Air pollution is associated with preterm birth (PTB), potentially via inflammation. We recently showed the mixture benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) is associated with PTB. We examined if ambient BTEX exposure is associated with mid-pregnancy inflammation in a sample of 140 African-American women residing in Detroit, Michigan. The Geospatial Determinants of Health Outcomes Consortium study collected outdoor air pollution measurements in Detroit; these data were coupled with Michigan Air Sampling Network measurements to develop monthly BTEX concentration estimates at a spatial density of 300 m². First trimester and mid-pregnancy BTEX exposure estimates were assigned to maternal address. Mid-pregnancy (mean 21.3 ± 3.7 weeks gestation) inflammatory biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were measured with enzyme immunoassays. After covariate adjustment, for every 1-unit increase in first trimester BTEX, there was an expected mean increase in log-transformed IL-1β of 0.05 ± 0.02 units (P = 0.014) and an expected mean increase in log-transformed tumor necrosis factor-α of 0.07 ± 0.02 units (P = 0.006). Similarly, for every 1-unit increase in mid-pregnancy BTEX, there was a mean increase in log IL-1β of 0.06 ± 0.03 units (P = 0.027). There was no association of either first trimester or mid-pregnancy BTEX with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, IL-10, or IL-6 (all P > 0.05). Ambient BTEX exposure is associated with inflammation in mid-pregnancy in African-American women. Future studies examining if inflammation mediates associations between BTEX exposure and PTB are needed.

空气污染与早产（PTB）有关，可能是通过炎症。我们最近表明苯、甲苯、乙苯和二甲苯 (BTEX) 的混合物与 PTB 相关。我们检查了居住在密歇根州底特律的 140 名非裔美国妇女样本中环境 BTEX 暴露是否与妊娠中期炎症有关。健康结果的地理空间决定因素联盟研究收集了底特律的室外空气污染测量值；这些数据与密歇根空气采样网络测量相结合，以开发每月 300 m ^{2空间密度的 BTEX 浓度估计值}. 孕早期和孕中期 BTEX 暴露估计值被分配到母亲地址。用酶免疫测定法测量妊娠中期（平均妊娠 21.3 ± 3.7 周）炎症生物标志物（高敏 C 反应蛋白、白细胞介素 [IL]-6、IL-10、IL-1β 和肿瘤坏死因子-α）。协变量调整后，孕早期 BTEX 每增加 1 个单位，对数转换的 IL-1β 的预期平均增加为 0.05 ± 0.02 个单位 (P = 0.014)，对数转换的肿瘤坏死因子的预期平均增加-α 为 0.07 ± 0.02 个单位 (P = 0.006)。同样，孕中期 BTEX 每增加 1 个单位，log IL-1β 平均增加 0.06 ± 0.03 个单位（P = 0.027）。妊娠早期或妊娠中期 BTEX 与高敏 C 反应蛋白 IL-10 无关，或 IL-6（所有 P > 0.05）。环境 BTEX 暴露与非裔美国妇女怀孕中期的炎症有关。未来需要研究炎症是否介导 BTEX 暴露和 PTB 之间的关联。