Modeling complex effects of exposure to particulate matter and extreme heat during pregnancy on congenital heart defects: A U.S. population- based case-control study in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE
Research suggests gestational exposure to particulate matter
METHODS
We identified CHD case children (n = 2824) and non-malformed live-birth control children (n = 4033) from pregnancies ending between 1999 and 2007 in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, a U.S. population-based multicenter case- control study. We assigned mothers 6-week averages of PM2.5 exposure during the cardiac critical period (postconceptional weeks 3-8) using the closest monitor within 50 km of maternal residence. We assigned a count of extreme heat days (EHDs, days above the 90th percentile of daily maximum temperature for year, season, and weather station) during this period using the closest weather station. Using generalized additive models, we explored logit-nonlinear exposure-outcome relationships, concluding logistic models were reasonable. We estimated joint effects of PM2.5 and EHDs on six CHDs using logistic regression models adjusted for mean dewpoint and maternal age, education, and race/ethnicity. We assessed multiplicative and additive effect modification.
RESULTS
Conditional on the highest observed EHD count (15) and at least one critical period day during spring/summer, each 5 mug/m(3) increase in average PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with perimembranous ventricular septal defects (VSDpm; OR: 1.54 [95% CI: 1.01, 2.41]). High EHD counts (8+) in the same population were positively, but non- significantly, associated with both overall septal defects and VSDpm. Null or inverse associations were observed for lower EHD counts. Multiplicative and additive effect modification estimates were consistently positive in all septal models.
CONCLUSIONS
Results provide limited evidence that duration of extreme heat exposure modifies the PM2.5-septal defects relationship. Future research with enhanced exposure assessment and modeling techniques could clarify these relationships.