Newborn Glomerular Function and Gestational Particulate Air Pollution

Overview

Journal EBioMedicine

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2024 Aug 23

PMID 39178748

Authors

Leen Rasking

Thessa Van Pee

Maartje Vangeneugden

Eleni Renaers

Congrong Wang

Joris Penders

Katrien De Vusser

Michelle Plusquin

Tim S Nawrot

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Nephron number variability may hold significance in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis. We explore the impact of gestational particulate pollution exposure on cord blood cystatin C, a marker for glomerular function, as an indicator for glomerular health at birth.

Methods: From February 2010 onwards, the ENVIRONAGE cohort includes over 2200 mothers giving birth at the East-Limburg hospital in Genk, Belgium. Mothers without planned caesarean section who are able to fill out a Dutch questionnaire are eligible. Here, we evaluated cord blood cystatin C levels from 1484 mother-child pairs participating in the ENVIRONAGE cohort. We employed multiple linear regression models and distributed lag models to assess the association between cord blood cystatin C and gestational particulate air pollution exposure.

Findings: Average ± SD levels of cord blood cystatin C levels amounted to 2.16 ± 0.35 mg/L. Adjusting for covariates, every 0.5 μg/m³ and 5 μg/m³ increment in gestational exposure to black carbon (BC) and fine particulate matter (PM) corresponded to increases of 0.04 mg/L (95% CI 0.01-0.07) and 0.07 mg/L (95% CI 0.03-0.11) in cord blood cystatin C levels (p < 0.01), respectively. Third-trimester exposure showed similar associations, with a 0.04 mg/L (95% CI 0.00-0.08) and 0.06 mg/L (95% CI 0.04-0.09) increase for BC and PM (p < 0.02). No significant associations were observed when considering only the first and second trimester exposure.

Interpretation: Our findings indicate that particulate air pollution during the entire pregnancy, with the strongest effect sizes from week 27 onwards, may affect newborn kidney function, with potential long-term implications for later health.

Funding: Special Research Fund (Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds, BOF), Flemish Scientific Research Fund (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, FWO), and Methusalem.

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