Prenatal exposure to air pollution and neurodevelopmental delay in children: A birth cohort study in Foshan, China.

Abstract Background Prenatal exposure to air pollution may have adverse effects on neurodevelopment in children, but epidemiological evidence remains inconclusive. Objective To investigate the associations between prenatal air pollution exposure and neurodevelopmental delay. Methods We conducted a birth cohort study based on pregnancy and birth registry in Foshan, China. Exposure to particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter  Results We included 15,778 child-mother pairs in this analysis, including 1013 children with neurodevelopmental delay. We observed positive associations between prenatal exposure to air pollution and higher risk of neurodevelopmental delay in children. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) per 10 μg/m3 elevation in PM1, PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and SO2 in entire pregnancy were 1.12 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01, 1.25], 1.15 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.29), 1.12 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.24), 1.06 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.19) and 1.58 (95% CI: 1.11, 2.23), respectively. The associations were more robust for trimmest 1 and trimester 2, especially trimester 1. Conclusions Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy, especially early-to-mid pregnancy, was associated with increased risk of neurodevelopmental delay in young children, indicating its adverse neurodevelopmental effects in early-life stage.