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Background: Personal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) is impacted by different sources each with different chemical composition. Determining these sources is important for reducing personal exposure and its health risks especially during pregnancy., Objective: Identify main sources and their contributions to the personal PM 2.5 exposure in 213 women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy in Los Angeles, CA., Methods: We measured 48-hr integrated personal PM 2.5 exposure and analyzed filters for PM 2.5 mass, elemental composition, and optical carbon fractions. We used the EPA Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model to resolve and quantify the major sources of personal PM 2.5 exposure. We then investigated bivariate relationships between sources, time-activity patterns, and environmental exposures in activity spaces and residential neighborhoods to further understand sources., Results: Mean personal PM 2.5 mass concentration was 22.3 (SD = 16.6) μg/m 3 . Twenty-five species and PM 2.5 mass were used in PMF with a final R 2 of 0.48. We identified six sources (with major species in profiles and % contribution to PM 2.5 mass) as follows: secondhand smoking (SHS) (brown carbon, environmental tobacco smoke; 65.3%), fuel oil (nickel, vanadium; 11.7%), crustal (aluminum, calcium, silicon; 11.5%), fresh sea salt (sodium, chlorine; 4.7%), aged sea salt (sodium, magnesium, sulfur; 4.3%), and traffic (black carbon, zinc; 2.6%). SHS was significantly greater in apartments compared to houses. Crustal source was correlated with more occupants in the household. Aged sea salt increased with temperature and outdoor ozone, while fresh sea salt was highest on days with westerly winds from the Pacific Ocean. Traffic was positively correlated with ambient NO 2 and traffic-related NO x at residence. Overall, 76.8% of personal PM 2.5 mass came from indoor or personal compared to outdoor sources., Impact: We conducted source apportionment of personal PM 2.5 samples in pregnancy in Los Angeles, CA. Among identified sources, secondhand smoking contributed the most to the personal exposure. In addition, traffic, crustal, fuel oil, fresh and aged sea salt sources were also identified as main sources. Traffic sources contained markers of combustion and non-exhaust wear emissions. Crustal source was correlated with more occupants in the household. Aged sea salt source increased with temperature and outdoor ozone and fresh sea salt source was highest on days with westerly winds from the Pacific Ocean., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Ambient air pollution during pregnancy has been linked with postpartum depression up to 12 months, but few studies have investigated its impact on persistent depression beyond 12 months postpartum. This study aimed to evaluate prenatal ambient air pollution exposure and the risk of persistent depression over 3 years after childbirth and to identify windows of susceptibility., Methods: This study included 361 predominantly low-income Hispanic/Latina participants with full-term pregnancies in the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort. We estimated daily residential PM 2.5 , PM 10 , NO 2 , and O 3 concentrations throughout 37 gestational weeks using inverse-distance squared spatial interpolation from monitoring data and calculated weekly averaged levels. Depression was assessed by the 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale at 12, 24, and 36 months postpartum, with persistent postpartum depression defined as a CES-D score ≥16 at any of these timepoints. We performed robust Poisson log-linear distributed lag models (DLM) via generalized estimating equations (GEE) to estimate the adjusted risk ratio (RR)., Results: Depression was observed in 17.8 %, 17.5 %, and 13.4 % of participants at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. We found one IQR increase (3.9 ppb) in prenatal exposure to NO 2 during the identified sensitive window of gestational weeks 13-29 was associated with a cumulative risk ratio of 3.86 (95 % CI: 3.24, 4.59) for persistent depression 1-3 years postpartum. We also found one IQR increase (7.4 μg/m 3 ) in prenatal exposure to PM 10 during gestation weeks 12-28 was associated a cumulative risk ratio of 3.88 (95 % CI: 3.04, 4.96) for persistent depression. No clear sensitive windows were identified for PM 2.5 or O 3 ., Conclusions: Mid-pregnancy PM 10 and NO 2 exposures were associated with nearly 4-fold increased risks of persistent depression after pregnancy, which has critical implications for prevention of perinatal mental health outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest We declare no actual or potential competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Prenatal air pollution exposure has been associated with individual inflammatory, cardiovascular, and metabolic biomarkers in mothers and neonates. However, studies of air pollution and a comprehensive panel of biomarkers across maternal and cord blood samples remain limited. Few studies used data-driven methods to identify biomarker groupings that converge biomarkers from multiple biological pathways. This study aims to investigate the impacts of prenatal air pollution on groups of biomarkers in maternal and cord blood samples., Methods: In the Maternal And Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort, 87 biomarkers were quantified from 45 trimester 1 maternal blood and 55 cord blood samples. Pregnancy and trimester 1-averaged concentrations of particulate matter ≤2.5 μm and ≤10 μm in diameter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), and ozone (O 3 ) were estimated, using inverse distance squared weighted spatial interpolation from regulatory air monitoring stations. Traffic-related NO x was assessed using California Line Source Dispersion Model: freeway/highway roads, non-freeway major roads, non-freeway minor roads, and their sum as total NOx. Elastic Net (EN) regression within the rexposome