Puerto Rican Health Study
The Boston Puerto Rican Health Study at Northeastern University is one of ten Centers for Population Health and Health Disparities (CPHHD) funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Boston Puerto Rican Health Study is investigating relationships between stress and diet and their effect on cardiovascular disease and overall health and is funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The Boston Puerto Rican Health Study is composed of 5 interrelated research projects, centered on the established cohort of 1500 Puerto Ricans, aged 45-75 years at baseline. Tufts University is an Affiliate to this study.
Project 4: A Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) investigation of traffic pollution and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Puerto Rican adults
This project will conduct environmental monitoring using a mobile air monitoring laboratory at the homes of participants to characterize the ultrafine particulate profile (UFP), test associations between measured levels and roadway proximity and traffic density; and test associations of UFP with inflammatory markers, blood pressure, and CVD risk factors. Researchers will further develop evidence for a causal association between ultrafine particles and adverse outcomes by installing in-home HEPA filters and comparing biomarker concentrations in a double blind, randomized trial. One of the goals of the study is to produce materials tailored to the Puerto Rican population that explains the hazards of traffic-related air pollution.
To learn more about the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, please click the following link: