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There is no epidemiological evidence on the effects of maternal exposure to ambient particulate matter 10 μm or less in diameter (PM 10) and anencephaly risk in offspring. We conducted a population-based case-control study in Liaoning Province, China. The case group consisted of 663 cases with anencephaly and the control group consisted of 7950 healthy infants from the Maternal and Child Health Certificate Registry of Liaoning Province that were born between 2010 and 2015. Daily PM 10 concentrations were obtained from 77 monitoring stations located within the study area. A multivariable logistic regression model was established to calculate the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Maternal PM 10 exposure was significantly associated with an increased risk of anencephaly at three months before conception (highest versus lowest tertile: OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.29–2.34; per 10 μg/m3 increment: OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.06–1.20) and three months after conception (highest versus lowest tertile: OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.44–2.60; per 10 μg/m3 increment: OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.95–1.08). The evaluation of shorter exposure windows revealed similar associations for PM 10 exposure from the third month before pregnancy to the third month after pregnancy. Maternal PM 10 exposure is positively associated with anencephaly risk during the critical period of neural system development. • There is no epidemiological evidence of maternal exposure to PM 10 and anencephaly risk. • Maternal exposure to PM 10 before and after pregnancy increases anencephaly risk. • Environmental health policies and actions should be adopted to reduce PM 10 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of studies on air pollution with birth defects as the primary outcome has increased dramatically over the past two decades, but the potential role of specific air pollutants in congenital limb anomalies remains unclear. To evaluate associations between preconception and first-trimester PM 10 exposure and polydactyly and syndactyly in a population-based case-control study. Polydactyly cases (n = 2605), syndactyly cases (n = 595), and controls without any birth defects (n = 7950) born between 2010 and 2015 were selected from the Maternal and Child Health Certificate Registry of Liaoning Province. The monthly mean PM 10 concentrations were obtained from 75 air monitoring stations, and the exposure assessment was based on the mean concentration of all stations in mother's residential city. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). PM 10 exposure was positively associated with the risks of polydactyly (preconception: aOR T3 vs. T1 = 1.95, 95% CI 1.56–2.45, aOR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.01–1.10 [per 10-μg/m3 increment]; first-trimester: aOR T3 vs. T1 = 2.51, 95% CI 2.00–3.15) and syndactyly (preconception: aOR T3 vs. T1 = 2.86, 95% CI 1.98–4.13, aOR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.03–1.20 [per 10-μg/m3 increment]; first-trimester: aOR T3 vs. T1 = 3.10, 95% CI 2.11–4.56). Analyses based on single month exposure windows basically showed similar positive associations. Additionally, these findings were robust in sensitivity analyses and broadly consistent across subgroups. Our study suggest that preconception and first-trimester PM 10 exposures are related to increased risks of polydactyly and syndactyly. • This is the largest population-based case-control study investigat associations between PM 10 and polydactyly/syndactyly. • Preconception and first-trimester PM 10 exposure may increase risks of polydactyly/syndactyly in offspring. • Gravidae should be encouraged to take protective measures against air pollution as early as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]