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

Journal article

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.

Authors: Parkes, B; Hansell, A; Ghosh, R; Douglas, P; Fecht, D

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Journal: Environment International
• Volume: 134
• Article number: 104845
• Publication date: 2019-06-20
• Acceptance date: 2019-05-14
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.05.039
• EISSN: 1873-6750
• ISSN: 0160-4120
• Pmid: 31230843
• Language: English
• Keywords: environment; municipal waste incinerator; epidemiology; congenital anomalies