# Maternal Exposure to Air Pollution and Early Pregnancy Outcomes

> **NIH NIH R00** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $237,663

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Exposure to air pollution in the general population is universal. Similarly, pregnancy loss is an all too common
outcome affecting up to 75% of fertilized ova and 30% of recognized pregnancies. Emerging human data
suggest that air pollution negatively affects early pregnancy outcomes, particularly early pregnancy loss;
however the evidence is limited and the specific mechanisms and time window of susceptibility still remain to
be determined. To date there are also few strategies to counteract or minimize the adverse health
consequences of air pollution. Identifying potential dietary factors that could ameliorate the negative
reproductive effects of air pollution would be of great public health significance as these exposures tend to be
easier to directly modify than personal exposure to air pollution. Using validated spatial-temporal regression
models of air pollution exposure, validated dietary questionnaires, personal air pollution monitors, and novel
metabolomics biomarkers, this K99/R00 award application will determine the extent to which air pollution and
its specific constituents affect fecundity, the potential for diet to modify these associations, and the possible
mechanisms of action using a cohort of women undergoing in vitro fertilization in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr.
Audrey Gaskins will be mentored by Dr. Francine Laden, an expert in environmental epidemiology, and Dr.
Jorge Chavarro, a leader in nutrition and reproductive epidemiology. The applicant will also collaborate closely
with Drs. Joel Schwartz, Brent Coull, Russ Hauser, and Chirag Patel to further her expertise in environmental
epidemiology. During the K99 phase of the award, Dr. Gaskins will build on her expertise in nutritional and
reproductive epidemiology and will be trained in air pollution exposure assessment using validated models to
predict ambient exposure and air pollution monitors to measure continuous personal exposure. Dr. Gaskins will
also receive training in the analysis of “-omic” data in anticipation of the R00 phase where prospectively
collected blood samples will be used to identify novel early effect markers of air pollution using metabolomics.
Findings from the research proposed in this application may inform public health strategies to prevent early
pregnancy loss, the most common adverse pregnancy outcome, while increasing our understanding of the
mechanisms by which air pollution affects early pregnancy endpoints. All of this will be possible through the
use of a novel study population, women undergoing in vitro fertilization where many early developmental
measures can be observed and novel biomarkers can be assessed through metabolomics. The outstanding
training opportunities in research areas such as air pollution and metabolomics with key leaders in the field will
greatly enhance the skills and capabilities of the candidate and position her for a successful and independent
career as an environmental and reproductive epidemi...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10094056
- **Project number:** 5R00ES026648-05
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Audrey Jane Gaskins
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $237,663
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-15 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10094056

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10094056, Maternal Exposure to Air Pollution and Early Pregnancy Outcomes (5R00ES026648-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10094056. Licensed CC0.

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