Susan Hodgson1, Peter W W Lurz2, Mark D F Shirley3, Mary Bythell4, Judith Rankin5. 1. MRC-PHE Centre for Environment & Health, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Imperial College London, United Kingdom; Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Electronic address: susan.hodgson@imperial.ac.uk. 2. School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Electronic address: lurzpww@gmail.com. 3. School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Electronic address: mark.shirley@ncl.ac.uk. 4. Regional Maternity Survey Office, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Electronic address: marybythell@gmail.com. 5. Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; Regional Maternity Survey Office, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Electronic address: judith.rankin@newcastle.ac.uk.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Pregnant women are a highly mobile group, yet studies suggest exposure error due to migration in pregnancy is minimal. We aimed to investigate the impact of maternal residential mobility on exposure to environmental variables (urban fabric, roads and air pollution (PM10 and NO₂)) and socio-economic factors (deprivation) that varied spatially and temporally. METHODS: We used data on residential histories for deliveries at ≥ 24 weeks gestation recorded by the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey, 2000-2008 (n=5399) to compare: (a) exposure at conception assigned to maternal postcode at delivery versus maternal postcode at conception, and (b) exposure at conception assigned to maternal postcode at delivery versus mean exposure based on residences throughout pregnancy. RESULTS: In this population, 24.4% of women moved during pregnancy. Depending on the exposure variable assessed, 1-12% of women overall were assigned an exposure at delivery >1 SD different to that at conception, and 2-25% assigned an exposure at delivery >1 SD different to the mean exposure throughout pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: To meaningfully explore the subtle associations between environmental exposures and health, consideration must be given to error introduced by residential mobility.
OBJECTIVES: Pregnant women are a highly mobile group, yet studies suggest exposure error due to migration in pregnancy is minimal. We aimed to investigate the impact of maternal residential mobility on exposure to environmental variables (urban fabric, roads and air pollution (PM10 and NO₂)) and socio-economic factors (deprivation) that varied spatially and temporally. METHODS: We used data on residential histories for deliveries at ≥ 24 weeks gestation recorded by the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey, 2000-2008 (n=5399) to compare: (a) exposure at conception assigned to maternal postcode at delivery versus maternal postcode at conception, and (b) exposure at conception assigned to maternal postcode at delivery versus mean exposure based on residences throughout pregnancy. RESULTS: In this population, 24.4% of women moved during pregnancy. Depending on the exposure variable assessed, 1-12% of women overall were assigned an exposure at delivery >1 SD different to that at conception, and 2-25% assigned an exposure at delivery >1 SD different to the mean exposure throughout pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: To meaningfully explore the subtle associations between environmental exposures and health, consideration must be given to error introduced by residential mobility.
Authors: Magali Hurtado-Díaz; Horacio Riojas-Rodríguez; Stephen J Rothenberg; Lourdes Schnaas-Arrieta; Itai Kloog; Allan Just; David Hernández-Bonilla; Robert O Wright; Martha Ma Téllez-Rojo Journal: Int J Hyg Environ Health Date: 2021-02-11 Impact factor: 5.840
Authors: Danielle N Medgyesi; Jared A Fisher; Meredith M Cervi; Peter J Weyer; Deven M Patel; Joshua N Sampson; Mary H Ward; Rena R Jones Journal: Environ Epidemiol Date: 2020-08-24