R package was used to group biomarkers and assess their associations with air pollution., Results: In maternal samples, trimester 1-averaged PM 10 was associated with elevated inflammation biomarkers and lowered cardiovascular biomarkers. NO 2 exhibited positive associations with cardiovascular and inflammation markers. O 3 was inversely associated with inflammation, metabolic, and cardiovascular biomarkers. In cord blood, pregnancy-averaged PM 2.5 was associated with higher cardiovascular biomarkers and lower metabolic biomarkers. PM 10 was associated with lower inflammation and higher cardiovascular biomarkers. Total and major road NOx was associated with lower cardiovascular biomarkers., Conclusion: Prenatal air pollution exposure was associated with changes in biomarkers related to inflammation, cardiovascular, metabolic, cancer, and neurological function in both mothers and neonates. This study shed light on mechanisms by which air pollution can influence biological function during pregnancy., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In-utero exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and specific sources and components of PM 2.5 have been linked with lower birthweight. However, previous results have been mixed, likely due to heterogeneity in sources impacting PM 2.5 and due to measurement error from using ambient data. Therefore, we investigated the effect of PM 2.5 sources and their high-loading components on birthweight using data from 198 women in the 3rd trimester from the MADRES cohort 48-h personal PM 2.5 exposure monitoring sub-study. The mass contributions of six major sources of personal PM 2.5 exposure were estimated for 198 pregnant women in the 3rd trimester using the EPA Positive Matrix Factorization v5.0 model, along with their 17 high-loading chemical components using optical carbon and X-ray fluorescence approaches. Single- and multi-pollutant linear regressions evaluated the association between personal PM 2.5 sources/components and birthweight, adjusting for gestational age, maternal age, race, infant sex, parity, diabetes status, temperature, maternal education, and smoking history. Participants were predominately Hispanic (81%), with a mean (SD) gestational age of 39.1 (1.5) weeks and age of 28.2 (6.0) years. Mean birthweight was 3295.8 g (484.1) and mean PM 2.5 exposure was 21.3 (14.4) µg/m 3 . A 1 SD increase in the mass contribution of the fresh sea salt source was associated with a 99.2 g decrease in birthweight (95% CI - 197.7, - 0.6), and aged sea salt was associated with a 70.1 g decrease in birthweight (95% CI - 141.7, 1.4). Magnesium, sodium, and chlorine were associated with lower birthweight, which remained after adjusting for PM 2.5 mass. This study found evidence that major sources of personal PM 2.5 including fresh and aged sea salt were negatively associated with birthweight, with the strongest effect on birthweight from Na and Mg. The effect of crustal and fuel oil sources differed by infant sex with negative associations seen in boys compared to positive associations in girls., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Importance: Fetal growth is precisely programmed and could be interrupted by environmental exposures during specific times during pregnancy. Insights on potential sensitive windows of air pollution exposure in association with birth weight are needed., Objective: To examine the association of sensitive windows of ambient air pollution exposure with birth weight and heterogeneity by individual- and neighborhood-level stressors., Design, Setting, and Participants: Data on a cohort of low-income Hispanic women with singleton term pregnancy were collected from 2015 to 2021 in the ongoing Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors cohort in Los Angeles, California., Exposures: Daily ambient particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) and aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and 8-hour maximum ozone were assigned to residential locations. Weekly averages from 12 weeks before conception to 36 gestational weeks were calculated. Individual-level psychological stressor was measured by the Perceived Stress Scale. Neighborhood-level stressor was measured by the CalEnviroScreen 4.0., Main Outcomes and Measures: Sex-specific birth weight for gestational age z score (BWZ). The associations between air pollutant and BWZ were estimated using distributed lag models to identify sensitive windows of exposure, adjusting for maternal and meteorologic factors. We stratified the analyses by Perceived Stress Scale and CalEnviroScreen 4.0. We converted the effect size estimation in BWZ to grams to facilitate interpretation., Results: The study included 628 pregnant women (mean [SD] age, 22.18 [5.92] years) and their newborns (mean [SD] BWZ, -0.08 [1.03]). On average, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 exposure during 4 to 22 gestational weeks was associated with a -9.5 g (95% CI, -10.4 to -8.6 g) change in birth weight. In stratified models, PM2.5 from 4 to 24 gestational weeks was associated with a -34.0 g (95% CI, -35.7 to -32.4 g) change in birth weight and PM10 from 9 to 14 gestational weeks was associated with a -39.4 g (95% CI, -45.4 to -33.4) change in birth weight in the subgroup with high Perceived Stress Scale and high CalEnviroScreen 4.0 scores. In this same group, NO2 from 9 to 14 gestational weeks was associated with a -40.4 g (95% CI, -47.4 to -33.3 g) change in birth weight and, from 33 to 36 gestational weeks, a -117.6 g (95% CI, -125.3 to -83.7 g) change in birth weight. Generally, there were no significant preconception windows for any air pollutants or ozone exposure with birth weight., Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, early pregnancy to midpregnancy exposures to PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 were associated with lower birth weight, particularly for mothers experiencing higher perceived stress and living in a neighborhood with a high level of stressors from environmental pollution.

