The Association of Ambient Air Pollution and Traffic Exposures With Selected Congenital Anomalies in the San Joaquin Valley of California

• Published in: American journal of epidemiology 2013-05, Vol.177 (10), p.1074-1085
• Main Authors: PADULA, Amy M, TAGER, Ira B, CARMICHAEL, Suzan L, KATHARINE HAMMOND, S, LURMANN, Frederick, SHAW, Gary M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Air Pollutants - adverse effects; Air pollution; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Biological and medical sciences; California - epidemiology; Carbon dioxide; Carbon Monoxide - adverse effects; Case-Control Studies; Chemical compounds; Congenital diseases; Environment. Living conditions; Epidemiology; Female; Gastroschisis - epidemiology; Gastroschisis - etiology; General aspects; Humans; Infant mortality; Infant, Newborn; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Morbidity; Mouth Abnormalities - epidemiology; Mouth Abnormalities - etiology; Neural Tube Defects - epidemiology; Neural Tube Defects - etiology; Nitrogen Oxides - adverse effects; Original Contributions; Ozone - adverse effects; Particulate Matter - adverse effects; Population Surveillance; Pregnancy; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Vehicle Emissions - toxicity; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0002-9262; 1476-6256
• DOI: 10.1093/aje/kws367

Congenital anomalies are a leading cause of infant mortality and are important contributors to subsequent morbidity. Studies suggest associations between environmental contaminants and some anomalies, although evidence is limited. We aimed to investigate whether ambient air pollutant and traffic exposures in early gestation contribute to the risk of selected congenital anomalies in the San Joaquin Valley of California, 1997-2006. Seven exposures and 5 outcomes were included for a total of 35 investigated associations. We observed increased odds of neural tube defects when comparing the highest with the lowest quartile of exposure for several pollutants after adjusting for maternal race/ethnicity, education, and multivitamin use. The adjusted odds ratio for neural tube defects among those with the highest carbon monoxide exposure was 1.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.1, 3.2) compared with those with the lowest exposure, and there was a monotonic exposure-response across quartiles. The highest quartile of nitrogen oxide exposure was associated with neural tube defects (adjusted odds ratio = 1.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.1, 2.8). The adjusted odds ratio for the highest quartile of nitrogen dioxide exposure was 1.7 (95% confidence interval: 1.1, 2.7). Ozone was associated with decreased odds of neural tube defects. Our results extend the limited body of evidence regarding air pollution exposure and adverse birth outcomes.