Associations between fine particulate matter, extreme heat events, and congenital heart defects
Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Previous research reports associations between air pollution measured during pregnancy and the occurrence of congenital heart defects (CHDs) in offspring. The objective of this research was to assess if exposure to extreme heat events (EHEs) during pregnancy may modify this association. Methods: The study population consisted of 4,033 controls and 2,632 cases with dates of delivery between 1999 and 2007 who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a multi-site case–control study in the United States. Daily data from the closest stationary fine particulate matter (PM2.5) monitor within 50 km from the maternal residence were averaged across weeks 3–8 post-conception. EHEs were defined as maximum ambient temperature in the upper 95th percentile for at least 2 consecutive days or the upper 90th percentile for 3 consecutive days. Logistic regression models were adjusted for maternal age, ethnicity, education, and average humidity. Relative excess risks due to interaction (RERI) were calculated. Results: Compared with women with low PM2.5 exposure and no exposure to an EHE, the odds of a ventricular septal defect in offspring associated with high PM2.5 exposure was elevated only among women who experienced an EHE (odds ratio [OR] 2.14 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19, 3.38 vs. OR 0.97 95% CI 0.49, 1.95; RERI 0.82 95% CI −0.39, 2.17). The majority of observed associations and interactions for other heart defects were null and/or inconclusive due to lack of precision. Conclusions: This study provides limited evidence that EHEs may modify the association between prenatal exposure to PM2.5 and CHD occurrence.
Source: Environmental Epidemiology
Institutions: Columbia University, Environmental Protection Agency, Kent State University, Texas Department of State Health Services, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, University of Iowa, University of Utah, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, New York State Department of Health, University at Albany, State University of New York
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,200
Awards: A Data Science Approach to Air Toxics and Children's Environmental Health, G1794674068, NEW YORK STATE NAT'L ENVIRONMENTAL PUB HLTH TRACKING PROG- NETWORK IMPLEMENTATION, NEW YORK STATE COMPONENT A: BD-STEPS II CORE, CALIFORNIA CENTER OF BD-STEPS II FINDING CAUSES AND PREVENTIVES OF BIRTH DEFECTS, NORTH CAROLINA BIRTH DEFECTS STUDY TO EVALUATE PREGNANCY EXPOSURES (NC BD-STEPS), CENTERS FOR BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH AND PREVENTION (CBDRPS), Climate Change and Adverse Birth Outcomes, COMPONENT A: BD-STEPS II CORE AT NORTH CAROLINA CENTER FOR BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH AND PREVENTION (NC BDSTEPS II CORE), G7711204859, Weather extremes, natural disasters, and health outcomes among vulnerable older adults: New improvements on exposure assessment, disparity identification, and risk communication strategies
OpenAlex ID: W2980876818