Influence of Atmospheric Air Pollution on Frequency of Congenital Anomalies (on an example of a region)

INTRODUCTION: Atmospheric air pollution is the underlying factor of a great number of human diseases in both industrialized and developing countries. Studies show that exposure to atmospheric pollutions in pregnancy can be associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies (CAs).

AIM: To analyze the impact of atmospheric air pollutants in Ryazan city on the incidence of CAs in newborns.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of monitoring of CAs by Ryazan Regional Perinatal Center; information on atmospheric air pollution of the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, of Ryazan Center for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, of Rospotrebnadzor of the Ryazan region are presented. The statistical analysis was conducted using free R computing environment (ver. 4.1.2).

RESULTS: In 2019, the prevalence of CAs in Ryazan was 24.09 per 1,000 newborns; in the period 2010–2021, the absolute number of recorded CAs grew by 244.57%. The most common congenital anomalies were Q21.0 Ventricular septal defects (28.5%, 95% CI: 20.8–36.2%) and Q62.0 Congenital hydronephrosis (7.3%, 95% CI: 2.9–11.7%). Correlation was recorded with such air pollutant as sulfur dioxide (SO₂) in the second month of pregnancy (AOR 1.39; 95%; CI 1.05–1.83, p < 0.05) and the third month of pregnancy (AOR 1.59; 95% CI 1.17–2.16, p < 0.05). No statistically significant relationship was established between CAs and carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and ozone (O₃, p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The study confirms the association between atmospheric air pollution and frequency of CAs. In particular, SO₂ has a negative effect in the second and third months of pregnancy. In this context, it is important that the authority bodies of the region and governmental regulatory agencies direct their efforts to reduction of the pollution of the environment which should help reduce the frequency of CAs in children.