Project 5: Human Population Study
Epidemiological study of volatile organic compounds and preterm birth in Detroit
Rationale/Goal
Preterm birth (PTB), birth <37 weeks of gestation, has immediate and life-long health consequences for affected offspring, including increased risk of infant mortality and chronic disease. Despite decades of efforts to prevent PTB, the US, and Detroit in particular, has staggeringly high rates of PTB (10.2% and 15.2%, respectively). Detroit now has the highest PTB rate in the US. The goal of this study is to examine if exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is associated with higher PTB risk. Further, we will examine if these associations are mediated through changes in placental function and inflammation, and will also identify potential sources of exposure to VOCs.
Methods
To achieve our goals, we will leverage the rich clinical resources of Henry Ford Health (HFH) in metropolitan Detroit, MI to establish a prospective birth cohort by cost-effectively recruiting and following ~1,100 pregnant women. Within this cohort, we will conduct a nested case-control study of PTB (cases and controls 1:1 frequency matched on infant sex and maternal race). VOC metabolites will be measured in maternal urine samples over pregnancy, inflammation will be measured in maternal blood samples over pregnancy, and we will measure epigenetic and transcriptional changes in the placenta.
Expected Outcomes
Project 5 will advance the CLEAR mission by providing estimates of the associations of VOCs with PTB in an urban environment. This work may lead to new interventions to reduce PTB. Working in tandem with the community engagement core and engineering research projects, we will enhance our understanding of sources of residential VOC exposures, thus opening the door to new interventions for mitigating exposures. Mechanistic insights into the factors driving the relationship between VOCs and PTB will be enhanced through collaborations with the biomedical projects. Finally, cross-project collaborations will ensure that the other CLEAR projects use concentrations and combinations of VOCs biologically relevant to humans.
Project 5 Research Team
 | Andrea Cassidy Bushrow, Ph.D. Senior Scientist (Epidemiology), Public Health Services Henry Ford Health System Professor (Research), Pediatrics, Michigan State University Co-Investigator, Project 5, CLEAR |
 | Jennifer Straughen, Ph.D. Associate Scientist, Public Health Services Henry Ford Health System Co-Investigator, Project 5, CLEAR |