Exploring the spatial associations between air pollution and congenital anomalies in the U.S.

Keywords: Counties, congenital anomalies, birth defects, environmental pollution, WONDER, EPA Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI).
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Tuesday
Session Start / End Time: 3/1/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 3/1/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 24

Abstract

Congenital anomalies or birth defects are a common and critical public health problem worldwide and across the United States. Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality and have a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of infants and their families. Whereas scholars believe that birth defects are generally attributable to genetic, maternal, and environmental factors, the specific causes of most birth defects are unclear and limited research has explored if chronic exposure to air pollution is associated with elevated levels of birth defects. In an effort to fill the gap in the existing literature, this study investigates the spatial associations between prevalence of birth defects in the U.S. and maternal exposure to air pollution. County-level data on birth defects for the period 2016-19 were obtained from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER online query system while the data for exposures were acquired from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI) database. Findings from this study can help us better understand the linkages between air pollution and birth defects in newborns and thus providing guidance for policies to alleviate the health effects of environmental pollution.