Associations between PM2.5 exposure and infant growth: A mediation analysis of oral microbiota

Huaying Wu; Chao Dong; Wenwen Xiao; Hongcheng Wei; Yunmin Shao; Ting Chen; Yankai Xia

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153688

Associations between PM_2.5 exposure and infant growth: A mediation analysis of oral microbiota

Sci Total Environ. 2022 Jun 1:823:153688. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153688. Epub 2022 Feb 4.

Authors

Huaying Wu¹, Chao Dong², Wenwen Xiao², Hongcheng Wei², Yunmin Shao¹, Ting Chen³, Yankai Xia⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Stomatology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing 210004, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.
³ Department of Science and Technology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing 210004, China. Electronic address: chenting@njmu.edu.cn.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China. Electronic address: yankaixia@njmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35131243
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153688

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have linked growth retardation with ambient fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) exposure. However, few studies explored such association from the perspective of microbiota, such as oral microbiota. We aimed to identify the potential role of oral microbiota in the links between PM_2.5 exposure and infant growth.

Methods: Baseline information of 335 recruited mother-child pairs was collected by structured questionnaires. Growth indicators (weight, length) of one-year-old infants were abstracted from medical records when they had physical examination and corresponding z scores were calculated. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was performed to assess oral microbiota of infants and co-abundance groups (CAGs) were further calculated. We assessed PM_2.5 levels by inverse distance weighting (IDW). Generalized linear regression and mediation analysis were performed to determine associations between PM_2.5 exposure, oral microbiota and growth indicators.

Results: Per 10 μg m^-3 increment of PM_2.5 in the period of 10th month-examination was associated with decreased length z score (β = -1.97, 95%CI: -3.83, -0.11). Oral microbiota correlated with weight z score and body mass index (BMI) z score was identified by Spearman correlation analysis. CAG4 was statistically associated with increased weight z score (β = 3.40, 95%CI: 0.29, 6.51) and BMI z score (β = 5.44, 95%CI: 1.00, 9.87). Several bacteria in the level of genus and CAG associated with PM_2.5 exposure were additionally identified (P < 0.05). Mediation analysis revealed that PM_2.5 in the period of birth-3rd month impacted the z scores of weight and BMI by altering relative abundance of Megasphaera (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: PM_2.5 exposure from 10th to 12th month after birth could retard infant linear growth. PM_2.5 might impact oral microbiota of one-year-old infants. Growth-related bacteria and CAGs were identified. Megasphaera might function as mediator between PM_2.5 exposure during birth-3rd month and infant z scores of weight and BMI.

Keywords: Infant growth; Mediation effect; Oral microbiota; PM(2.5).

MeSH terms

Air Pollutants* / analysis
Air Pollution* / analysis
Body Mass Index
Female
Humans
Infant
Maternal Exposure
Mediation Analysis
Microbiota*
Particulate Matter / analysis
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / analysis

Substances

Air Pollutants
Particulate Matter
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S