Prenatal Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Newborn Anogenital Distance: a Prospective Cohort Study

Overview

Journal Environ Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 2023 Feb 9

PMID 36755317

Authors

Xiaoli Shen

Xia Meng

Cuiping Wang

Xiangfeng Chen

Qian Chen

Jing Cai

Jun Zhang

Qianlong Zhang

Lichun Fan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Considerable attention has been paid to reproductive toxicity of fine particulate matter (PM). However, the relationship between prenatal PM exposure and anogenital distance (AGD) has not been well studied. We aim to investigate the potential effects of prenatal exposure to PM on newborn AGD.

Methods: Prenatal PM exposure of 2332 participates in Shanghai (2013-2016) was estimated using high-performance machine learning models. Anoscrotal distance (AGDas) in male infants and anofourchette distance (AGDaf) in female infants were measured by well-trained examiners within 3 days after birth. We applied multiple linear regression models and multiple informant models to estimate the association between prenatal PM exposure and AGD.

Results: Multiple linear regression models showed that a 10 μg/m increase in PM exposure during full pregnancy, the second and third trimesters was inversely associated with AGDas (adjusted beta = - 1.76, 95% CI: - 2.21, - 1.31; - 0.73, 95% CI: - 1.06, - 0.40; and - 0.52; 95% CI: - 0.87, - 0.18, respectively) in males. A 10 μg/m increase in PM exposure during the full pregnancy, the first, second, and third trimesters was inversely associated with AGDaf (adjusted beta = - 4.55; 95% CI: - 5.18, - 3.92; - 0.78; 95% CI: - 1.10, - 0.46; - 1.11; 95% CI: - 1.46, - 0.77; - 1.45; 95% CI: - 1.78, - 1.12, respectively) in females after adjusting for potential confounders. Multiple informant models showed consistent but slightly attenuated associations.

Conclusion: Our study observed a significant association between gestational PM exposure during pregnancy and shortened AGD in newborns, and provided new evidence on potential reproductive toxicity of prenatal PM exposure.

Citing Articles

A comprehensive review on endocrine toxicity of gaseous components and particulate matter in smog.

Saleem A, Awan T, Akhtar M Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024; 15:1294205.

PMID: 38352708 PMC: 10863453. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1294205.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals and male fertility: from physiological to molecular effects.

Lahimer M, Abou Diwan M, Montjean D, Cabry R, Bach V, Ajina M Front Public Health. 2023; 11:1232646.

PMID: 37886048 PMC: 10598475. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1232646.

References

Bekkar B, Pacheco S, Basu R, DeNicola N . Association of Air Pollution and Heat Exposure With Preterm Birth, Low Birth Weight, and Stillbirth in the US: A Systematic Review. JAMA Netw Open. 2020; 3(6):e208243. PMC: 7303808. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.8243. View

Qiu L, Chen M, Wang X, Chen S, Ying Z . Exposure of Mice during Spermatogenesis: A Role of Inhibitor Kinase 2 in Pro-Opiomelanocortin Neurons. Environ Health Perspect. 2021; 129(9):97006. PMC: 8425520. DOI: 10.1289/EHP8868. View

Huang G, Zhang Q, Wu H, Wang Q, Chen Y, Guo P . Sperm quality and ambient air pollution exposure: A retrospective, cohort study in a Southern province of China. Environ Res. 2020; 188:109756. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109756. View

Liao J, Yu H, Xia W, Zhang B, Lu B, Cao Z . Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter during pregnancy and gestational weight gain. Environ Int. 2018; 119:407-412. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.07.009. View

Bustamante-Montes L, Hernandez-Valero M, Flores-Pimentel D, Garcia-Fabila M, Amaya-Chavez A, Barr D . Prenatal exposure to phthalates is associated with decreased anogenital distance and penile size in male newborns. J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2013; 4(4):300-6. PMC: 3862078. DOI: 10.1017/S2040174413000172. View

