Autism Spectrum Disorder and Particulate Matter Air Pollution before, during, and after Pregnancy: A Nested Case–Control Analysis within the Nurses’ Health Study II Cohort

• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1408133
• Publication Date: 2014-12-18T20:49:55Z
• Authors: Raanan Raz; Andrea L. Roberts; Kristen Lyall; Jaime E. Hart; Allan C. Just; Francine Laden; Marc G. Weisskopf
• Keywords: Nested case-control study; Interquartile range; Etiology

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental with increasing prevalence worldwide, yet has unclear etiology.We explored the association between maternal exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution and odds of ASD in her child.We conducted nested case-control study participants Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II), prospective cohort 116,430 U.S. female nurses recruited 1989, followed by biennial mailed questionnaires. Subjects were NHS participants' children born 1990-2002 (n = 245), without 1,522) randomly selected using frequency matching for birth years. Diagnosis was based on report, which validated against Diagnostic Interview-Revised subset. Monthly averages PM diameters ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5) 2.5-10 (PM10-2.5) predicted from spatiotemporal model continental United States linked residential addresses.PM2.5 during pregnancy associated increased ASD, an adjusted ratio (OR) per interquartile range (IQR) higher PM2.5 (4.42 μg/m3) 1.57 (95% CI: 1.22, 2.03) among women same address before after (160 cases, 986 controls). Associations 9 months or weaker independent models null when all three time periods included, whereas remained (OR 1.63; 95% 1.08, 2.47). The stronger third trimester 1.42 IQR increase PM2.5; 1.09, 1.86) than first two trimesters (ORs 1.06 1.00) mutually adjusted. There little PM10-2.5 ASD.Higher pregnancy, particularly trimester, greater child having ASD.