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PM2.5 threshold exceedances during the prenatal period and risk of intellectual disability

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Research demonstrates that chronic exposure to fine particulates (PM2.5) increases risks of neurodevelopmental conditions, such as intellectual disability (ID). Few studies have examined neurodevelopmental health impacts of pollution spikes exceeding 24-h (24-h) PM2.5 guidelines, despite relevance to the regulatory landscape. The current potential for regulatory changes to 24-h PM2.5 standards in the United States makes research on exceedances relevant.

Objective

To examine associations between 24-h PM2.5 exceedances and the risk of ID.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective case-control study of a sample of children in Utah, USA. We used generalized estimating equations to predict odds of ID based on the number of 24-h PM2.5 exceedance days during the preconception period and three trimesters of pregnancy. Exceedance days are defined as per current World Health Organization (WHO) [≥15 μg/m3] and current US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [≥35 μg/m3] 24-h guidelines.

Results

PM2.5 exceedances are associated with ID risk during the preconception and first trimester periods and not the second and third trimesters. During the preconception period, each day exceeding 15 μg/m3 or 35 μg/m3 was associated with a 1.023 (CI: 1.011–1.040) or 1.042 (CI: 1.026–1.059, p < 0.001) increase in odds of ID, respectively. During the first trimester, each day exceeding 15 μg/m3 or 35 μg/m3 was associated with a 1.032 (CI: 1.017–1.047) or 1.059 (CI: 1.030–1.088) increase in odds of ID, respectively.

Impact statement

  • Potential regulatory movement on the US 24-h PM2.5 standard makes research that explicitly studies exceedances highly relevant. Yet few studies examine health effects of exceeding 24-h guidelines for any air pollutants. This study fills important gaps in the literature by examining associations between odds of intellectual disability and the count of days exceeding current 24-h PM2.5 guidelines, as established by the World Health Organization and US Environmental Protection Agency, during the prenatal period. We find that exceedances of both sets of guidelines, during the preconception and first trimester periods, are associated with ID risk.

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Data availability

The authors cannot make the data publicly available nor are they permitted to share the data with other researchers, due to their sensitive nature. Researchers wishing to obtain the data can apply to access it directly via the Utah Resource for Genetic and Epidemiologic Research, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, and the Utah Registry of Autism and Developmental Disabilities Oversight Committee.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the unique collaboration provided across the University of Utah, Intermountain Healthcare, Utah Registry of Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, and the Pedigree and Population Resource (funded by the Huntsman and Intermountain Healthcare Cancer Foundation). We also acknowledge Colin Kingsbury, the URADD Oversight Committee, and Carlos Galvao for their help with this project.

Funding

This article is based on work supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences under award R25 ES031497.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Utah, 380 S. 1530 E., Rm. 301, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Sara E. Grineski & Roger A. Renteria

  2. Department of Geography, University of Utah, 260 Central Campus Dr., Rm. 4728, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Timothy W. Collins & Kevin D. Ramos

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, 30 N. 1900 E., Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA

    Amanda V. Bakian & Deborah Bilder

  4. Department of Family and Preventative Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, 375 Chipeta Way Ste. A, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA

    James A. VanDerslice

  5. Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, 2000 Cir of Hope Dr Ste 1950, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Alison Fraser

  6. Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program, University of Utah, 260 S Central Campus Drive, Room 4540, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Jaqueline Gomez

Authors
  1. Sara E. Grineski
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Contributions

All authors meet the four criteria for authorship as per the ICMJE Recommendations. (1) We have contributed to the conception and design of the work (SG), the acquisition of the data (SG, AB, DB) or the analysis and interpretation of the findings (SG, AB, DB, TC, JV, KR, JG, RR). And, (2) we have all contributed to the writing and revising of the manuscript and (3) have approved this version for submission to the journal. (4) We all agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sara E. Grineski.

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Grineski, S.E., Renteria, R.A., Collins, T.W. et al. PM2.5 threshold exceedances during the prenatal period and risk of intellectual disability. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-024-00647-0

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