Impacts of High Environmental Temperatures on Congenital Anomalies: A Systematic Review

Marjan Mosalman Haghighi, Caradee Yael Wright, Julian Ayer, Michael F. Urban, Minh Duc Pham, Melanie Boeckmann, Ashtyn Areal, Bianca Wernecke, Callum P. Swift, Matthew Robinson, Robyn S. Hetem, Matthew F. Chersich and Climate Change and Heat-Health Study Group
Additional contact information
Marjan Mosalman Haghighi: The Heart Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2041, Australia
Caradee Yael Wright: Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
Julian Ayer: The Heart Centre for Children, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead 2041, Australia
Michael F. Urban: Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, Parow, Cape Town 7505, South Africa
Minh Duc Pham: Burnet Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia
Melanie Boeckmann: Department of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, 33699 Bielefeld, Germany
Ashtyn Areal: IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine in Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
Bianca Wernecke: Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2094, South Africa
Callum P. Swift: Emergency Department, Tallaght University Hospital, D24 NR04 Dublin, Ireland
Matthew Robinson: Department of Public Health, Health Service Executive, R95 A002 Kilkenny, Ireland
Robyn S. Hetem: School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Matthew F. Chersich: Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa
Climate Change and Heat-Health Study Group: Affiliations for the Climate Change and Heat-Health Study Group, Membership provided in the Appendix A.

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Links between heat exposure and congenital anomalies have not been explored in detail despite animal data and other strands of evidence that indicate such links are likely. We reviewed articles on heat and congenital anomalies from PubMed and Web of Science, screening 14,880 titles and abstracts in duplicate for articles on environmental heat exposure during pregnancy and congenital anomalies. Thirteen studies were included. Most studies were in North America (8) or the Middle East (3). Methodological diversity was considerable, including in temperature measurement, gestational windows of exposure, and range of defects studied. Associations were detected between heat exposure and congenital cardiac anomalies in three of six studies, with point estimates highest for atrial septal defects. Two studies with null findings used self-reported temperature exposures. Hypospadias, congenital cataracts, renal agenesis/hypoplasia, spina bifida, and craniofacial defects were also linked with heat exposure. Effects generally increased with duration and intensity of heat exposure. However, some neural tube defects, gastroschisis, anopthalmia/microphthalmia and congenital hypothyroidism were less frequent at higher temperatures. While findings are heterogenous, the evidence raises important concerns about heat exposure and birth defects. Some heterogeneity may be explained by biases in reproductive epidemiology. Pooled analyses of heat impacts using registers of congenital anomalies are a high priority.

Keywords: birth defects; congenital; climate change; environmental health; heat; neonates; maternal health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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