The potential effect modifying role of nutrition, physical activity, and body mass index on the association between air pollution and adverse birth and early-life health outcomes: a scoping review
Background . Air pollution is a prominent contributor to the burden of adverse birth and early child health outcomes. However, considerable heterogeneity of impacts has been observed, which may be due to limited exploration of key effect modifiers. This scoping review was conducted to synthesize evi...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Communications |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/adc903 |
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| author | Christian Sewor Kristen M Rappazzo Maggie L Clark |
| author_facet | Christian Sewor Kristen M Rappazzo Maggie L Clark |
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| description | Background . Air pollution is a prominent contributor to the burden of adverse birth and early child health outcomes. However, considerable heterogeneity of impacts has been observed, which may be due to limited exploration of key effect modifiers. This scoping review was conducted to synthesize evidence on the potential effect modifying roles of nutrition, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) on the associations between early-life air pollution exposures and adverse birth and early-life health outcomes. Methods. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were systematically searched for relevant studies through July 2023. Studies were included if they were conducted amongst pregnant women or individuals between 0–17 years, provided empirical evidence on associations between air pollution exposure and adverse birth and/or early-childhood health outcomes, and conducted effect modification-related analyses by maternal (i.e., in-utero) or early childhood nutrition, physical activity, or BMI. Data from selected studies were abstracted and summarized based on study design, population characteristics, and the exposures, outcomes, and effect modifiers assessed. Results. A total of 13 studies were included; 10 were cohort studies, and 3 were cross-sectional studies. All but one of the studies explored the impact of ambient air pollutants (particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, ultra-fine particles, elemental carbon, and black carbon) prenatally or in early life on adverse birth (preterm birth, birth weight, low birth weight) and early childhood outcomes (childhood obesity). Effect modifiers examined included pre-pregnancy BMI (n = 5 studies), maternal and child dietary characteristics (n = 7 studies), and child physical activity patterns (n = 2 studies). Discussion. Evidence for effect modification, although present, was inconsistent and weak. Consideration should be given to exploring effect modification of air pollution-related impacts to help explain heterogeneity of associations observed across populations, a key knowledge gap limiting public health messaging strategies. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2515-7620 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| series | Environmental Research Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-eef71523e7c644009dd6784a85ef70532025-08-20T03:18:45ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Communications2515-76202025-01-017404200210.1088/2515-7620/adc903The potential effect modifying role of nutrition, physical activity, and body mass index on the association between air pollution and adverse birth and early-life health outcomes: a scoping reviewChristian Sewor0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1155-4730Kristen M Rappazzo1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9939-0883Maggie L Clark2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8613-5736Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, CO, United States of AmericaU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development , Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, United States of AmericaDepartment of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University , Fort Collins, CO, United States of AmericaBackground . Air pollution is a prominent contributor to the burden of adverse birth and early child health outcomes. However, considerable heterogeneity of impacts has been observed, which may be due to limited exploration of key effect modifiers. This scoping review was conducted to synthesize evidence on the potential effect modifying roles of nutrition, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) on the associations between early-life air pollution exposures and adverse birth and early-life health outcomes. Methods. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were systematically searched for relevant studies through July 2023. Studies were included if they were conducted amongst pregnant women or individuals between 0–17 years, provided empirical evidence on associations between air pollution exposure and adverse birth and/or early-childhood health outcomes, and conducted effect modification-related analyses by maternal (i.e., in-utero) or early childhood nutrition, physical activity, or BMI. Data from selected studies were abstracted and summarized based on study design, population characteristics, and the exposures, outcomes, and effect modifiers assessed. Results. A total of 13 studies were included; 10 were cohort studies, and 3 were cross-sectional studies. All but one of the studies explored the impact of ambient air pollutants (particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, ultra-fine particles, elemental carbon, and black carbon) prenatally or in early life on adverse birth (preterm birth, birth weight, low birth weight) and early childhood outcomes (childhood obesity). Effect modifiers examined included pre-pregnancy BMI (n = 5 studies), maternal and child dietary characteristics (n = 7 studies), and child physical activity patterns (n = 2 studies). Discussion. Evidence for effect modification, although present, was inconsistent and weak. Consideration should be given to exploring effect modification of air pollution-related impacts to help explain heterogeneity of associations observed across populations, a key knowledge gap limiting public health messaging strategies.https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/adc903effect modificationair pollutionbirth outcomesmaternal nutritionchildhood BMIphysical activity |
| spellingShingle | Christian Sewor Kristen M Rappazzo Maggie L Clark The potential effect modifying role of nutrition, physical activity, and body mass index on the association between air pollution and adverse birth and early-life health outcomes: a scoping review Environmental Research Communications effect modification air pollution birth outcomes maternal nutrition childhood BMI physical activity |
| title | The potential effect modifying role of nutrition, physical activity, and body mass index on the association between air pollution and adverse birth and early-life health outcomes: a scoping review |
| title_full | The potential effect modifying role of nutrition, physical activity, and body mass index on the association between air pollution and adverse birth and early-life health outcomes: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | The potential effect modifying role of nutrition, physical activity, and body mass index on the association between air pollution and adverse birth and early-life health outcomes: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The potential effect modifying role of nutrition, physical activity, and body mass index on the association between air pollution and adverse birth and early-life health outcomes: a scoping review |
| title_short | The potential effect modifying role of nutrition, physical activity, and body mass index on the association between air pollution and adverse birth and early-life health outcomes: a scoping review |
| title_sort | potential effect modifying role of nutrition physical activity and body mass index on the association between air pollution and adverse birth and early life health outcomes a scoping review |
| topic | effect modification air pollution birth outcomes maternal nutrition childhood BMI physical activity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/adc903 |
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