Machine Learning for Microbiologists

Nov 17, 2023 ·

The article, titled “Maternal Exposure to Air Pollution and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis” published in Nature Reviews Neurology examines the potential link between maternal exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The review was conducted by authors from multiple institutions around the world and was supported by the Chinese Health and Family Planning Commission, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission.

The authors sought to estimate the association between maternal exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and ASD in offspring using a systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies. They searched three databases and identified 12 eligible studies with 15 effect estimates. The majority of studies were conducted in Europe or North America and all participants were children aged 5 years or younger.

The findings suggested that a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 during pregnancy is associated with a 14% increased risk of ASD in offspring (95% confidence interval [CI], 4–25). Estimates for the association between exposure to nitrogen dioxide and ASD risk were more consistent but not statistically significant when using the random-effects model. No association was found between other pollutants such as ozone and carbon monoxide and ASD risk.

Overall, the study shows that maternal exposure to air pollution during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of ASD in offspring. The authors suggest that further research should be done to determine how this link may vary across different populations, assess potential genetic mechanisms, and examine the impact of various types of air pollution sources. They also call for policy makers to take appropriate action to reduce air pollution levels to protect maternal and infant health.