Prenatal exposure to tailpipe and non-tailpipe tracers of particulate matter pollution and autism spectrum disorders

Environ Int. 2023 Jan:171:107736. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107736. Epub 2023 Jan 5.

Abstract

Background: Traffic-related air pollution exposure is associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is unknown whether carbonaceous material from vehicular tailpipe emissions or redox-active non-tailpipe metals, eg. from tire and brake wear, are responsible. We assessed ASD associations with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) tracers of tailpipe (elemental carbon [EC] and organic carbon [OC]) and non-tailpipe (copper [Cu]; iron [Fe] and manganese [Mn]) sources during pregnancy in a large cohort.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 318,750 children born in Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) hospitals during 2001-2014, followed until age 5. ASD cases were identified by ICD codes. Monthly estimates of PM2.5 and PM2.5 constituents EC, OC, Cu, Fe, and Mn with 4 km spatial resolution were obtained from a source-oriented chemical transport model. These exposures and NO2 were assigned to each maternal address during pregnancy, and associations with ASD were assessed using Cox regression models adjusted for covariates. PM constituent effect estimates were adjusted for PM2.5 and NO2 to assess independent effects. To distinguish ASD risk associated with non-tailpipe from tailpipe sources, the associations with Cu, Fe, and Mn were adjusted for EC and OC, and vice versa.

Results: There were 4559 children diagnosed with ASD. In single-pollutant models, increased ASD risk was associated with gestational exposures to tracers of both tailpipe and non-tailpipe emissions. The ASD hazard ratios (HRs) per inter-quartile increment of exposure) for EC, OC, Cu, Fe, and Mn were 1.11 (95% CI: 1.06-1.16), 1.09 (95% CI: 1.04-1.15), 1.09 (95% CI: 1.04-1.13), 1.14 (95% CI: 1.09-1.20), and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.12-1.22), respectively. Estimated effects of Cu, Fe, and Mn (reflecting non-tailpipe sources) were largely unchanged in two-pollutant models adjusting for PM2.5, NO2, EC or OC. In contrast, ASD associations with EC and OC were markedly attenuated by adjustment for non-tailpipe sources.

Conclusion: Results suggest that non-tailpipe emissions may contribute to ASD. Implications are that reducing tailpipe emissions, especially from vehicles with internal combustion engines, may not eliminate ASD associations with traffic-related air pollution.

Keywords: Autism; Non-tailpipe; PM(2.5) constituents; Tailpipe; Traffic air pollution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants* / analysis
  • Air Pollution* / analysis
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / chemically induced
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder* / etiology
  • Carbon
  • Child, Preschool
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis
  • Environmental Pollutants*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Manganese
  • Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis
  • Particulate Matter / adverse effects
  • Particulate Matter / analysis
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / chemically induced
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Vehicle Emissions / analysis

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Carbon
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Manganese
  • Nitrogen Dioxide
  • Particulate Matter
  • Vehicle Emissions