Rationale, Study Design, and Cohort Characteristics for the Markers for Environmental Exposures (MEE) Study

Rachel McFarland Lucia, Wei-Lin Huang, Andrea Alvarez, Daphne Thampy, Melodie Elyasian, Amanda Hidajat, Kailynn Yang, Danielle Forman, Asana Pebdani, Irene Masunaka, Susie Brain, Diane Heditsian, Vivian Lee, Deborah Goodman, Trina M. Norden-Krichmar, Andrew O. Odegaard, Argyrios Ziogas and Hannah Lui Park
Additional contact information
Rachel McFarland Lucia: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Wei-Lin Huang: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Andrea Alvarez: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Daphne Thampy: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Melodie Elyasian: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Amanda Hidajat: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Kailynn Yang: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Danielle Forman: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Asana Pebdani: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Irene Masunaka: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Susie Brain: Patient and Research Advocate, Markers for Environmental Exposures Study, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Diane Heditsian: Patient and Research Advocate, Markers for Environmental Exposures Study, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Vivian Lee: Patient and Research Advocate, Markers for Environmental Exposures Study, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Deborah Goodman: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Trina M. Norden-Krichmar: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Andrew O. Odegaard: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Argyrios Ziogas: Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Hannah Lui Park: Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Environmental factors have been linked to many diseases and health conditions, but reliable assessment of environmental exposures is challenging. Developing biomarkers of environmental exposures, rather than relying on self-report, will improve our ability to assess the association of such exposures with disease. Epigenetic markers, most notably DNA methylation, have been identified for some environmental exposures, but identification of markers for additional exposures is still needed. The rationale behind the Markers for Environmental Exposures (MEE) Study was to (1) identify biomarkers, especially epigenetic markers, of environmental exposures, such as pesticides, air/food/water contaminants, and industrial chemicals that are commonly encountered in the general population; and (2) support the study of potential relationships between environmental exposures and health and health-related factors. The MEE Study is a cross-sectional study with potential for record linkage and follow-up. The well-characterized cohort of 400 postmenopausal women has generated a repository of biospecimens, including blood, urine, and saliva samples. Paired data include an environmental exposures questionnaire, a breast health questionnaire, dietary recalls, and a food frequency questionnaire. This work describes the rationale, study design, and cohort characteristics of the MEE Study. In addition to our primary research goals, we hope that the data and biorepository generated by this study will serve as a resource for future studies and collaboration.

Keywords: environmental exposures; biomarker; DNA methylation; epigenetics; biorepository (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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