WITHDRAWN: Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter during Pregnancy: Implications for Infant Telomere Length.

This manuscript has been withdrawn by the authors as it was submitted and made public without the full consent of all the authors. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author. The authors have an approved version for citation that is peer reviewed. Ahlers, N.E.; Lin, J.; Weiss, S.J. Exposure to Ambient Particulate Matter during Pregnancy: Implications for Infant Telomere Length. Air 2024, 2, 24-37. https://doi.org/10.3390/air2010002.

Exposure to particulate matter, prenatal depressive symptoms and HPA axis dysregulation.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression during pregnancy is on the rise, affecting women's well-being and their children's health outcomes. Preliminary studies suggest that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may play a role in development of depressive symptoms. In addition, pollution has been linked to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, our brain's primary stress response system. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of air pollution exposure during pregnancy to prenatal depressive symptoms. We also evaluated whether cortisol, the hormonal endpoint of HPA activation, mediated the relationship between exposure to pollution and prenatal depression. METHODS: Women were recruited in obstetric clinics during their third trimester of pregnancy. They completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depression and provided salivary samples at 4 times during the day for 2 days. Four measures of cortisol were calculated from salivary assays: average cortisol level, cortisol awakening response (CAR), diurnal cortisol slope (DCS), and area under the curve (AUCG). We acquired data on particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm (PM2.5) or less within each woman's residential area from public records of the air quality control district. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the aims. RESULTS: Increased prenatal exposure to PM2.5 across pregnancy was associated with more severe depressive symptoms during the 3rd trimester (ß = 0.14, p = 0.02). Greater PM2.5 exposure also had significant relationships with both higher cortisol AUCG (ß = 15.933, p = 0.005) and average cortisol levels (ß = 0.018, p = 0.023) among women. However, no cortisol parameter appeared to mediate the relationship between PM2.5 exposure and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest pregnancy may be a critical window of sensitivity to PM2.5 exposure that escalates depression risk and induces activation of the HPA axis, evidenced in greater overall cortisol concentration. Further research is needed to identify mechanisms underlying the effects of particulate matter, especially potential methylation of glucocorticoid or serotonin transporter genes that may elicit changes in both depression and the stress response system. In addition, assessment of depression appears warranted for pregnant women in regions known for high pollution.

Using a Clustering Approach to Investigate Socio-Environmental Inequality in Preterm Birth-A Study Conducted at Fine Spatial Scale in Paris (France).

Background & Objectives: Today, to support public policies aiming to tackle environmental and health inequality, identification and monitoring of the spatial pattern of adverse birth outcomes are crucial. Spatial identification of the more vulnerable population to air pollution may orient health interventions. In this context, the objective of this study is to investigate the geographical distribution of the risk of preterm birth (PTB, gestational age ≤36 weeks) at the census block level in in city of Paris, France. We also aimed to assess the implication of neighborhood characteristics including air pollution and socio-economic deprivation. Material & Methods: Newborn health data are available from the first birth certificate registered by the Maternal and Child Care department of Paris. All PTB from January 2008 to December 2011 were geocoded at the mother residential census block. Each census block was assigned a socioeconomic deprivation level and annual average ambient concentrations of NO2. A spatial clustering approach was used to investigate the spatial distribution of PTB. Results: Our results highlight that PTB is non-randomly spatially distributed, with a cluster of high risk in the northeastern area of Paris (RR = 1.15; p = 0.06). After adjustment for socio-economic deprivation and NO2 concentrations, this cluster becomes not statistically significant or shifts suggesting that these characteristics explain the spatial distribution of PTB; further, their combination shows an interaction in comparison with SES or NO2 levels alone. Conclusions: Our results may inform the decision makers about the areas where public health efforts should be strengthened to tackle the risk of PTB and to choose the most appropriate and specific community-oriented health interventions.

Estudio sobre oferta alimentaria y preferencias de consumo de la comunidad universitaria en tres universidades de Managua en el marco de la estrategia de Universidades Saludables / Estudio sobre oferta alimentaria y preferencias de consumo de la comunidad universitaria en tres universidades de managua, en el marco de la estrategia de Universidades Saludables / Study on food supply and consumption preferences of the university community in three universities of Managua, within the framework of the Healthy Universities strategy

En función de brindar una respuesta a las necesidades alimentarias saludables en las universidades, se realizó durante tres meses, un estudio en tres universidades de Managua; Universidad Centroamericana, UCA, Universidad Nacional autónoma de Nicaragua, UNAN, Universidad Americana, UAM, para identificar condiciones higiénicas sanitarias, la calidad de oferta que brinda en sus cafeterías y conocer la opinión de los usuarios.

Estudio sobre la oferta alimentaria y preferencias de consumo de la comunidad universitaria en tres universidades de managua en el marco de la estrategia de Universidades Saludables: UCA / Estudio sobre la oferta alimentaria y preferencias de consumo de la comunidad universitaria en tres universidades de managua en el marco de la estrategia de Universidades Saludables: UCA / Study on the food supply and consumption preferences of the university community in three universities of Managua within the framework of the Healthy Universities strategy: UCA / Study on the food supply and consumption preferences of the university community in three universities of Managua within the framework of the Healthy Universities strategy: UCA

En función de brindar una respuesta a las necesidades alimentarias saludables en las universidades, se realizó durante tres meses, un estudio en trs universidades de Managua: Universidad Centroamericana, UCA; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, UNAN y Universidad Amercana, UAM, para identificar condiciones higiénicas sanitarias , la calidad de la oferta que brindan las cafeterías y conocer la opinión de los usuarios.

Estudio sobre oferta alimentaria y preferencias de consumo de la comunidad universitaria, en el marco de la promoción de estilos de vida saludable "Universidades Saludables" / Study on food supply and consumption preferences of the university community, within the framework of the promotion of healthy lifestyles "Healthy Universities

En función de brindar una respuesta a las necesidades alimentarias saludables en las universidades, se realizó durante tres meses un estudio en tres universidades de Managua para identificar condiciones higiénicas sanitarias, la calidad de oferta que brindan las cafeterías y conocer la opinión de los usuarios.