Li Z, Tang Y, Song X, Lazar L, Li Z, Zhao J . Impact of ambient PM on adverse birth outcome and potential molecular mechanism. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2018; 169:248-254. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.10.109. View

Liu N, Miyashita L, Maher B, McPhail G, Jones C, Barratt B . Evidence for the presence of air pollution nanoparticles in placental tissue cells. Sci Total Environ. 2020; 751:142235. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142235. View

Sram R, Veleminsky Jr M, Veleminsky Sr M, Stejskalova J . The impact of air pollution to central nervous system in children and adults. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2018; 38(6):389-396. View

Rosa M, Pajak A, Just A, Sheffield P, Kloog I, Schwartz J . Prenatal exposure to PM and birth weight: A pooled analysis from three North American longitudinal pregnancy cohort studies. Environ Int. 2017; 107:173-180. PMC: 5568041. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.07.012. View

10.

Bove H, Bongaerts E, Slenders E, Bijnens E, Saenen N, Gyselaers W . Ambient black carbon particles reach the fetal side of human placenta. Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):3866. PMC: 6748955. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11654-3. View

11.

Lao X, Zhang Z, Lau A, Chan T, Chuang Y, Chan J . Exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and semen quality in Taiwan. Occup Environ Med. 2017; 75(2):148-154. PMC: 5800343. DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2017-104529. View

12.

Wu Y, Zhong G, Chen S, Zheng C, Liao D, Xie M . Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with anogenital distance, a marker of prenatal androgen exposure. Hum Reprod. 2017; 32(4):937-943. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dex042. View

13.

Kloog I, Melly S, Ridgway W, Coull B, Schwartz J . Using new satellite based exposure methods to study the association between pregnancy PM₂.₅ exposure, premature birth and birth weight in Massachusetts. Environ Health. 2012; 11:40. PMC: 3464884. DOI: 10.1186/1476-069X-11-40. View

14.

Papadopoulou E, Vafeiadi M, Agramunt S, Basagana X, Mathianaki K, Karakosta P . Anogenital distances in newborns and children from Spain and Greece: predictors, tracking and reliability. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2012; 27(1):89-99. DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12022. View

15.

Neven K, Wang C, Janssen B, Roels H, Vanpoucke C, Ruttens A . Ambient air pollution exposure during the late gestational period is linked with lower placental iodine load in a Belgian birth cohort. Environ Int. 2020; 147:106334. PMC: 7816215. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106334. View

16.

Meng P, Tang X, Jiang X, Tang Q, Bai L, Xia Y . Maternal exposure to traffic pollutant causes impairment of spermatogenesis and alterations of genome-wide mRNA and microRNA expression in F2 male mice. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2018; 64:1-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2018.09.006. View

17.

Wu Y, Song P, Lin S, Peng L, Li Y, Deng Y . Global Burden of Respiratory Diseases Attributable to Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution: Findings From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Front Public Health. 2021; 9:740800. PMC: 8650086. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.740800. View

18.

Mammadov E, Uncu M, Dalkan C . High Prenatal Exposure to Bisphenol A Reduces Anogenital Distance in Healthy Male Newborns. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. 2017; 10(1):25-29. PMC: 5838369. DOI: 10.4274/jcrpe.4817. View

19.

Salazar-Martinez E, Romano-Riquer P, Yanez-Marquez E, Longnecker M, Hernandez-Avila M . Anogenital distance in human male and female newborns: a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Environ Health. 2004; 3(1):8. PMC: 521084. DOI: 10.1186/1476-069X-3-8. View

20.

Mendiola J, Sanchez-Ferrer M, Jimenez-Velazquez R, Canovas-Lopez L, Hernandez-Penalver A, Corbalan-Biyang S . Endometriomas and deep infiltrating endometriosis in adulthood are strongly associated with anogenital distance, a biomarker for prenatal hormonal environment. Hum Reprod. 2016; 31(10):2377-83. PMC: 5027925. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dew163. View