Risk of congenital anomalies near municipal waste incinerators in England and Scotland: Retrospective population-based cohort study

Brandon Parkes; Anna L. Hansell; Rebecca E. Ghosh; Philippa Douglas; Daniela Fecht; Diana Wellesley; Jennifer J. Kurinczuk; Judith Rankin; Kees de Hoogh; Gary W. Fuller; Paul Elliott; Mireille B. Toledano

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.039

Risk of congenital anomalies near municipal waste incinerators in England and Scotland: Retrospective population-based cohort study

Brandon Parkes, Anna L. Hansell^*, Rebecca E. Ghosh, Philippa Douglas, Daniela Fecht, Diana Wellesley, Jennifer J. Kurinczuk, Judith Rankin, Kees de Hoogh, Gary W. Fuller, Paul Elliott, Mireille B. Toledano

^*Corresponding author for this work

Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Background: Few studies have investigated congenital anomalies in relation to municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) and results are inconclusive. Objectives: To conduct a national investigation into the risk of congenital anomalies in babies born to mothers living within 10 km of an MWI associated with: i) modelled concentrations of PM₁₀ as a proxy for MWI emissions more generally and; ii) proximity of residential postcode to nearest MWI, in areas in England and Scotland that are covered by a congenital anomaly register. Methods: Retrospective population-based cohort study within 10 km of 10 MWIs in England and Scotland operating between 2003 and 2010. Exposure was proximity to MWI and log of daily mean modelled ground-level particulate matter ≤10 μm diameter (PM₁₀) concentrations. Results: Analysis included 219,486 births, stillbirths and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly of which 5154 were cases of congenital anomalies. Fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) per doubling in PM₁₀ was: 1·00 (95% CI 0·98–1·02) for all congenital anomalies; 0·99 (0·97–1·01) for all congenital anomalies excluding chromosomal anomalies. For every 1 km closer to an MWI adjusted OR was: 1·02 (1·00–1·04) for all congenital anomalies combined; 1·02 (1·00–1·04) for all congenital anomalies excluding chromosomal anomalies; and, for specific anomaly groups, 1·04 (1·01–1·08) for congenital heart defect sand 1·07 (1·02–1·12) for genital anomalies. Discussion: We found no increased risk of congenital anomalies in relation to modelled PM₁₀ emissions, but there were small excess risks associated with congenital heart defects and genital anomalies in proximity to MWIs. These latter findings may well reflect incomplete control for confounding, but a possible causal effect cannot be excluded.

Original language	English
Article number	104845
Journal	Environment International
Volume	134
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.039
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2020

Keywords

Congenital anomalies
Environment
Epidemiology
Municipal waste incinerator

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.039

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Parkes, B., Hansell, A. L., Ghosh, R. E., Douglas, P., Fecht, D., Wellesley, D., Kurinczuk, J. J., Rankin, J., de Hoogh, K., Fuller, G. W., Elliott, P., & Toledano, M. B. (2020). Risk of congenital anomalies near municipal waste incinerators in England and Scotland: Retrospective population-based cohort study. Environment International, 134, [104845]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.039

@article{8e7d4fdfaac54cc9a8efc521378c3f52,

title = "Risk of congenital anomalies near municipal waste incinerators in England and Scotland: Retrospective population-based cohort study",

abstract = "Background: Few studies have investigated congenital anomalies in relation to municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) and results are inconclusive. Objectives: To conduct a national investigation into the risk of congenital anomalies in babies born to mothers living within 10 km of an MWI associated with: i) modelled concentrations of PM10 as a proxy for MWI emissions more generally and; ii) proximity of residential postcode to nearest MWI, in areas in England and Scotland that are covered by a congenital anomaly register. Methods: Retrospective population-based cohort study within 10 km of 10 MWIs in England and Scotland operating between 2003 and 2010. Exposure was proximity to MWI and log of daily mean modelled ground-level particulate matter ≤10 μm diameter (PM10) concentrations. Results: Analysis included 219,486 births, stillbirths and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly of which 5154 were cases of congenital anomalies. Fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) per doubling in PM10 was: 1·00 (95% CI 0·98–1·02) for all congenital anomalies; 0·99 (0·97–1·01) for all congenital anomalies excluding chromosomal anomalies. For every 1 km closer to an MWI adjusted OR was: 1·02 (1·00–1·04) for all congenital anomalies combined; 1·02 (1·00–1·04) for all congenital anomalies excluding chromosomal anomalies; and, for specific anomaly groups, 1·04 (1·01–1·08) for congenital heart defect sand 1·07 (1·02–1·12) for genital anomalies. Discussion: We found no increased risk of congenital anomalies in relation to modelled PM10 emissions, but there were small excess risks associated with congenital heart defects and genital anomalies in proximity to MWIs. These latter findings may well reflect incomplete control for confounding, but a possible causal effect cannot be excluded.",

keywords = "Congenital anomalies, Environment, Epidemiology, Municipal waste incinerator",

