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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Sep 17.
Published in final edited form as: Environ Epidemiol. 2018 May 30;2(2):e015. doi: 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000015

Table.

Examples of health disparities (X-Y) where the joint contribution of environmental factors (E) and their modifiable sources (B) might be hypothesized from the literature.

Disparity of interest Social/anthropological construct (X) Modifiable sources of environmental factors (B) Biomarkers of environmental toxicants (E) Health Outcomes (Y)
1. African American race is associated with higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease* Race/ethnicity Fast food consumption Phthalates Cardiovascular disease
2. Living longer in the U.S. is associated with higher risk of GDM in Asian immigrants Acculturation Occupational exposures (e.g. nail salons) Toluene Formaldehyde Gestational diabetes
3. African-American race is associated with higher risk of premature puberty Race/ethnicity Hair product use Environmental phenols Age at menarche
4. Poverty is associated with reduced IQ Socioeconomic status Housing and household factors (e.g furniture) PBDEs Neurodevelopment
5. Women have higher prevalence of asthma Gender Cleaning products Volatile organic compounds Asthma
*

Illustrative examples provided in the manuscript refer to the first line of this Table. These can be extended to any other environmental health disparity in which modifiable sources and biomarker of environmental exposures can be identified.