Critical windows of perinatal particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and preadolescent kidney function

Environ Res. 2022 Mar;204(Pt B):112062. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112062. Epub 2021 Sep 16.

Abstract

Air pollution exposure, especially particulate matter ≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5), is associated with poorer kidney function in adults and children. Perinatal exposure may occur during susceptible periods of nephron development. We used distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNMs) to examine time-varying associations between early life daily PM2.5 exposure (periconceptional through age 8 years) and kidney parameters in preadolescent children aged 8-10 years. Participants included 427 mother-child dyads enrolled in the PROGRESS birth cohort study based in Mexico City. Daily PM2.5 exposure was estimated at each participant's residence using a validated satellite-based spatio-temporal model. Kidney function parameters included estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum cystatin C, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Models were adjusted for child's age, sex and body mass index (BMI) z-score, as well as maternal education, indoor smoking report and seasonality (prenatal models were additionally adjusted for average first year of life PM2.5 exposure). We also tested for sex-specific effects. Average perinatal PM2.5 was 22.7 μg/m3 and ranged 16.4-29.3 μg/m3. Early pregnancy PM2.5 exposures were associated with higher eGFR in preadolescence. Specifically, we found that PM2.5 exposure between weeks 1-18 of gestation was associated with increased preadolescent eGFR, whereas exposure in the first 14 months of life after birth were associated with decreased eGFR. Specifically, a 5 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 during the detected prenatal window was associated with a cumulative increase in eGFR of 4.44 mL/min/1.732 (95%CI: 1.37, 7.52), and during the postnatal window we report a cumulative eGFR decrease of -10.36 mL/min/1.732 (95%CI: -17.68, -3.04). We identified perinatal windows of susceptibility to PM2.5 exposure with preadolescent kidney function parameters. Follow-up investigating PM2.5 exposure with peripubertal kidney function trajectories and risk of kidney disease in adulthood will be critical.

Keywords: Bayesian distributed lag interaction models; Distributed lag models; Kidney function; Particulate matter; Prenatal exposure.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Air Pollutants* / analysis
  • Air Pollutants* / toxicity
  • Air Pollution*
  • Birth Cohort
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney
  • Male
  • Maternal Exposure / adverse effects
  • Particulate Matter / analysis
  • Particulate Matter / toxicity
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / chemically induced
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter