Abstract

Background:

Population studies support the adverse associations of air pollution exposures with child behavioral functioning and cognitive performance, but few studies have used spatiotemporally resolved pollutant assessments.

Objectives:

We investigated these associations using more refined exposure assessments in 1,967 mother–child dyads from three U.S. pregnancy cohorts in six cities in the ECHO-PATHWAYS Consortium.

Methods:

Pre- and postnatal nitrogen dioxide (${\mathrm{NO}}_2$) and particulate matter (PM) $\le 2.5\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ in aerodynamic diameter (${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$) exposures were derived from an advanced spatiotemporal model. Child behavior was reported as Total Problems raw score using the Child Behavior Checklist at age 4–6 y. Child cognition was assessed using cohort-specific cognitive performance scales and quantified as the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ). We fitted multivariate linear regression models that were adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychological factors to estimate associations per 2-unit increase in pollutant in each exposure window and examined modification by child sex. Identified critical windows were further verified by distributed lag models (DLMs).

Results:

Mean ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ and ${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$ ranged from $8.4\text{\hspace{0.17em}to\hspace{0.17em}}9.0\text{\hspace{0.17em}ppb}$ and $8.4\text{\hspace{0.17em}to\hspace{0.17em}}9.1{\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{g}/\mathrm{m}}^3$, respectively, across pre- and postnatal windows. Average child Total Problems score and IQ were 22.7 [standard deviation (SD): 18.5] and 102.6 (SD: 15.3), respectively. Children with higher prenatal ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ exposures were likely to have more behavioral problems [$\mathrm{\beta }$: 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39, 2.08; per $2\text{\hspace{0.17em}ppb}$${\mathrm{NO}}_2$], particularly ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ in the first and second trimester. Each $2\text{-}{\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{g}/\mathrm{m}}^3$ increase in ${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$ at age 2–4 y was associated with a 3.59 unit (95% CI: 0.35, 6.84) higher Total Problems score and a 2.63 point (95% CI: $-5.08$, $-0.17$) lower IQ. The associations between ${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$ and Total Problems score were generally stronger in girls. Most predefined windows identified were not confirmed by DLMs.

Discussion:

Our study extends earlier findings that have raised concerns about impaired behavioral functioning and cognitive performance in children exposed to ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ and ${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$in utero and in early life. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10248

中文翻译：

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产前和产后空气污染暴露与儿童行为问题和认知能力的关联：一项美国多队列研究

摘要

背景：

人口研究支持空气污染暴露与儿童行为功能和认知表现的负面关联，但很少有研究使用时空分辨的污染物评估。

目标：

我们对来自 ECHO-PATHWAYS 联盟的六个城市的三个美国怀孕队列的 1,967 名母子进行了更精细的暴露评估，调查了这些关联。

方法：

产前产后二氧化氮（${\mathrm{不}}_2$) 和颗粒物 (PM)$\le 2.5\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{米}$气动直径 (${\mathrm{下午}}_{2.5}$) 曝光来自高级时空模型。使用 4-6 岁儿童行为检查表将儿童行为报告为总问题原始分数。儿童认知使用队列特定的认知表现量表进行评估，并量化为全面智商 (IQ)。我们拟合了针对社会人口学、行为和心理因素进行调整的多元线性回归模型，以估计每个暴露窗口中污染物每增加 2 个单位的关联，并检查儿童性别的修正。已识别的关键窗口通过分布式滞后模型 (DLM) 进一步验证。

结果：

意思是${\mathrm{不}}_2$和${\mathrm{下午}}_{2.5}$范围从$8.4\text{\hspace{0.17em}至\hspace{0.17em}}9.0\text{\hspace{0.17em}ppb}$和$8.4\text{\hspace{0.17em}至\hspace{0.17em}}9.1{\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{G}/\mathrm{米}}^3$，分别跨越产前和产后窗口。平均儿童总问题得分和智商分别为 22.7 [标准差 (SD): 18.5] 和 102.6 (SD: 15.3)。产前较高的孩子${\mathrm{不}}_2$暴露可能有更多的行为问题[$\mathrm{\beta }$: 1.24; 95% 置信区间 (CI)：0.39、2.08；每$2\text{\hspace{0.17em}ppb}$${\mathrm{不}}_2$]， 特别${\mathrm{不}}_2$在第一和第二个三个月。每个$2\text{-}{\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{G}/\mathrm{米}}^3$增加${\mathrm{下午}}_{2.5}$在 2-4 岁时，总问题得分高 3.59 单位 (95% CI: 0.35, 6.84) 和 2.63 分 (95% CI:$-5.08$,$-0.17$) 智商较低。之间的关联${\mathrm{下午}}_{2.5}$女孩的总问题得分普遍较高。大多数已识别的预定义窗口未得到 DLM 的确认。

讨论：

我们的研究扩展了早期的研究结果，这些研究结果引起了人们对暴露于环境中儿童的行为功能和认知能力受损的担忧。${\mathrm{不}}_2$和${\mathrm{下午}}_{2.5}$在子宫内和生命早期。https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10248