Residential Exposure to PM2.5 Constituents and Fecundability in a Danish Preconception Cohort

Amelia K. Wesselink; Benjamin R. Johannesen; Tanran R. Wang; Matthias Ketzel; Ellen M. Mikkelsen; Jørgen Brandt; Jibran Khan; Ole Hertel; Anne Sofie Dam Laursen; Mary D. Willis; Jonathan I. Levy; Kenneth J. Rothman; Henrik T. Sørensen; Lauren A. Wise; Elizabeth E. Hatch

doi:10.1111/ppe.13174

Residential Exposure to PM_2.5 Constituents and Fecundability in a Danish Preconception Cohort

Amelia K. Wesselink^*, Benjamin R. Johannesen, Tanran R. Wang, Matthias Ketzel, Ellen M. Mikkelsen, Jørgen Brandt, Jibran Khan, Ole Hertel, Anne Sofie Dam Laursen, Mary D. Willis, Jonathan I. Levy, Kenneth J. Rothman, Henrik T. Sørensen, Lauren A. Wise, Elizabeth E. Hatch

^*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift/Konferencebidrag i tidsskrift /Bidrag til avis › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

1 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that ambient concentrations of particulate matter < 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) are associated with reduced fecundability, the per cycle probability of conception. The specific constituents driving this association are unknown. Objectives: We examined the association between ambient concentrations of PM_2.5 constituents and fecundability in a Danish preconception cohort study. Methods: During 2007–2018, we enrolled female pregnancy planners in an Internet-based preconception cohort study. We included the 5905 participants who had been trying to conceive for < 3 cycles at study enrollment. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire and follow-up questionnaires every 8 weeks to update pregnancy status. We geocoded time-varying residential addresses to estimate ambient concentrations of total PM_2.5 and the following PM_2.5 constituents: elemental carbon (EC), primary organic aerosol (POA), secondary organic aerosols (SOA), sulfate (SO₄²⁻), ammonium (NH₄⁺), nitrate (NO₃⁻), and sea salt. We averaged concentrations of each pollutant across each menstrual cycle at risk. We fit proportional probabilities regression models to estimate fecundability ratios (FR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for potential confounders and co-pollutants. Results: Total PM_2.5 concentrations were associated with reduced fecundability (the FR for an IQR increase, corresponding to 3.2 μg/m³, was 0.93 [95% CI 0.87, 0.99]). The association was strongest for POA: the FR for an IQR increase, corresponding to 1.3 μg/m³, was 0.92 (95% CI 0.84, 1.01). The corresponding FRs for the remaining PM_2.5 constituents were 0.96 (95% CI 0.87, 1.05) for EC (IQR = 0.5 μg/m³), 0.98 (95% CI 0.91, 1.06) for SOA (IQR = 0.5), 0.97 (95% CI 0.92, 1.02) for SO₂⁴⁻ (IQR = 0.4), 0.95 (95% CI 0.91, 1.01) for NH₄⁺ (IQR = 0.5), 0.97 (95% CI 0.93, 1.01) for NO₃⁻ (IQR = 1.0), and 1.00 (95% CI 0.95, 1.06) for sea salt (IQR = 0.4). Conclusions: In this Danish preconception cohort study, PM_2.5 constituents derived from biomass and transportation-related combustion may drive the association between PM_2.5 concentrations and fecundability.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
ISSN	0269-5022
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/ppe.13174
Status	E-pub / Early view - 2025

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10.1111/ppe.13174

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Citationsformater

Wesselink, A. K., Johannesen, B. R., Wang, T. R., Ketzel, M., Mikkelsen, E. M., Brandt, J., Khan, J., Hertel, O., Laursen, A. S. D., Willis, M. D., Levy, J. I., Rothman, K. J., Sørensen, H. T., Wise, L. A., & Hatch, E. E. (2025). Residential Exposure to PM_2.5 Constituents and Fecundability in a Danish Preconception Cohort. Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppe.13174

