Prenatal and childhood traffic-related air pollution exposure and telomere length in european children: The HELIX Project

Clemente Batalha Pardal, Diana, 1990-; Vrijheid, Martine; Martens, Dries S.; Bustamante Pineda, Mariona; Chatzi, Leda; Danileviciute, Asta; de Castro, Montserrat; Gražulevičienė, Regina; Gutzkow, Kristine B.; Lepeule, Johanna; Maitre, Léa; McEachan, Rosemary R.C.; Robinson, Oliver; Schwarze, Per E.; Tamayo-Uria, Ibon; Vafeiadi, Marina, 1983-; Wright, John; Slama, Rémy; Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark J.; Nawrot, Tim S.

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP4148

Prenatal and childhood traffic-related air pollution exposure and telomere length in european children: The HELIX Project

Citation

Clemente DBP, Vrijheid M, Martens DS, Bustamante M, Chatzi L, Danileviciute A et al. Prenatal and childhood traffic-related air pollution exposure and telomere length in european children: The HELIX Project. Environ Health Perspect. 2019;127(8):87001. DOI: 10.1289/EHP4148

Abstract

Background: Telomere length is a molecular marker of biological aging. Objective: Here we investigated whether early-life exposure to residential air pollution was associated with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) at 8 y of age. Methods: In a multicenter European birth cohort study, HELIX (Human Early Life Exposome) ([Formula: see text]), we estimated prenatal and 1-y childhood exposure to nitrogen dioxide ([Formula: see text]), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]), and proximity to major roads. Average relative LTL was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Effect estimates of the association between LTL and prenatal, 1-y childhood air pollution, and proximity to major roads were calculated using multiple linear mixed models with a random cohort effect and adjusted for relevant covariates. Results: LTL was inversely associated with prenatal and 1-y childhood [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] exposures levels. Each standard deviation (SD) increase in prenatal [Formula: see text] was associated with a [Formula: see text] (95% CI: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) change in LTL. Prenatal [Formula: see text] was nonsignificantly associated with LTL ([Formula: see text] per SD increase; 95% CI: [Formula: see text], 0.6). For each SD increment in 1-y childhood [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] exposure, LTL shortened by [Formula: see text] (95% CI: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) and [Formula: see text] (95% CI: [Formula: see text], 0.1), respectively. Each doubling in residential distance to nearest major road during childhood was associated with a 1.6% (95% CI: 0.02, 3.1) lengthening in LTL. Conclusion: Lower exposures to air pollution during pregnancy and childhood were associated with longer telomeres in European children at 8 y of age. These results suggest that reductions in traffic-related air pollution may promote molecular longevity, as exemplified by telomere length, from early life onward. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP4148.