title: Maternal exposure to traffic-related air pollution and birth defects in Massachusetts.
abstract: Exposures to particulate matter with diameter of 2.5µm or less (PM2.5) may influence risk of birth defects. We estimated associations between maternal exposure to prenatal traffic-related air pollution and risk of cardiac, orofacial, and neural tube defects among Massachusetts births conceived 2001 through 2008. Our analyses included 2729 cardiac, 255 neural tube, and 729 orofacial defects. We used satellite remote sensing, meteorological and land use data to assess PM2.5 and traffic-related exposures (distance to roads and traffic density) at geocoded birth addresses. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) using logistic regression models. Generalized additive models were used to assess spatial patterns of birth defect risk. There were positive but non-significant associations for a 10µg/m(3) increase in PM2.5 and perimembranous ventricular septal defects (OR=1.34, 95% CI: 0.98, 1.83), patent foramen ovale (OR=1.19, 95% CI: 0.92, 1.54) and patent ductus arteriosus (OR=1.20, 95% CI: 0.95, 1.62). There was a non-significant inverse association between PM2.5 and cleft lip with or without palate (OR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.50, 1.10), cleft palate only (OR=0.89, 95% CI: 0.54, 1.46) and neural tube defects (OR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.46, 1.05). Results for traffic related exposure were similar. Only ostium secundum atrial septal defects displayed significant spatial variation after accounting for known risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Mariam S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Girguis
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Xuefei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Statistics, Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bartell
authors.affiliation: Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Verónica M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Vieira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009056:Mouth Abnormalities / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D018531:Spacecraft; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
keywords: Air pollution; Birth defects; Near-roadway pollution; Satellite-based PM(2.5); Traffic-density