Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the effect of traffic-related noise (TRN), environmental noise (EN) and traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on preeclampsia. Methods: We followed 285 pregnant women from Maternal and Child Health Clinics who reported exposure to TRN on a scale from 0 (absence of EN) to 10 (high level of EN). EN was measured using a portable dosimeter, and NOx was calculated using the AERMOD pollutant dispersion model. Results: Using a multiple logistic regression model, adjusted for maternal age, BMI, number of births, fetal sex and maternal chronic illness, TRN (score ≥ 6 vs. score < 6) and TRAP (NOx ≥ 300 µ/m3 vs. NOx < 300 µ/m3) were noted as independent risk factors for preeclampsia, with OR = 3.07 (95% CI 0.97; 9.70, p = 0.056) and OR = 3.43 (95% CI 1.20; 9.87, p = 0.022), respectively. Joint exposure to TRN and TRAP was associated with a significant and independent risk for preeclampsia (OR of 4.11 (95% CI 1.31; 12.94, p = 0.016). Conclusions: In our population, traffic-related noise and ambient TRAP were risk factors for preeclampsia.
Keywords: NOx; ambient air pollution; preeclampsia; prenatal exposure; traffic noise.