AI Article Synopsis
- Brownfields are abandoned sites that may contain hazardous wastes, posing risks for health, particularly for pregnant individuals and newborns who are more sensitive to environmental exposures.
- A study conducted using North Carolina birth records from 2003 to 2015 evaluated over 169,000 births near lead (Pb) brownfields, finding associations between proximity to these sites and an increased risk of cardiovascular birth defects.
- The analysis indicated significant links between living near Pb brownfields and cardiovascular defects, with some evidence suggesting similar risks for central nervous and external defects, influenced by factors like race/ethnicity and diabetes status.
Article Abstract
Background: Brownfields consist of abandoned and disused sites, spanning many former purposes. Brownfields represent a heterogenous yet ubiquitous exposure for many Americans, which may contain hazardous wastes and represent urban blight. Neonates and pregnant individuals are often sensitive to subtle environmental exposures. We evaluate if residential exposure to lead (Pb) brownfields is associated with birth defects.
Methods: Using North Carolina birth records from 2003 to 2015, we sampled 169,499 births within 10 km of a Pb brownfield with 3255 cardiovascular, central nervous, or external defects identified. Exposure was classified by binary specification of residing within 3 km of a Pb brownfield. We utilized multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for demographic covariates available from birth records and 2010 Census to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Effect measure modification was assessed by inclusion of interaction terms and stratification for the potential modifiers of race/ethnicity and diabetes status.
Results: We observed positive associations between cardiovascular birth defects and residential proximity to Pb brownfields, OR (95%CI): 1.15 (1.04, 1.26), with suggestive positive associations for central nervous 1.16 (0.91, 1.47) and external defects 1.19 (0.88, 1.59). We did observe evidence of effect measure modification via likelihood ratio tests (LRT) for race/ethnicity for central nervous and external defect groups (LRT p values 0.08 and 0.02). We did observe modification by diabetes status for the cardiovascular group (LRT p value 0.08).
Conclusions: Our results from this analysis indicate that residential proximity to Pb brownfields is associated with cardiovascular birth defects with suggestive associations for central nervous and external defects. In-depth analyses of individual defects and other contaminants or brownfield site functions may reveal additional novel associations.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11328954 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bdr2.2367 | DOI Listing |
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