Air chemicals (VOCs) and early births in Detroit
Epidemiological Study of Volatile Organic Compounds and Preterm Birth in Detroit
This project will follow about 1,100 pregnant people in Detroit to learn whether exposure to common air chemicals like benzene raises the chance of giving birth before 37 weeks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11122296 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will recruit about 1,100 pregnant people receiving care in metropolitan Detroit and follow them through pregnancy and delivery. They will measure individual exposure to VOCs (like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) using environmental data and samples, track markers of maternal inflammation mid-pregnancy, and analyze gene expression in the placenta. A nested case-control approach will compare those who deliver preterm with matched full-term births to identify exposure patterns linked to early birth. Researchers will combine medical records, address/location data, and local VOC contamination information to understand how environmental, medical, and social factors interact to affect preterm birth risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are pregnant people living in or near Detroit who are receiving prenatal care (preferably at Henry Ford Health System) and can enroll early in pregnancy.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, live outside the Detroit area, or are not exposed to VOCs are unlikely to see direct benefits from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to specific environmental exposures and biological pathways that can be targeted to prevent preterm births and inform local public health action.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier studies and the team's prior data have linked BTEX chemicals to higher preterm birth risk and placental changes, but this larger prospective cohort will provide stronger, more direct evidence.
Where this research is happening
Detroit, United States
- Wayne State University — Detroit, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cassidy-Bushrow, Andrea E — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Cassidy-Bushrow, Andrea E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.