(PTFS16-03-26) Association Between Prenatal PM₁₀ Exposure and Breast Milk Protein Concentrations

Monday, July 27, 2026

12:38 PM - 12:42 PM ET

Location: Prince George's Hall B-E (The Hub) - Poster Theater 2 / Poster Board Number: PT2-3

Presenting Author(s)

Dev Ram Sunuwar, MS

PhD Candidate
University of Michigan
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, United States

Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

Aria Grabowski, MPH, RD (she/her/hers)

PhD Student
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
AJ

Andrew D. Jones, PhD

Associate Professor
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
MR

Martha Maria Tellez Rojo, PhD, MSc

Senior Researcher
Centro de Investigación de Salud Poblacional, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública
Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
WH

Wei Hao, BS

PhD Candidate
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
HS

Haijing Sun

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
JG

Jaclyn M. Goodrich

University of Michigan
Ann arbor, Michigan, United States
BG

Brigid Gregg

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
KP

Karen E. Peterson, DSc

Professor and Chair
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Disclosure(s):

Dev Ram Sunuwar, MS: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between maternal prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution (PM₁₀) and alterations in human milk proteins, including αS1-casein, α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and of insulin.

Methods: We analyzed 49 human milk samples collected at one month postpartum from women in the Early Life Exposure in Mexico to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) cohort. Hourly PM₁₀ data were obtained from 14 monitoring stations of the Mexico City Atmospheric Monitoring System (SIMAT). Citywide daily average PM₁₀ concentrations were used to estimate trimester-specific exposures. Log-transformed trimester-specific PM₁₀ values were summed. Concentrations of key bioactive milk proteins: αS1-casein, , α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and of insulin were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) optimized for use with milk. Unadjusted and adjusted multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the associations.

Results: The mean (SD) concentrations in human milk were 934.46 (467.13) mg/100 mL for αS1-casein, 23.52 (3.96) mg/100 mL for α-lactalbumin, 10.41 (11.26) mg/100 mL for lactoferrin, and 14.71 (14.09) mg/100 mL for insulin. In the unadjusted model, an interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM₁₀ exposure was associated with a 1.33 mg/100 mL increase in αS1-casein concentration (95% CI: 1.08–1.65; p = 0.01). After adjusting for maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking status, education, and dietary inflammatory index (DII), the IQR increase in PM₁₀ exposure was associated with a 1.31 mg/100 mL increase in αS1-casein levels (95% CI: 1.04–1.65; p = 0.03). There were no statistically significant associations observed for, α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and insulin.

Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to PM₁₀ was significantly associated with higher αS1-casein concentrations in human milk no consistent associations were observed for other proteins. Given the pilot study, larger studies are needed to confirm these associations and better understand their potential implications for infant health.

Funding Sources: NIEHS