Identifying pre-conception and pre-natal periods in which ambient air pollution exposure affects fetal growth in the predominately Hispanic MADRES cohort

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 (PM(2.5)) and less than 10 µm (PM(10)) in aerodynamic diameter, nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), and 8-h maximum ozone (O(3))) 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 PM(2.5) 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 PM(2.5) 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 PM(10) (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. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12940-022-00925-0.