Prenatal ambient air pollution exposure and child weight trajectories from the 3rd trimester of pregnancy to 2 years of age: a cohort study

Abstract

Background

Prenatal air pollution exposure may increase risk for childhood obesity. However, few studies have evaluated in utero growth measures and infant weight trajectories. This study will evaluate the associations of prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants with weight trajectories from the 3rd trimester through age 2 years.

Methods

We studied 490 pregnant women who were recruited from the Maternal and Development Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort, which comprises a low-income, primarily Hispanic population in Los Angeles, California. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), particulate matter < 10 µm (PM₁₀), particulate matter < 2.5 µm (PM_2.5), and ozone (O₃) concentrations during pregnancy were estimated from regulatory air monitoring stations. Fetal weight was estimated from maternal ultrasound records. Infant/child weight measurements were extracted from medical records or measured during follow-up visits. Piecewise spline models were used to assess the effect of air pollutants on weight, overall growth, and growth during each period.

Results

The mean (SD) prenatal exposure concentrations for NO₂, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and O₃ were 16.4 (2.9) ppb, 12.0 (1.1) μg/m³, 28.5 (4.7) μg/m³, and 26.2 (2.9) ppb, respectively. Comparing an increase in prenatal average air pollutants from the 10th to the 90th percentile, the growth rate from the 3rd trimester to age 3 months was significantly increased (1.55% [95%CI 1.20%, 1.99%] for PM_2.5 and 1.64% [95%CI 1.27%, 2.13%] for NO₂), the growth rate from age 6 months to age 2 years was significantly decreased (0.90% [95%CI 0.82%, 1.00%] for NO₂), and the attained weight at age 2 years was significantly lower (− 7.50% [95% CI − 13.57%, − 1.02%] for PM₁₀ and − 7.00% [95% CI − 11.86%, − 1.88%] for NO₂).

Conclusions

Prenatal ambient air pollution was associated with variable changes in growth rate and attained weight from the 3rd trimester to age 2 years. These results suggest continued public health benefits of reducing ambient air pollution levels, particularly in marginalized populations.