Prenatal exposure to ambient PM2.5, roadway proximity, pre-term birth, and effect modification by socioeconomic indicators and infant sex
Year: 2019
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: TPS 742: Adverse birth outcomes 1, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 27, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background: While mounting evidence suggests that maternal exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with preterm birth (PTB), few studies examined smaller biologically relevant exposure windows or the role of potential modifiers such as socioeconomic indicators and infant sex. Methods: Participants of two cohort studies in the ECHO-PATHWAYS consortium, CANDLE and TIDES, comprised the analytic population (N=1,882). Trimester-specific and biologically relevant windows (0-2 and 10-12 weeks of gestation, and last month of pregnancy) of exposure to particulate matter ≤2.5 (PM2.5) was estimated using a well-validated national spatiotemporal model. In addition, we characterized near road residence as <150m from an A1, A2, or A3 road. PTB was defined as birth <37 weeks completed gestation. Adjusted modified Poisson regression models were used to estimate relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Effect modification (EM) by SES indicators (maternal education, household income, neighborhood deprivation index) and infant sex was examined using interaction analyses. Results: Among participants, 8.8% had PTB. Median PM2.5 level during pregnancy was 10.3 µg/m3 (interquartile range=1.7), while 35.6% of participants had a near road residence. PM2.5 exposure was not associated with PTB in this population. Near road residence was associated with a higher risk of PTB (RR: 1.40; 95%CI: 1.03-1.92). We also found suggestive evidence for interactions between near road residence and maternal education and infant sex (p-interaction 0.039 and 0.062, respectively). Associations were larger in those with lower education compared to those with some graduate education. Associations were present in males (RR: 1.58; 95%CI: 1.04-2.41), but not females (RR: 1.21; 95%CI: 0.75-1.95). Conclusions: Study findings suggest that residence near road is associated with higher risk of preterm birth, particularly among male infants and with lower maternal education. Further studies are needed to improve our understanding of associations of air pollution exposure and birth outcomes and identify vulnerable subpopulations.
Source: Environmental Epidemiology
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,200
OpenAlex ID: W2981929243