@article{f23ad9a8ff3a4e81a5b2981cc733cb56,

title = "Residential Exposure to PM2.5 Constituents and Fecundability in a Danish Preconception Cohort",

abstract = "Background: Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that ambient concentrations of particulate matter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) are associated with reduced fecundability, the per cycle probability of conception. The specific constituents driving this association are unknown. Objectives: We examined the association between ambient concentrations of PM2.5 constituents and fecundability in a Danish preconception cohort study. Methods: During 2007–2018, we enrolled female pregnancy planners in an Internet-based preconception cohort study. We included the 5905 participants who had been trying to conceive for < 3 cycles at study enrollment. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire and follow-up questionnaires every 8 weeks to update pregnancy status. We geocoded time-varying residential addresses to estimate ambient concentrations of total PM2.5 and the following PM2.5 constituents: elemental carbon (EC), primary organic aerosol (POA), secondary organic aerosols (SOA), sulfate (SO42−), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3−), and sea salt. We averaged concentrations of each pollutant across each menstrual cycle at risk. We fit proportional probabilities regression models to estimate fecundability ratios (FR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for potential confounders and co-pollutants. Results: Total PM2.5 concentrations were associated with reduced fecundability (the FR for an IQR increase, corresponding to 3.2 μg/m3, was 0.93 [95% CI 0.87, 0.99]). The association was strongest for POA: the FR for an IQR increase, corresponding to 1.3 μg/m3, was 0.92 (95% CI 0.84, 1.01). The corresponding FRs for the remaining PM2.5 constituents were 0.96 (95% CI 0.87, 1.05) for EC (IQR = 0.5 μg/m3), 0.98 (95% CI 0.91, 1.06) for SOA (IQR = 0.5), 0.97 (95% CI 0.92, 1.02) for SO24− (IQR = 0.4), 0.95 (95% CI 0.91, 1.01) for NH4+ (IQR = 0.5), 0.97 (95% CI 0.93, 1.01) for NO3− (IQR = 1.0), and 1.00 (95% CI 0.95, 1.06) for sea salt (IQR = 0.4). Conclusions: In this Danish preconception cohort study, PM2.5 constituents derived from biomass and transportation-related combustion may drive the association between PM2.5 concentrations and fecundability.",

keywords = "air pollution, fecundability, fertility, particulate matter, preconception cohort",

author = "Wesselink, {Amelia K.} and Johannesen, {Benjamin R.} and Wang, {Tanran R.} and Matthias Ketzel and Mikkelsen, {Ellen M.} and J{\o}rgen Brandt and Jibran Khan and Ole Hertel and Laursen, {Anne Sofie Dam} and Willis, {Mary D.} and Levy, {Jonathan I.} and Rothman, {Kenneth J.} and S{\o}rensen, {Henrik T.} and Wise, {Lauren A.} and Hatch, {Elizabeth E.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

year = "2025",

doi = "10.1111/ppe.13174",

language = "English",

journal = "Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology",

issn = "0269-5022",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Residential Exposure to PM2.5 Constituents and Fecundability in a Danish Preconception Cohort

AU - Wesselink, Amelia K.

AU - Johannesen, Benjamin R.

AU - Wang, Tanran R.

AU - Ketzel, Matthias

AU - Mikkelsen, Ellen M.

AU - Brandt, Jørgen

AU - Khan, Jibran

AU - Hertel, Ole

AU - Laursen, Anne Sofie Dam

AU - Willis, Mary D.

AU - Levy, Jonathan I.

AU - Rothman, Kenneth J.

AU - Sørensen, Henrik T.

AU - Wise, Lauren A.

AU - Hatch, Elizabeth E.

