Association between ambient air pollution and perceived stress in pregnant women

Abstract

Air pollution may influence prenatal maternal stress, but research evidence is scarce. Using data from a prospective cohort study conducted on pregnant women (n = 2153), we explored the association between air pollution and perceived stress, which was assessed using the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), among pregnant women. Average exposures to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) or < 10 µm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) for each trimester and the entire pregnancy were estimated at maternal residential addresses using land-use regression models. Linear regression models were applied to estimate associations between PSS scores and exposures to each air pollutant. After adjustment for potential confounders, interquartile-range (IQR) increases in whole pregnancy exposures to PM2.5, PM10, and O3 in the third trimester were associated with 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01, 0.74), 0.54 (95% CI 0.11, 0.97), and 0.30 (95% CI 0.07, 0.54) point increases in prenatal PSS scores, respectively. Furthermore, these associations were more evident in women with child-bearing age and a lower level of education. Also, the association between PSS scores and PM10 was stronger in the spring. Our findings support the relationship between air pollution and prenatal maternal stress.

Air Pollution and Perinatal Mental Health: A Comprehensive Overview

“…This susceptibility resulted more evident for women with a lower level of education. The association between PSS scores and PM 10 was stronger in the spring season and no associations were found concerning NO 2 exposure [46].…”

“…The main characteristics of included studies are shown in Table 1. Seven articles were prospective studies [42][43][44][45][46][47][48] and two were retrospective ones [49,50]. Four studies were conducted in the USA, the other five respectively in China, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, and Turkey.…”

“…One research [50] selected cases of post-partum depression (PPD) based on SNOMED (Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine) codes. One study [46] evaluated the effect of air pollution on prenatal maternal stress assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Legend: ACCESS-asthma coalition on community, environment, and social stress; BDI-II-beck depression inventory; Cd-cadmium; CES-D-center for epidemiologic studies depression scale; CO-carbon monoxide; EPHPP-effective public health practice project; HER-electronic health records; EPDS-edinburgh postnatal depression scale; ICP-MSinductively coupled plasma mass spectometry; IQR-interquartile range; LUR-land use regression; RR-risk ratio; NA-not applicable; NS-not statistically significant; NO 2 -nitric dioxide; O 3 -ozone; Pb-lead; PBDEs-polybrominated diphenyl ethers; PFAS-poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances; PFHxS-perfluorohexane sulfonate; PFNA-perfluorononanoate; PFOA-perfluorooctanoate; PFOS-perfluorooctane sulfonate; PM 2.5 -particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm; PM 10 -particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 µm; PPD-postpartum depression; Ppb-1 part per billion; PSS-perceived stress scale; SNOMED-systemized nomenclature of medicine; SO 2 -sulphur dioxide.…”

Air pollution, well-being, and quality of life in Latin America: a systematic review

“…For example, Nuyts et al (2019) found no relation between exposure to NO 2 and perceived stress in older adults in Belgium. However,Lamichhane et al (2021) find this relation between exposure to pollution and prenatal maternal stress in South Korea, as doZhang et al (2021) in university students in China. Although efforts to study the effect of pollution on negative emotions in Latin America have been made, these studies have been mainly linked to emotions like «annoyance»(Melo et al 2015, Machado et al 2018, 2020, added to sporadic efforts on other emotions(Boso et al 2019, Bertanha 2021).…”

Environmental Exposure: Effect on Maternal Morbidity and Mortality and Neonatal Health

“…Vasoconstriction occurs due to regular exposure to such ambient air that changes the normal hemodynamics of the patient; further, enhanced inflammation and raised prooxidative mediators were also reported due to the continuous exposure to ambient air (PM2.5). In a recent study, prenatal maternal stress was also reported to be associated with ambient air pollution [ 75 ].…”