Fetal growth, stillbirth, infant mortality and other birth outcomes near UK municipal waste incinerators; retrospective population based cohort and case-control study. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ghosh, Rebecca E.; Freni-Sterrantino, Anna; Douglas, Philippa; Parkes, Brandon; Fecht, Daniela; de Hoogh, Kees; Fuller, Gary; Gulliver, John; Font, Anna; Smith, Rachel B.; Blangiardo, Marta; Elliott, Paul; Toledano, Mireille B.; Hansell, Anna L.
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 122(2019)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 158
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: MWI municipal waste incinerator -- EU European Union -- PM10 particulate matter ≤10 μm in diameter -- SGA small for gestational age -- SO2 sulphur dioxide -- NOx nitrogen oxides -- HCl hydrogen chloride -- CO carbon monoxide -- VOC volatile organic compound -- POPs persistent organic pollutants -- PCDD/Fs polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans -- PCBs polychlorinated biphenyls -- PAHs polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons -- EU-WID European Union Waste Incineration Directive -- COA Census Output Area -- MSOA Middle Layer Super Output Area -- GAM generalised additive model -- OR odds ratio -- ONS Office for National Statistics -- EA Environment Agency -- SEPA Scottish Environment Protection Agency -- NRW Natural Resources Wales -- NHS National Health Service -- NHS NN4B Numbers for Babies -- NWIS NHS Wales' Informatics Service -- HSW Health Solutions Wales -- NCCHD National Child Community Health Dataset -- ISD Information Services Division Scotland; Environment -- Birth weight -- Stillbirth -- Infant mortality -- Municipal Waste Incinerator -- Epidemiology; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.10.060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Some studies have reported associations between municipal waste incinerator (MWI) exposures and adverse birth outcomes but there are few studies of modern MWIs operating to current European Union (EU) Industrial Emissions Directive standards. Methods: Associations between modelled ground-level particulate matter ≤10 μm in diameter (PM10 ) from MWI emissions (as a proxy for MWI emissions) within 10 km of each MWI, and selected birth and infant mortality outcomes were examined for all 22 MWIs operating in Great Britain 2003–10. We also investigated associations with proximity of residence to a MWI. Outcomes used were term birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA) at term, stillbirth, neonatal, post-neonatal and infant mortality, multiple births, sex ratio and preterm delivery sourced from national registration data from the Office for National Statistics. Analyses were adjusted for relevant confounders including year of birth, sex, season of birth, maternal age, deprivation, ethnicity and area characteristics and random effect terms were included in the models to allow for differences in baseline rates between areas and in incinerator feedstock. Results: Analyses included 1, 025, 064 births and 18, 694 infant deaths. There was no excess risk in relation to any of the outcomes investigated during pregnancy or early life of either mean modelled MWI PM10 or proximity to an MWI. Conclusions: We found no evidence that exposure to PM10 from, or living near to, an MWI operating to current EU standards was associated with harm for any of the outcomes investigated. Results should be generalisable to other MWIs operating to similar standards. Highlights: One of the largest studies to date on health risks of municipal waste incineration Investigated all 22 British municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) operating 2003–10 Used both modelled emissions concentrations and proximity to estimate MWI exposures Examined birth weight, multiple births, sex ratio, prematurity and mortality outcomes Found no associations between MWI proximity or emissions and infant health outcomes