In utero exposure to near-roadway air pollution and autism spectrum disorder in children

• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106898
• Publication Date: 2021-10-07T10:57:05Z
• Authors: Sarah A. Carter; Md Mostafijur Rahman; Jane C. Lin; Yu-Hsiang Shu; Ting Chow; Xin Yu; Mayra P. Martinez; Sandrah P. Eckel; Jiu-Chiuan Chen; Zhanghua Chen; Joel Schwartz; Nathan Pavlovic; Frederick W. Lurmann; Rob McConnell; Anny H. Xiang
• Keywords: Medical record

Previous studies have reported associations between in utero exposure to regional air pollution and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In components of near-roadway (NRAP) has been linked adverse neurodevelopment animal models, but few investigated NRAP association with ASD risk. To identify risk associated a large, representative birth cohort. This retrospective pregnancy cohort study included 314,391 mother–child pairs singletons born 2001 2014 at Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) hospitals. Maternal child data were extracted from KPSC electronic medical records. Children followed until: clinical diagnosis ASD, non-KPSC membership, death, or December 31, 2019, whichever came first. Exposure the complex mixture during was assessed using line-source dispersion models estimate fresh vehicle emissions freeway non-freeway sources maternal addresses pregnancy. Vehicular traffic load characterized advanced telematic combining traditional counts travel-demand cell phone GPS data. Cox proportional-hazard estimated hazard ratios (HR) dispersion-modeled pregnancy, adjusted for covariates. Non-freeway analyzed quintile distribution due nonlinear ASD. Average residential addresses. Clinical A total 6,291 children (5,114 boys, 1,177 girls) diagnosed The pregnancy-average [HR(95% CI): 1.03(1.00,1.05) per 5 ppb increase NOx] CI) comparing highest lowest quintile: 1.19(1.11, 1.27)]. Total had stronger boys than girls, did not differ by sex. statistically significant. demonstrated consistent those pollution, particularly sources, may children.