Maternal exposure to ambient air pollution mixture and premature rupture of membranes: Evidence from a large cohort in Southern California (2008–2018)

Anqi Jiao; Yi Sun; Chantal Avila; Vicki Chiu; John Molitor; Jeff Slezak; David A. Sacks; Jiu-Chiuan Chen; Tarik Benmarhnia; Darios Getahun; Jun Wu

Environment International (Jul 2023)

Maternal exposure to ambient air pollution mixture and premature rupture of membranes: Evidence from a large cohort in Southern California (2008–2018)

Anqi Jiao,
Yi Sun,
Chantal Avila,
Vicki Chiu,
John Molitor,
Jeff Slezak,
David A. Sacks,
Jiu-Chiuan Chen,
Tarik Benmarhnia,
Darios Getahun,
Jun Wu

Affiliations

Anqi Jiao: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
Yi Sun: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Institute of Medical Information, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
Chantal Avila: Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
Vicki Chiu: Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
John Molitor: College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Jeff Slezak: Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA
David A. Sacks: Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Jiu-Chiuan Chen: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
Tarik Benmarhnia: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
Darios Getahun: Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, USA; Department of Health Systems Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, CA, USA; Corresponding authors at: 100 S. Los Robles Avenue, 2nd Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA (D. Getahun). 856 Health Sciences Rd (Quad), Suite 3200, Irvine, CA 92697-1830, USA (J. Wu).
Jun Wu: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA; Corresponding authors at: 100 S. Los Robles Avenue, 2nd Floor, Pasadena, CA 91101, USA (D. Getahun). 856 Health Sciences Rd (Quad), Suite 3200, Irvine, CA 92697-1830, USA (J. Wu).

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 177
p. 108030

Abstract

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Background: There is minimal evidence of relationships between maternal air pollution exposure and spontaneous premature rupture of membranes (SPROM), a critical obstetrical problem that can significantly increase maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. No prior study has explored the PROM risk related to specific components of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5). We examined associations between maternal exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), PM2.5, PM10, and PM2.5 constituents and SPROM. Methods: A large retrospective cohort study was conducted and included 427,870 singleton live births from Kaiser Permanente Southern California during 2008–2018. Monthly averages of NO2, O3 (8-h daily maximum), PM2.5, and PM10 were measured using empirical Bayesian kriging based on measurements from monitoring stations. Data on PM2.5 sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, organic matter, and black carbon were obtained from a fine-resolution model. A discrete time approach with pooled logistic regressions was used to estimate associations throughout the pregnancy and based on trimesters and gestational months. The quantile-based g-computation models were fitted to examine the effects of 1) the air pollution mixture of four pollutants of interest and 2) the mixture of PM2.5 components. Results: There were 37,857 SPROM cases (8.8%) in our study population. We observed relationships between SPROM and maternal exposure to NO2, O3, and PM2.5. PM2.5 sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, and organic matter were associated with higher SPROM risks in the single-pollutant model. Mixture analyses demonstrated that the overall effects of the air pollution mixture and PM2.5 mixture in this study were mainly driven by O3 and PM2.5 nitrate, respectively. Underweight mothers had a significantly higher risk of SPROM associated with NO2. Conclusion: Our findings add to the literature on associations between air pollution exposure and SPROM. This is the first study reporting the impact of PM2.5 constituents on SPROM.

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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