EXPOSURE to elevated levels of tropospheric ozone during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of intellectual disability in children, particularly during the second trimester. Tropospheric ozone, a harmful air pollutant, has been linked to various adverse health outcomes, yet its effects on neurodevelopment remain poorly understood, particularly for children. As climate change exacerbates ozone pollution, understanding its potential impact on mental and developmental health is increasingly urgent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between prenatal ozone exposure during different pregnancy windows and the likelihood of intellectual disability in children in Utah, a region with varying ozone levels.
Data from 2002 to 2020 were analysed, including daily tract-level ozone concentrations, intellectual disability case data, and information on both full siblings and population controls. Using generalised estimating equations, the study assessed the relationship between ozone exposure during preconception, and the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, and the odds of intellectual disability. A total of 1,042 cases with sibling comparisons and 5,179 cases with population controls were included.
Findings revealed a consistent positive association between ozone exposure and intellectual disability across all exposure windows when comparing cases to siblings, with the strongest effect observed during the second trimester. Specifically, a 10 ppb increase in second-trimester ozone levels was linked to a 55.3% higher likelihood of intellectual disability compared to siblings (95% CI: 1.171–2.058) and a 22.8% higher likelihood compared to population controls (95% CI: 1.054–1.431). Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these results.
These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to elevated ozone levels, particularly during the second trimester, may impair cognitive development. Clinically, this highlights the need for heightened awareness of environmental risks during pregnancy and underscores the importance of public health measures to reduce air pollution. Future research should explore underlying mechanisms, regional differences, and mitigation strategies to safeguard children’s neurodevelopment in an era of worsening climate change.
Abigail Craig, EMJ
Reference
Grineski SE et al. Prenatal ozone exposure and risk of intellectual disability. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2024. DOI: 10.1038/s41370-024-00729-z.