PY - 2025

Y1 - 2025

N2 - Background: Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that ambient concentrations of particulate matter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) are associated with reduced fecundability, the per cycle probability of conception. The specific constituents driving this association are unknown. Objectives: We examined the association between ambient concentrations of PM2.5 constituents and fecundability in a Danish preconception cohort study. Methods: During 2007–2018, we enrolled female pregnancy planners in an Internet-based preconception cohort study. We included the 5905 participants who had been trying to conceive for < 3 cycles at study enrollment. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire and follow-up questionnaires every 8 weeks to update pregnancy status. We geocoded time-varying residential addresses to estimate ambient concentrations of total PM2.5 and the following PM2.5 constituents: elemental carbon (EC), primary organic aerosol (POA), secondary organic aerosols (SOA), sulfate (SO42−), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3−), and sea salt. We averaged concentrations of each pollutant across each menstrual cycle at risk. We fit proportional probabilities regression models to estimate fecundability ratios (FR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for potential confounders and co-pollutants. Results: Total PM2.5 concentrations were associated with reduced fecundability (the FR for an IQR increase, corresponding to 3.2 μg/m3, was 0.93 [95% CI 0.87, 0.99]). The association was strongest for POA: the FR for an IQR increase, corresponding to 1.3 μg/m3, was 0.92 (95% CI 0.84, 1.01). The corresponding FRs for the remaining PM2.5 constituents were 0.96 (95% CI 0.87, 1.05) for EC (IQR = 0.5 μg/m3), 0.98 (95% CI 0.91, 1.06) for SOA (IQR = 0.5), 0.97 (95% CI 0.92, 1.02) for SO24− (IQR = 0.4), 0.95 (95% CI 0.91, 1.01) for NH4+ (IQR = 0.5), 0.97 (95% CI 0.93, 1.01) for NO3− (IQR = 1.0), and 1.00 (95% CI 0.95, 1.06) for sea salt (IQR = 0.4). Conclusions: In this Danish preconception cohort study, PM2.5 constituents derived from biomass and transportation-related combustion may drive the association between PM2.5 concentrations and fecundability.

AB - Background: Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that ambient concentrations of particulate matter < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) are associated with reduced fecundability, the per cycle probability of conception. The specific constituents driving this association are unknown. Objectives: We examined the association between ambient concentrations of PM2.5 constituents and fecundability in a Danish preconception cohort study. Methods: During 2007–2018, we enrolled female pregnancy planners in an Internet-based preconception cohort study. We included the 5905 participants who had been trying to conceive for < 3 cycles at study enrollment. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire and follow-up questionnaires every 8 weeks to update pregnancy status. We geocoded time-varying residential addresses to estimate ambient concentrations of total PM2.5 and the following PM2.5 constituents: elemental carbon (EC), primary organic aerosol (POA), secondary organic aerosols (SOA), sulfate (SO42−), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3−), and sea salt. We averaged concentrations of each pollutant across each menstrual cycle at risk. We fit proportional probabilities regression models to estimate fecundability ratios (FR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusting for potential confounders and co-pollutants. Results: Total PM2.5 concentrations were associated with reduced fecundability (the FR for an IQR increase, corresponding to 3.2 μg/m3, was 0.93 [95% CI 0.87, 0.99]). The association was strongest for POA: the FR for an IQR increase, corresponding to 1.3 μg/m3, was 0.92 (95% CI 0.84, 1.01). The corresponding FRs for the remaining PM2.5 constituents were 0.96 (95% CI 0.87, 1.05) for EC (IQR = 0.5 μg/m3), 0.98 (95% CI 0.91, 1.06) for SOA (IQR = 0.5), 0.97 (95% CI 0.92, 1.02) for SO24− (IQR = 0.4), 0.95 (95% CI 0.91, 1.01) for NH4+ (IQR = 0.5), 0.97 (95% CI 0.93, 1.01) for NO3− (IQR = 1.0), and 1.00 (95% CI 0.95, 1.06) for sea salt (IQR = 0.4). Conclusions: In this Danish preconception cohort study, PM2.5 constituents derived from biomass and transportation-related combustion may drive the association between PM2.5 concentrations and fecundability.

KW - air pollution

KW - fecundability

KW - fertility

KW - particulate matter

KW - preconception cohort

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85216201440&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/ppe.13174

DO - 10.1111/ppe.13174

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 39876487

AN - SCOPUS:85216201440

SN - 0269-5022

JO - Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology

JF - Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology