A Review of Volatile Organic Compound Contamination in Post-Industrial Urban Centers: Reproductive Health Implications Using a Detroit Lens

doi:10.3390/ijerph17238755

Review

. 2020 Nov 25;17(23):8755.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph17238755.

A Review of Volatile Organic Compound Contamination in Post-Industrial Urban Centers: Reproductive Health Implications Using a Detroit Lens

Carol J Miller^{1

2}, Melissa Runge-Morris^{1

3}, Andrea E Cassidy-Bushrow^{1

4}, Jennifer K Straughen^{1

4}, Timothy M Dittrich^{1

2}, Tracie R Baker^{1

3

5}, Michael C Petriello^{1

3

5}, Gil Mor^{1

6}, Douglas M Ruden^{1

3

5

7}, Brendan F O'Leary^{1

2}, Sadaf Teimoori², Chandra M Tummala², Samantha Heldman⁵, Manisha Agarwal³, Katherine Roth³, Zhao Yang³, Bridget B Baker^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Leadership in Environmental Awareness and Research (CLEAR)-Integrative Biosciences Center, Wayne State University, 6135 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering-College of Engineering, Wayne State University, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
³ Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-Integrative Biosciences Center, Wayne State University, 6135 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
⁴ Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, 1 Ford Place, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology-School of Medicine, Wayne State University, 540 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
⁶ C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Wayne State University, 275 E. Hancock, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
⁷ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, 275 E. Hancock, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.

PMID: 33255777
PMCID: PMC7728359
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238755

Review

A Review of Volatile Organic Compound Contamination in Post-Industrial Urban Centers: Reproductive Health Implications Using a Detroit Lens

Carol J Miller et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020.

. 2020 Nov 25;17(23):8755.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph17238755.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Center for Leadership in Environmental Awareness and Research (CLEAR)-Integrative Biosciences Center, Wayne State University, 6135 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering-College of Engineering, Wayne State University, 5050 Anthony Wayne Drive, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
³ Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-Integrative Biosciences Center, Wayne State University, 6135 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
⁴ Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Hospital, 1 Ford Place, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology-School of Medicine, Wayne State University, 540 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
⁶ C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Wayne State University, 275 E. Hancock, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
⁷ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, 275 E. Hancock, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.

PMID: 33255777
PMCID: PMC7728359
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238755

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of aromatic or chlorinated organic chemicals commonly found in manufactured products that have high vapor pressure, and thus vaporize readily at room temperature. While airshed VOCs are well studied and have provided insights into public health issues, we suggest that belowground VOCs and the related vapor intrusion process could be equally or even more relevant to public health. The persistence, movement, remediation, and human health implications of subsurface VOCs in urban landscapes remain relatively understudied despite evidence of widespread contamination. This review explores the state of the science of subsurface movement and remediation of VOCs through groundwater and soils, the linkages between these poorly understood contaminant exposure pathways and health outcomes based on research in various animal models, and describes the role of these contaminants in human health, focusing on birth outcomes, notably low birth weight and preterm birth. Finally, this review provides recommendations for future research to address knowledge gaps that are essential for not only tackling health disparities and environmental injustice in post-industrial cities, but also protecting and preserving critical freshwater resources.

Keywords: adverse birth outcomes; health disparities; remediation; urban; vapor intrusion; volatile organic compounds.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Vapor intrusion pathways [62].

**Figure 2**
Detroit brownfield locations that can serve as sources of VOCs [68]. Note that Highland Park and Hamtramck are not part of the city of Detroit.

**Figure 3**
Regional flow features of shallow groundwater in Detroit. Flow rate is primarily towards the southeast.

**Figure 4**
Local flow features of shallow groundwater in Recovery Park, Detroit. Flow rate is directed towards the north/northeast.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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1. Tabb A. GLUE Founders Stay Put for Great Lakes Renaissance. Crain’s Detroit Business. [(accessed on 20 August 2020)];2009 Available online: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090108/DM01/901089973/glue-found....
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[1] Hyde C.K. “Detroit the Dynamic”: The industrial history of Detroit from cigars to cars. Mich. Hist. Rev. 2001;27:57. doi: 10.2307/20173894. - DOI

[2] Hyde C.K. “Detroit the Dynamic”: The industrial history of Detroit from cigars to cars. Mich. Hist. Rev. 2001;27:57. doi: 10.2307/20173894. - DOI

[3] Tabb A. GLUE Founders Stay Put for Great Lakes Renaissance. Crain’s Detroit Business. [(accessed on 20 August 2020)];2009 Available online: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090108/DM01/901089973/glue-found....

[4] Tabb A. GLUE Founders Stay Put for Great Lakes Renaissance. Crain’s Detroit Business. [(accessed on 20 August 2020)];2009 Available online: https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20090108/DM01/901089973/glue-found....

[5] Desjardins J. The Great Lakes Economy: The Growth Engine of North America. Visual Capitalist. [(accessed on 26 March 2020)];2017 Available online: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/great-lakes-economy/

[6] Desjardins J. The Great Lakes Economy: The Growth Engine of North America. Visual Capitalist. [(accessed on 26 March 2020)];2017 Available online: https://www.visualcapitalist.com/great-lakes-economy/

[7] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fast Facts—Great Lakes. [(accessed on 25 March 2020)];2020 Available online: https://www.coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/great-lakes.html.

[8] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fast Facts—Great Lakes. [(accessed on 25 March 2020)];2020 Available online: https://www.coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/great-lakes.html.

[9] American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Michigan Infrastructure Report Card. [(accessed on 18 August 2020)];2018 Available online: https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/michigan/

[10] American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Michigan Infrastructure Report Card. [(accessed on 18 August 2020)];2018 Available online: https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/michigan/

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A Review of Volatile Organic Compound Contamination in Post-Industrial Urban Centers: Reproductive Health Implications Using a Detroit Lens

Affiliations

A Review of Volatile Organic Compound Contamination in Post-Industrial Urban Centers: Reproductive Health Implications Using a Detroit Lens

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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