Ambient ultrafine particles (UFPs; <0.1 µm) may exert greater toxicity, compared to other pollution components, due to enhanced oxidative capacity and ability to translocate systemically. Studies examining associations between prenatal UFP exposure and childhood asthma remain sparse.
A recent research published in the has highlighted that prenatal ultrafine particles (UFP) exposure is associated with asthma development in children, independent of correlated ambient NO2 and temperature.
Rosalind J. Wright and colleagues from the Icahn School of Medicine, Environmental Medicine & Public Health, New York, United States daily used ultrafine particle exposure estimates to identify susceptible windows of prenatal ultrafine particle exposure with asthma in children, accounting for sex-specific effects.
Analyses included a total of 376 mother-child dyads followed since pregnancy. Daily ultrafine particle exposure during pregnancy was estimated using a spatiotemporally-resolved particle number concentration prediction model.
Bayesian distributed lag interaction models (BDLIMs) were used to identify sensitive windows for UFP exposure, and examine whether effect estimates varied by sex. Incident asthma was determined at first report of asthma (3.6+3.2 years).
Covariates included maternal age, education, race, and obesity, child sex, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and temperature averaged over gestation, and postnatal ultrafine particle exposure.
The following findings were observed-
a. Women were 37.8% Black and 43.9% Hispanic with 52.9% reporting
b. The cumulative odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for incident asthma, per doubling of ultrafine particle exposure level across pregnancy was 4.28 (1.41–15.7) impacting males and females similarly. c. Bayesian distributed lag interaction models indicated sex differences in the sensitive windows with the highest risk of asthma in females exposed to higher UFPs during late pregnancy.
Hence, it was concluded that prenatal ultrafine particle exposure was associated with asthma development in children, independent of correlated ambient NO2 and temperature. Findings will benefit future research and policy-makers considering appropriate regulations that reduce the adverse effects of ultrafine particle on child respiratory health.
https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.202010-3743OC