Project 466623

Air pollution is among the leading risk factors contributing to mortality around the world. Even relatively low levels of air pollution have been shown to increase respiratory symptoms and morbidities in children. In addition, increasing evidence suggests that the earliest impacts of air pollution occur before birth and that prenatal exposure impacts the developing fetus and increases the risk of morbidities over the entire life course. However, research on the developmental effects of air pollution exposure on respiratory development remains limited. Previous observational studies have failed to accurately assess prenatal exposures and account for residual confounding. Additionally, no studies have tested widely available interventions during pregnancy to improve respiratory health in young children. This study will assess the impact of prenatal air pollution exposure on the development of wheeze in early childhood and the effectiveness of portable air filters (;HEPA cleaners) in reducing those impacts in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, one of the worlds most polluted cities. This study design addresses previous studies limitations while moving beyond the identification of health risks and testing the efficacy of a widely available intervention. If HEPA cleaners are effective at reducing the developmental impacts of air pollution on wheeze, this work could produce knowledge that will improve the health of young children around the world.