which Naman Paul and colleagues developed at the BC Centre for Disease Control. This dataset estimates fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and is optimized for wildfire smoke. CANUE has data from 2010 to 2022 at daily, monthly, and annual scales, and it comes on a 5 km by 5 km grid. “The variation within those five kilometres is probably not much,” says Joey, “but the fact that this data covers all of Canada makes this an unparalleled resource in terms of space and time attributes. It’s really deserving of usage and study.” New datasets include: Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5 v4) (2000-2020) Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5 v5) (2000-2021) Smoke Exposure (PM2.5 v2) (2010-2022) Accessibility and transportation The CanPath data assets have also been updated with many new datasets in the ‘neighbourhoods’ domain. These include the Canadian Bikeway Comfort and Safety Classification System (Can-BICS) metrics, which measure the quantity and quality of cycling infrastructure in Canadian communities, and several spatial accessibility indicators, which provide information on access to different services and amenities. “By linking these and other CANUE datasets to CanPath data, we can explore how the built environment affects chronic health conditions like never before,” says Dr. Dany Doiron, CANUE Managing Director. New datasets include: Spatial Accessibility Measures (2021) Public Transportation (2019) Canadian Bikeway Safety Metrics (Can-BICS) (2021) Street Connectivity (2019) Other socioeconomic factors Many other socioeconomic factors can provide valuable insights into how the built environment and access to healthy food impact chronic diseases, including cancer risk and prevention. Dr. Trevor Dummer, CanPath National Scientific Co-Director, spoke about his role as a health geographer: “My interest in cancer prevention is understanding how the built environment and natural environment influences our cancer risk. This includes how our behaviours, such as physical activity or access to healthy food, are impacted by our geography. CanPath, as a longitudinal cohort linked to CANUE geospatial information and cancer registry data, has vast potential for epidemiological analysis to identify cancer risk factors and support prevention.” New datasets include: Building Density (2019) Dwellings Needing Repair (2016-2021) Canadian Food Environment Dataset (Can-FED) (2018)

