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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · AJP Rep 2025; 15(01): e18-e24
DOI: 10.1055/a-2528-3588
Original Article

Living Near Wildfires and the Risk of Fetal Congenital Heart Defects: Evaluating Critical Windows of Vulnerability

Bo Y. Park
1   Department of Public Health, California State University – Fullerton, Fullerton, California
,
Kriti Vedhanayagam
2   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
,
Jared Ortiz-Luis
1   Department of Public Health, California State University – Fullerton, Fullerton, California
,
Rupa Basu
3   Cal EPA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Oakland, California
,
Ciprian P. Gheorghe
2   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
,
Shravya Govindappagari
2   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
,
Ray Abinader
2   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
,
Ruofan Yao 
2   Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
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Abstract

Background Wildfires produce air pollutants that have been associated with complications during pregnancy. This study examined the association between wildfire exposure before and during pregnancy and the odds of congenital heart defect (CHD) in the offspring.

Methods This retrospective cohort study used the California Linked Birth File and the Forestry and Fire Protection data between 2007 and 2010. Patients living within 15 miles of wildfire during pregnancy were considered exposed. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between wildfire exposure by these various exposure metrics and atrial septal defect (ASD) or ventricular septal defect (VSD) types of CHD compared to pregnancies without wildfire exposure.

Results Compared to births without wildfire exposure, those with first-, second-, and third-trimester exposure were associated with a higher risk of ASD with a first-trimester adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.11 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–1.18), second-trimester aOR of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.07–1.18), and third-trimester aOR of 1.08 (95% CI: 1.02–1.14). Wildfire exposure during the critical window of fetal heart development (weeks 3–8) was associated with aOR of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.02–1.23).

Conclusion Wildfire exposure during pregnancy appears to increase the risk of developing ASD.

Key points

  • Wildfire exposure during critical periods in pregnancy are associated with congenital cardiac malformation.

  • Pre-pregnancy exposure to wildfire is not associated with increased risk of congenital cardiac malformation.

  • Pregnant individuals should avoid wildfire exposure.

Keywords

wildfire - congenital heart defect - pregnancy - air pollution

Patient Consent

This was a population-based database; patient consent was not required. The study was approved by California State University – Fullerton Institutional Review Board (IRB# HSR-19-20-548).




Publication History

Received: 17 October 2024

Accepted: 27 November 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
29 January 2025

Article published online:
13 February 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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