Environmental Factors of Pediatric Brain Tumor Rates: Investigating Air Quality and Lead Exposure

Sunday, May 5, 2024

4:33 PM – 4:35 PM CT

Location: S405b

Presenting Author(s)

Syed A. Sarwar, B.A.

Student Researcher
Hackensack-Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery

Co-Author(s)

JB

Julia Botvinov, n/a

Medical Student
Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine, United States
Nicholas D. Cassimatis, n/a

Medical Student
Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine
Nutley, NJ, US
JH

Jasdeep Hundal, PsyD

Director of Medical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Southern Region
Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Department of Neuropsychology, United States
SM

Shreyes Manivel, n/a

Medical Student
Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine, United States
Geoffrey R. O'Malley, Jr.

Medical Student
Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine
Chatham, NJ, US
NP

Nitesh V. Patel, MD

Neurosurgeon
Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Department of Neurosurgery
Red Bank, New Jersey, United States
Rohit P. Prem Kumar (he/him/his)

Medical Student
Hackensack-Meridian School of Medicine
Nutley, NJ, US

Disclosure(s):

Geoffrey R. O'Malley, Jr.: No financial relationships to disclose

Syed A. Sarwar: No financial relationships to disclose

Introduction: While the link between environmental factors and brain tumors has been extensively explored in adults, the investigation into environmental links with pediatric brain tumors (PBT) remains less established. Notably, the relevance and impact of these environmental factors may be more pronounced in children who have had less geographical mobility and, thus, a more controlled exposure profile compared to adults. Given this context, our study aims to investigate the potential correlation between PBT incidence and environmental pollutants in New Jersey.

Methods: Data for the rate of PBT incidence across New Jersey counties (1990-2018) was sourced from New Jersey State Health Assessment Data. Metrics for the number of days that pollutants like Ozone (O3), PM2.5, PM10, or Carbon Monoxide (CO) were the primary pollutants influencing the Air Quality Index were sourced from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Elevated Blood Lead Levels (BLL) data was sourced from NJ Health.

Results: We found a significant positive correlation between O3 and PBT incidence (r = 0.644, p = 0.00529). There was a nonsignificant correlation between PBT incidence, and CO (r=0.248, p=0.35515), PM2.5 (r=-0.398, p=0.11388), and PM10 (r=-0.211, p=0.41582). For elevated BLL, nonsignificant correlations with PBT incidence were observed at 10-14 µg/dL (r=-0.24, p=0.2960), 15-19 µg/dL (r=-0.28, p=0.2135), and 20-44 µg/dL (r=-0.35, p=0.1184).

Conclusion : The findings suggest a potential influence of O3 on PBT rates in New Jersey. The correlations between PBT incidence and particulate matter sizes PM2.5 and PM10 were nonsignificant, diverging from established associations seen in adult brain tumor studies. These results underscore the need for a deeper examination of environmental factors’ relationship to PBTs, particularly O3.