In Beijing, particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere, especially PM 2.5 and PM 10 , have attracted public attention because of its adverse effects. A series of studies have investigated the sources and spatial-temporal variation of PM. Wetland has been reported to own the capacity of resolving air problem. To examine the characteristics of the particulate matter in wetlands, the diurnal variation of PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations with respect to two heights (i.e. 1.5 and 10 m, respectively) and three meteorological factors (i.e. wind speed, temperature, and relative humidity, respectively) was monitored in the Cuihu National Wetland Park in Beijing, and the dry deposition velocity and flux were analysed using the above-mentioned data. Results indicated that (1) As for diurnal variation, the PM concentration constantly decreased at 07:00-16:00 and gradually increased at 16:00-18:00. The maximum instantaneous concentration was observed at 07:00-10:00, while the minimum instantaneous concentration was observed at 13:00-16:00. (2) The annual concentration variation of PM followed the order of dry period > wet period > normal period. (3) The particulate concentrations at 10 m were always greater than those at 1.5 m. (4) The PM concentration was positively correlated to the relative humidity and negatively correlated to the temperature. Wind speed exhibited a complex effect on PM concentration. (5) The regulation of dry deposition efficiency followed the order of spring > winter > summer. (6) Wind speed strongly and positively affected the dry deposition velocity of PM10. The effects of temperature and relative humidity on dry deposition were uncertain.

Background: It is well documented that persons of color experience disproportionate exposure to environmental contaminants, including air pollution, and have poorer pregnancy outcomes. This study assessed the critical windows of exposure to ambient air pollution on in utero fetal growth among structurally marginalized populations in urban Los Angeles.Methods: Participants (N = 281) from the larger ongoing MADRES pregnancy cohort study were included in this analysis. Fetal growth outcomes were measured on average at 32 [Formula: see text] 2 weeks of gestation by a certified sonographer and included estimated fetal weight, abdominal circumference, head circumference, biparietal diameter and femur length. Daily ambient air pollutant concentrations were estimated for four pollutants (particulate matter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and less than 10 µm (PM10) in aerodynamic diameter, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and 8-h maximum ozone (O3)) at participant residences using inverse-distance squared spatial interpolation from ambient monitoring data. Weekly gestational averages were calculated from 12 weeks prior to conception to 32 weeks of gestation (44 total weeks), and their associations with growth outcomes were modeled using adjusted distributed lag models (DLMs).Results: Participants were on average 29 years [Formula: see text] 6 old and predominately Hispanic (82%). We identified a significant sensitive window of PM2.5 exposure (per IQR increase of 6 [Formula: see text]3) between gestational weeks 4-16 for lower estimated fetal weight [Formula: see text] averaged4-16 = -8.7 g; 95% CI -16.7, -0.8). Exposure to PM2.5 during gestational weeks 1-23 was also significantly associated with smaller fetal abdominal circumference ([Formula: see text] averaged1-23 = -0.6 mm; 95% CI -1.1, -0.2). Additionally, prenatal exposure to PM10 (per IQR increase of 13 [Formula: see text]3) between weeks 6-15 of pregnancy was significantly associated with smaller fetal abdominal circumference ([Formula: see text] averaged6-15 = -0.4 mm; 95% CI -0.8, -0.1).Discussion: These results suggest that exposure to particulate matter in early to mid-pregnancy, but not preconception or late pregnancy, may have critical implications on fetal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past studies support the hypothesis that the prenatal period influences childhood growth. However, few studies explore the joint effects of exposures that occur simultaneously during pregnancy. To explore the feasibility of using mixtures methods with neighborhood-level environmental exposures, we assessed the effects of multiple prenatal exposures on body mass index (BMI) from birth to age 24 months. We used data from two cohorts: Healthy Start (n = 977) and Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES; n = 303). BMI was measured at delivery and 6, 12, and 24 months and standardized as z-scores. We included variables for air pollutants, built and natural environments, food access, and neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES). We used two complementary statistical approaches: single-exposure linear regression and quantile-based g-computation. Models were fit separately for each cohort and time point and were adjusted for relevant covariates. Single-exposure models identified negative associations between NO 2 and distance to parks and positive associations between low neighborhood SES and BMI z-scores for Healthy Start participants; for MADRES participants, we observed negative associations between O 3 and distance to parks and BMI z-scores. G-computations models produced comparable results for each cohort: higher exposures were generally associated with lower BMI, although results were not significant. Results from the g-computation models, which do not require a priori knowledge of the direction of associations, indicated that the direction of associations between mixture components and BMI varied by cohort and time point. Our study highlights challenges in assessing mixtures effects at the neighborhood level and in harmonizing exposure data across cohorts. For example, geospatial data of neighborhood-level exposures may not fully capture the qualities that might influence health behavior. Studies aiming to harmonize geospatial data from different geographical regions should consider contextual factors when operationalizing exposure variables. • We assessed the effects of a mixture of prenatal environmental exposures on early childhood BMI. • Exposures were assessed at the neighborhood level during pregnancy. • We used quantile g-computation to models the joint effect of neighborhood exposures. • Air pollutants and socioeconomic status were associated with lower BMI in single-pollutant models. • The overall mixture was not associated with BMI at any time point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]