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Toxics
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Update Reproductive Toxicology Research Associated with Air Pollutions
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Update Reproductive Toxicology Research Associated with Air Pollutions

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2024 | Viewed by 10532

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Stefan Hansson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Inst. Clinical Sciences Lund, Dep Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Interests: placenta function; preeclampsia; air pollution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent findings have demonstrated an association between exposure to air pollutants and an increased risk of developing preeclampsia (PE). Air pollution in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) is a tremendous health problem, where exposure to airborne particle matter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5), both outdoors and indoors, is much higher than the health limit value of 10 µg/m3 suggested by the WHO, thus posing a significant threat to human health in general and to pregnant women in particular. At the same time, these countries have the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, responsible for about 18% of all maternal deaths and up to 40% of neonatal deaths. Recent findings have demonstrated an association between exposure to air pollutants and an increased risk of developing PE. Evidence indicates that exposure to pollutants in general and air pollution specifically induces oxidative stress and consequently inflammation. Furthermore, exposure to PM is associated with mitochondrial oxidative DNA damage both in normal state and in pregnancy, resulting in increased systemic oxidative stress in blood and placenta. Increased insight into pregnancy outcome in relation to pollutants exposure is crucial to combat an increasing problem on maternal and child health and morbidity in general and in LMIC in particular.

The overarching aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the negative effects of environmental factors and air pollution during pregnancy. Increased insight into pregnancy outcomes in relation to air pollution exposure is crucial to combat an increasing air pollution problem on maternal and child health and long-term morbidity.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following theme: air pollution and environmental toxins in relation to placental function, pregnancy outcomes, long-term maternal and fetal morbidity. The articles may span from molecular to epidemiological aspects of the main theme.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Hansson
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • implantation
  • placenta
  • syncytiotrophoblast
  • oxidative stress
  • inflammation
  • miscarriage
  • fetal growth restriction
  • preeclampsia
  • cardiovascular disease
  • air pollution

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1471 KiB  
Article
Prenatal Exposure to Locally Emitted Air Pollutants Is Associated with Birth Weight: An Administrative Cohort Study from Southern Sweden
by Festina Balidemaj, Erin Flanagan, Ebba Malmqvist, Ralf Rittner, Karin Källén, Daniel Oudin Åström and Anna Oudin
Toxics 2022, 10(7), 366; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/toxics10070366 - 01 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1595
Abstract
While prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution has been shown to be associated with reduced birth weight, there is substantial heterogeneity across studies, and few epidemiological studies have utilized source-specific exposure data. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the [...] Read more.
While prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution has been shown to be associated with reduced birth weight, there is substantial heterogeneity across studies, and few epidemiological studies have utilized source-specific exposure data. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the associations between local, source-specific exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy and birth weight. An administrative cohort comprising 40,245 singleton births from 2000 to 2009 in Scania, Sweden, was combined with data on relevant covariates. Investigated sources of PM2.5 included all local sources together as well as tailpipe exhaust, vehicle wear-and-tear, and small-scale residential heating separately. The relationships between these exposures, represented as interquartile range (IQR) increases, and birth weight (continuous) and low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g) were analyzed in crude and adjusted models. Each local PM2.5 source investigated was associated with reduced birth weight; average decreases varied by source (12–34 g). Only small-scale residential heating was clearly associated with LBW (adjusted odds ratio: 1.14 (95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.26) per IQR increase). These results add to existing evidence that prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution disrupts fetal growth and suggest that PM2.5 from both vehicles and small-scale residential heating may reduce birth weight. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update Reproductive Toxicology Research Associated with Air Pollutions)
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23 pages, 872 KiB  
Article
Early Pregnancy Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution among Late-Onset Preeclamptic Cases Is Associated with Placental DNA Hypomethylation of Specific Genes and Slower Placental Maturation
by Karin Engström, Yumjirmaa Mandakh, Lana Garmire, Zahra Masoumi, Christina Isaxon, Ebba Malmqvist, Lena Erlandsson and Stefan R. Hansson
Toxics 2021, 9(12), 338; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/toxics9120338 - 06 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4241
Abstract
Exposure to ambient air pollution during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia (PE). Some suggested mechanisms behind this association are changes in placental DNA methylation and gene expression. The objective of this study was to identify how early pregnancy [...] Read more.
Exposure to ambient air pollution during pregnancy has been associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia (PE). Some suggested mechanisms behind this association are changes in placental DNA methylation and gene expression. The objective of this study was to identify how early pregnancy exposure to ambient nitrogen oxides (NOx) among PE cases and normotensive controls influence DNA methylation (EPIC array) and gene expression (RNA-seq). The study included placentas from 111 women (29 PE cases/82 controls) in Scania, Sweden. First-trimester NOx exposure was assessed at the participants’ residence using a dispersion model and categorized via median split into high or low NOx. Placental gestational epigenetic age was derived from the DNA methylation data. We identified six differentially methylated positions (DMPs, q < 0.05) comparing controls with low NOx vs. cases with high NOx and 14 DMPs comparing cases and controls with high NOx. Placentas with female fetuses showed more DMPs (N = 309) than male-derived placentas (N = 1). Placentas from PE cases with high NOx demonstrated gestational age deceleration compared to controls with low NOx (p = 0.034). No differentially expressed genes (DEGs, q < 0.05) were found. In conclusion, early pregnancy exposure to NOx affected placental DNA methylation in PE, resulting in placental immaturity and showing sexual dimorphism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update Reproductive Toxicology Research Associated with Air Pollutions)
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Review

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15 pages, 317 KiB  
Review
Adverse Effects of Black Carbon (BC) Exposure during Pregnancy on Maternal and Fetal Health: A Contemporary Review
by Viktoriia Goriainova, Christina Awada, Florence Opoku and Judith T. Zelikoff
Toxics 2022, 10(12), 779; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/toxics10120779 - 13 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3817
Abstract
Black carbon (BC) is a major component of ambient particulate matter (PM), one of the six Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Criteria air pollutants. The majority of research on the adverse effects of BC exposure so far has been focused on respiratory and cardiovascular [...] Read more.
Black carbon (BC) is a major component of ambient particulate matter (PM), one of the six Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Criteria air pollutants. The majority of research on the adverse effects of BC exposure so far has been focused on respiratory and cardiovascular systems in children. Few studies have also explored whether prenatal BC exposure affects the fetus, the placenta and/or the course of pregnancy itself. Thus, this contemporary review seeks to elucidate state-of-the-art research on this understudied topic. Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between BC and a variety of adverse effects on fetal health, including low birth weight for gestational age and increased risk of preterm birth, as well as cardiometabolic and respiratory system complications following maternal exposure during pregnancy. There is epidemiological evidence suggesting that BC exposure increases the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, as well as other maternal health issues, such as pregnancy loss, all of which need to be more thoroughly investigated. Adverse placental effects from BC exposure include inflammatory responses, interference with placental iodine uptake, and expression of DNA repair and tumor suppressor genes. Taking into account the differences in BC exposure around the world, as well as interracial disparities and the need to better understand the underlying mechanisms of the health effects associated with prenatal exposure, toxicological research examining the effects of early life exposure to BC is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update Reproductive Toxicology Research Associated with Air Pollutions)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Adverse effects of black carbon (BC) exposure during pregnancy on maternal and fetal health
Author: Goriainova
Highlights: - pregnancy is adversely affected by exposure to black carbon - different parts of the world experience different levels of exposure and variable sources - epidemiological studies are prevalent in this area; there is a need for more toxicological studies

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