Sally A. Lederman, Ph.D., Speical lecturer, Institute of Human Nutrition Ph.D., 1980 - Columbia University, GSAS
M.S., 1976 - Columbia University, College of Phys & Surgeons
Research Summary
The research I most recently conducted was The WTC Pregnancy Study and its Follow-up, a study of pregnancy outcome and the growth and development of children who were in utero at the time of the WTC disaster 9-11-01. It was supported through grants to the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (F. Perera, P.I). Manuscript preparation continues on this project, but I no longer manage the continuing follow-up of the children.
The WTC Pregnancy Study examined the effects of acute exposure to the dust and smoke from the fires and collapses of the WTC towers on exposed pregnant women and their offspring. Newborn outcomes including birth weight, length and head circumference were determined and related to exposures. Interview and medical record data were collected at delivery allow us to control for other determinative factors. The project enrolled 329 women, 169 who lived and/or worked within 2 miles of the WTC site (Exposed groups) in the month following 9-11-01 and 160 who lived and worked more than 2 miles from the site (Control group). Blood samples were collected at delivery from the mothers and from the baby’s cord. Substances that were measured include maternal and cord blood PAH-DNA adducts, many PCBs, dioxins, and furans, lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated fire-retardant breakdown products.
In the Follow-up Study, women were reinterviewed at 6 months postpartum, and every 6 months thereafter, regarding infant feeding and hospitalizations. The child was brought to the medical center and the mother interviewed more extensively, around the time of the baby’s birthdays, through age 4 years. At these visits, child growth and mental and motor development were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development through age 3 years, and the Wechsler (WPPSI-R) at age 4.
I am also an advisor to the Mothers and Newborns Study of the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (F. Pererea, P.I.). This is a study of the effects of chronic air pollution exposure on physical growth and mental and motor development and on the course and development of respiratory diseases in children. The substances measured are similar to those in the study listed above and also include measurement of vitamins A, C and E as well as several retinoids in maternal and cord blood and in child blood at later ages. Children have been followed for more than 10 years in this study.
Lederman SA, Jones RL,. Caldwell KL, Rauh V, Sheets SE, Tang D, Viswanathan S, Becker M, Stein JL, Wang RY, Perera FP. Relation between Cord Blood Mercury Levels and Early Child Development in a World Trade Center Cohort. Environmental Health Perspectives 2008; 116(8), 1085-91.
Lederman SA, Becker M, Stein J, Tang D, Andrews H, Weiss L, Perera FP. Modeling Exposure to Air Pollution from the WTC Disaster Based on Reports of Perceived Air Pollution. Risk Analysis 2008; 28(2):1-15.
Perera FP, Tang D, Rauh V, Tu Y-H, Tsai WY, Becker M, Stein JL, King J, Del Priore G, Lederman SA. Relationship between Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon–DNA Adducts, Environmental Tobacco Smoke, and Child Development in the World Trade Center Cohort. Environ Health Perspect 2007;115:1497–1502.
Lederman SA. Pregnancy. In, SB Heymsfield , TG Lohman, Z Wang , SB Going (eds.) Human Body Composition, 2nd edition. Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL, 2005, pp. 299-311.
Perera FP, Tang D, Rauh V, Lester K, Tsai WY, Tu YH, Weiss L, Hoepner L, King J, Del Priore G, Lederman SA. Relationships Among Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon-DNA Adducts, Proximity to the World Trade Center and Effects on Fetal Growth. Environ Health Perspect 2005; 113(8):1062-7.
Perera F, Tang D, Whyatt R, Lederman SA, Jedrychowski W. DNA damage from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mothers and newborns from northern Manhattan, the World Trade Center area, Poland, and China. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 2005; 14: 709-714.
Lederman SA, Rauh V, Weiss L, Stein JL, Hoepner LA, Becker M, Perera FP. The effects of the World Trade Center Event on Birth Outcomes at Three Lower Manhattan Hospitals. Environ Health Perspect 2004;112:1772-8.