author = "Brandon Parkes and Hansell, {Anna L.} and Ghosh, {Rebecca E.} and Philippa Douglas and Daniela Fecht and Diana Wellesley and Kurinczuk, {Jennifer J.} and Judith Rankin and {de Hoogh}, Kees and Fuller, {Gary W.} and Paul Elliott and Toledano, {Mireille B.}",

year = "2020",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.039",

language = "English",

volume = "134",

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Parkes, B, Hansell, AL, Ghosh, RE, Douglas, P, Fecht, D, Wellesley, D, Kurinczuk, JJ, Rankin, J, de Hoogh, K, Fuller, GW, Elliott, P & Toledano, MB 2020, 'Risk of congenital anomalies near municipal waste incinerators in England and Scotland: Retrospective population-based cohort study', Environment International, vol. 134, 104845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.039

TY - JOUR

T1 - Risk of congenital anomalies near municipal waste incinerators in England and Scotland

T2 - Retrospective population-based cohort study

AU - Parkes, Brandon

AU - Hansell, Anna L.

AU - Ghosh, Rebecca E.

AU - Douglas, Philippa

AU - Fecht, Daniela

AU - Wellesley, Diana

AU - Kurinczuk, Jennifer J.

AU - Rankin, Judith

AU - de Hoogh, Kees

AU - Fuller, Gary W.

AU - Elliott, Paul

AU - Toledano, Mireille B.

PY - 2020/1/1

Y1 - 2020/1/1

N2 - Background: Few studies have investigated congenital anomalies in relation to municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) and results are inconclusive. Objectives: To conduct a national investigation into the risk of congenital anomalies in babies born to mothers living within 10 km of an MWI associated with: i) modelled concentrations of PM10 as a proxy for MWI emissions more generally and; ii) proximity of residential postcode to nearest MWI, in areas in England and Scotland that are covered by a congenital anomaly register. Methods: Retrospective population-based cohort study within 10 km of 10 MWIs in England and Scotland operating between 2003 and 2010. Exposure was proximity to MWI and log of daily mean modelled ground-level particulate matter ≤10 μm diameter (PM10) concentrations. Results: Analysis included 219,486 births, stillbirths and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly of which 5154 were cases of congenital anomalies. Fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) per doubling in PM10 was: 1·00 (95% CI 0·98–1·02) for all congenital anomalies; 0·99 (0·97–1·01) for all congenital anomalies excluding chromosomal anomalies. For every 1 km closer to an MWI adjusted OR was: 1·02 (1·00–1·04) for all congenital anomalies combined; 1·02 (1·00–1·04) for all congenital anomalies excluding chromosomal anomalies; and, for specific anomaly groups, 1·04 (1·01–1·08) for congenital heart defect sand 1·07 (1·02–1·12) for genital anomalies. Discussion: We found no increased risk of congenital anomalies in relation to modelled PM10 emissions, but there were small excess risks associated with congenital heart defects and genital anomalies in proximity to MWIs. These latter findings may well reflect incomplete control for confounding, but a possible causal effect cannot be excluded.

AB - Background: Few studies have investigated congenital anomalies in relation to municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) and results are inconclusive. Objectives: To conduct a national investigation into the risk of congenital anomalies in babies born to mothers living within 10 km of an MWI associated with: i) modelled concentrations of PM10 as a proxy for MWI emissions more generally and; ii) proximity of residential postcode to nearest MWI, in areas in England and Scotland that are covered by a congenital anomaly register. Methods: Retrospective population-based cohort study within 10 km of 10 MWIs in England and Scotland operating between 2003 and 2010. Exposure was proximity to MWI and log of daily mean modelled ground-level particulate matter ≤10 μm diameter (PM10) concentrations. Results: Analysis included 219,486 births, stillbirths and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly of which 5154 were cases of congenital anomalies. Fully adjusted odds ratio (OR) per doubling in PM10 was: 1·00 (95% CI 0·98–1·02) for all congenital anomalies; 0·99 (0·97–1·01) for all congenital anomalies excluding chromosomal anomalies. For every 1 km closer to an MWI adjusted OR was: 1·02 (1·00–1·04) for all congenital anomalies combined; 1·02 (1·00–1·04) for all congenital anomalies excluding chromosomal anomalies; and, for specific anomaly groups, 1·04 (1·01–1·08) for congenital heart defect sand 1·07 (1·02–1·12) for genital anomalies. Discussion: We found no increased risk of congenital anomalies in relation to modelled PM10 emissions, but there were small excess risks associated with congenital heart defects and genital anomalies in proximity to MWIs. These latter findings may well reflect incomplete control for confounding, but a possible causal effect cannot be excluded.

KW - Congenital anomalies

KW - Environment

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Municipal waste incinerator

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U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.039

DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.039

M3 - Article

C2 - 31230843

AN - SCOPUS:85075909940

SN - 0160-4120

VL - 134

JO - Environment International

JF - Environment International

M1 - 104845

ER -

Risk of congenital anomalies near municipal waste incinerators in England and Scotland: Retrospective population-based cohort study

Abstract

Keywords

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