Exposure to Air Pollution From Traffic and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Swedish Twins
Open accessAbstract
Background: Recent studies have reported associations between air pollution exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders in children, but the role of pre- and postnatal exposure has not been elucidated. Aim: We aimed to explore the risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children in relation to pre- and postnatal exposure to air pollution from road traffic. Methods: Parents of 3,426 twins born in Stockholm during 1992–2000 were interviewed, when their children were 9 or 12 years old, for symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders. Residence time-weighted concentrations of particulate matter with a diameter <10 μm (PM 10) and nitrogen oxides (NO x) from road traffic were estimated at participants’ addresses during pregnancy, the first year, and the ninth year of life using dispersion modeling, controlling for seasonal variation. Multivariate regression models were used to examine the association between air pollution exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results: No clear or consistent associations were found between air pollution exposure during any of the three time windows and any of the neurodevelopmental outcomes. For example, a 5–95% difference in exposure to NO x during pregnancy was associated with odds ratios (ORs) of 0.92 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.44–1.96) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.58–1.40) for ASD and ADHD respectively. A corresponding range in exposure to PM 10 during pregnancy was related to ORs of 1.01 (95% CI: 0.52–1.96) and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.68–1.47) for ASD and ADHD. Conclusions: Our data do not provide support for an association between pre- or postnatal exposure to air pollution from road traffic and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
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Research examining air pollution exposure employing indirect measures of exposure (such as distance to a freeway) has reported associations to autism, while studies measuring emission levels close to individuals' homes have not.
“research examining air pollution exposure employing indirect measures of exposure (such as distance to a freeway where emissions were measured) have reported associations to autism [256], while studies measuring emission levels close to the individuals’ homes have not [257].”
From The contribution of environmental exposure to the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (2019) · cites this paper as [257]
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- Authors
- Gong, T., Almqvist, C., Bölte, S., Lichtenstein, P., Anckarsäter, H., Lind, T., Lundholm, C., & Pershagen, G.
- Affiliations
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
- Region Stockholm (SE)
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Gong, Tong
- Venue
- Twin Research and Human Genetics
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2014-09-17
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 553-562
- ISSN
- 1832-4274 (ISSN-L)
- 1839-2628
- OpenAlex
- W2332656204
- Cited by
- 116
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 8
- FWCI
- 5.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Twin Research and Human Genetics (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- eSpace (Curtin University) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Open Archive (Karolinska Institutet) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Funders
- VINNOVA
- Karolinska Institutet (2011-3060)
- Vetenskapsrådet (340–2013-5867, 2011-03060)
- Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd (340‐2013‐5867)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Keywords
- air pollution, road traffic emissions, neurodevelopmental disorders, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, prenatal exposure, postnatal exposure, PM10, nitrogen oxides, twins, children
- MeSH terms
- Air Pollution, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Diseases in Twins, Female, Humans, Male, Sweden, Risk Assessment, Motor Vehicles
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