Upcoming Webinar: Environmental Exposure Datasets with CanPath and CANUE

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Enhancing health research with new environmental exposure datasets from CANUE and CanPath November 18, 2024, 1-2pmEST/2-3pmAST Register: https://canpath.ca/2024/10/enhancing-health-research-with-new-environmental-exposure-datasets-from-canue-and-canpath/ CanPath is expanding its collaboration with the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE) by adding 17 new environmental exposure datasets to its existing data resources. CANUE provides standardized, area-level data on air and noise pollution, green spaces, climate change, and socioeconomic factors, linked to health cohort studies using participant residential postal codes. This webinar will introduce researchers to these new datasets, which include comprehensive measures of green spaces and vegetation (e.g., NDVI, Landsat, MODIS), air quality (PM2.5, smoke exposure), accessibility and transportation, and socioeconomic conditions. These data will be integrated with CanPath’s national harmonized dataset, providing researchers with a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of environmental exposures and health outcomes. The session will highlight practical examples of how these datasets can be utilized in studies focused on chronic diseases, cancer, and environmental health, offering researchers powerful tools to examine the spatial dimensions of health determinants. Additionally, we are pleased to share the upcoming release of Understanding Cancer Prevention through Geospatial Science: Putting Cancer in its Place, edited by one of our presenters, Dr. Trevor Dummer. The book discusses how geospatial science can support cancer prevention, featuring CanPath and CANUE in one of its chapters. Who should attend? Health and environmental researchers Epidemiologists Data scientists Public health professionals This webinar is an essential opportunity for researchers looking to expand their toolkit for investigating the impact of environmental exposures on health, utilizing rich, nationally harmonized cohort data. About the presenters Dr. Trevor Dummer Dr. Trevor Dummer, a health geographer with a PhD in Environmental Epidemiology from Newcastle University, has made significant contributions to cancer research and prevention. He joined CanPath in 2008 as the Research Director and later Co-Principal Investigator of Atlantic PATH. He was the Co-Scientific Director of the BC Generations Project (2015-2021). He has been the National Scientific Co-Director of CanPath since 2018. Holding the Canadian Cancer Society Chair in Cancer Primary Prevention, Dr. Dummer also serves as a Professor at the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia (UBC). His research delves into the impact of environmental, community, and neighbourhood factors on health, specifically focusing on cancer prevention through community knowledge translation and studying the links between cancer and environmental exposures like radon and arsenic, as well as obesity and the built environment. Sheraz Cheema Sheraz Cheema has been CanPath’s Data Manager and part of the CanPath Access Office since January 2023. He supports data requests from national and international researchers, manages CanPath research data, generates datasets for approved projects, develops and maintains components of data auditing programs for quality assurance purposes, and provides consultative advice on data requirements. Prior to CanPath, Sheraz worked as a Research Analyst at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAHM). He holds degrees in neuroscience and health informatics. Dany Doiron Dany Doiron has been the Managing Director of CANUE since March 2022. Prior to this, he acted as Data Linkage Lead and Special Projects Manager (June 2016 – March 2022). Under his leadership, CANUE data have been integrated with all of Canada’s large cohorts and many provincial administrative health data organizations, providing one-stop research approvals. Dany is also a Research Associate at the Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada, and acts as the Chief Operating Officer of the Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD), a large population-based cohort dedicated to better understanding Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Dany holds a PhD in Epidemiology and focuses his research on the respiratory health impacts of ambient air pollution exposure. Joey Syer Joey Syer has been the CANUE Data Director since November 2022. He oversees the development of CANUE datasets and projects dedicated to their improvement in epidemiological research. Joey is also a part-time course instructor at the University of Victoria in Population Health and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Spatial Epidemiology and Outbreak Detection. Prior to CANUE, he spent 10 years (2012-2022) as a geomatics specialist at Hemmera, an Ausenco Company. Joey holds degrees in GIS and Epidemiology. He has a strong interest in environmental epidemiology, using GIS, remote sensing, and machine learning to improve environmental exposure data quality, and a wide range of health outcomes.

Webinar: Genomic and environmental influences on Canadian health phenotypes and chronic disease outcomes

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Webinar: Genomic and environmental influences on Canadian health phenotypes and chronic disease outcomes When? July 18, 2024, 2pmEST/3pmAST Register: https://bit.ly/3XU9Jws In this talk, Drs. Philip Awadalla and Marie-Julie Favé describe the intricate interplay between genetic and environmental factors and their influence on chronic diseases and phenotypes, utilizing data from CanPath, Canada’s largest population health cohort. By integrating genomic, environmental, and lifestyle data, Drs. Awadalla and Favé uncover how gene-environment interactions shape health outcomes. These findings provide insights into disease mechanisms and potential interventions, highlighting the importance of large and deep population cohort data. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics that contribute to chronic disease development and the critical role of comprehensive population health studies in identifying at-risk populations and individuals, supporting both personalized and public health strategies.  

Nova Scotian Institute of Science – Dr. Derrick Lee Presentation

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Dr. Derrick Lee, Assistant Professor at St. FX University recently gave an excellent presentation on “How Environment and Genes Impact Colorectal Cancer Risk in Atlantic Canada” to the Nova Scotian Institute of Science. “Like many Atlantic Canadians, cancer has affected me directly and indirectly, and there are many factors that influence individual risk of cancer. Many of us are familiar with the risks associated with smoking, as well as the risk when there is a family history of the disease, and yet none of these factors are unique to Atlantic Canada. In today’s talk, I’m going to describe one of my projects that takes aim at explaining why the risk of colorectal cancer.” Dr. Derrick Lee, Saint Francis Xavier University. Dr. Lee’s research on environment and gene interactions in colorectal cancer risk uses data and biological samples from Atlantic PATH and the BC Generations Project. You can find the presentation on the Nova Scotian Institute of Science’s YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeU3nQntpnE.