Preterm birth and air pollution: Critical windows of exposure for women with asthma.

Publication Type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2016
Authors
Mendola, Pauline; Wallace, Maeve; Hwang, Beom Seuk; Liu, Danping; Robledo, Candace; Männistö, Tuija; Sundaram, Rajeshwari; Sherman, Seth; Ying, Qi; Grantz, Katherine L
Secondary
J Allergy Clin Immunol
Volume
138
Pagination
432-440.e5
Date Published
2016 08
Keywords
Adolescent; Adult; Air Pollutants; Air pollution; Asthma; Environmental Exposure; Female; Humans; Insurance, Health; Maternal Exposure; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Particulate Matter; Pregnancy; Premature Birth; Retrospective Studies; Risk; Time Factors; United States; Young Adult
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollutants may increase preterm birth (PTB) risk, but critical exposure windows are uncertain. The interaction of asthma and pollutant exposure is rarely studied.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the interaction of maternal asthma and air pollutant exposures in relation to PTB risk.

METHODS: Electronic medical records for 223,502 US deliveries were linked with modified Community Multiscale Air Quality model outputs. Logistic regression with generalized estimating equations estimated the odds ratio and 95% CIs for PTB on the basis of the interaction of maternal asthma and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 microns and particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 microns, ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) per interquartile range. For each gestational week 23 to 36, exposures among women who delivered were compared with those remaining pregnant. Three-month preconception, whole pregnancy, weeks 1 to 28, and the last 6 weeks of gestation averages were also evaluated.

RESULTS: On assessing PTB by gestational week, we found that significant asthma interactions were sporadic before 30 weeks but more common during weeks 34 to 36, with higher risk among mothers with asthma for NOx, CO, and SO2 exposure and an inverse association with O3 in week 34. Odds of PTB were significantly higher among women with asthma for CO and NOx exposure preconception and early in pregnancy. In the last 6 weeks of pregnancy, PTB risk associated with particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter of less than 10 microns was higher among women with asthma.

CONCLUSIONS: Mothers with asthma may experience a higher risk for PTB after exposure to traffic-related pollutants such as CO and NOx, particularly for exposures 3-months preconception and in the early weeks of pregnancy.