Dataset Information

Exposure to Ambient Air Pollutant PM₁₀ in the Second Trimester of Pregnancy Is Associated with Preterm Birth: A Birth-Based Health Information Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We evaluated the effects of exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter (PM)₁₀ on preterm birth (PTB) and identified a critical concentration of PM₁₀ that could lead to PTB via a birth-based health information cohort study.

Methods

We conducted a birth-based cohort study consisting of nonanomalous singleton births at 22-42 weeks. PTB was defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnancy period exposure averages were estimated for PM₁₀ based on the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre (CNEMC). Pregnant women who lived within 50 km of the monitor station were recruited into this study. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between PTB and exposure to PM₁₀ at different pregnancy periods with adjustment for confounding factors.

Results

The relative frequency of PTB was 8.7% in the study cohort of 5,291 singleton live births. A total of 1137 women had a high level of PM₁₀ exposure (≥60 μg/m³) in the second trimester of pregnancy. The average concentrations of PM₁₀ in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy and throughout pregnancy were 53.8 μg/m³, 54.2 μg/m³, 55.6 μg/m³, and 54.3 μg/m³, respectively. The generalized additive model (GAM) analysis showed that there was a nonlinear correlation between PM₁₀ and PTB in the second trimester of pregnancy (P < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratio between PTB and low concentration PM₁₀ exposure (PM₁₀ < 60 μg/m³) in the second trimester of pregnancy was 1.01 (95% CI 0.95-1.05). However, high PM₁₀ exposure (PM₁₀ ≥ 60 μg/m³) in the second trimester of pregnancy had an increased PTB risk even after adjustment for coexisting risk factors with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.78 (95% CI 1.69-1.87), and the incidence of PTB increased with an increase in PM₁₀ exposure.

Conclusions

Our research discovered that exposure to high levels of PM₁₀ increases the risk of PTB and the second trimester is the most vulnerable gestational period to ambient air pollution exposure. PM₁₀ concentrations more than 60 μg/m³ are detrimental to pregnant women in their second trimester. This study has implications for health informatics-oriented healthcare decision support systems.

SUBMITTER: Xiao P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9242815 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundEvidence suggests that exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) is associated with reduced birth weight, but information is limited on the sources of PM10 and exposure misclassification from assigning exposures to place of residence at birth.MethodsTrimester and source-specific PM10 exposures (PM10 from road source, local non-road source, and total source) in pregnancy were estimated using dispersion models and a full maternal residential history for 12,020 births from the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children (ALSPAC) cohort in 1990-1992 in the Bristol area. Information on birth outcomes were obtained from birth records. Maternal sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were obtained from questionnaires. We used linear regression models for continuous outcomes (birth weight, head circumference (HC), and birth length (BL) and logistic regression models for binary outcomes (preterm birth (PTB), term low birth weight (TLBW) and small for gestational age (SGA)). Sensitivity analysis was performed using multiple imputation for missing covariate data.ResultsAfter adjustment, interquartile range increases in source specific PM10 from traffic were associated with 17 to 18% increased odds of TLBW in all pregnancy periods. We also found odds of TLBW increased by 40% (OR: 1.40, 95%CI: 1.12, 1.75) and odds of SGA increased by 18% (OR: 1.18, 95%CI: 1.05, 1.32) per IQR (6.54 μg/m3) increase of total PM10 exposure in the third trimester.ConclusionThis study adds to evidence that maternal PM10 exposures affect birth weight, with particular concern in relation to exposures to PM10 from road transport sources; results for total PM10 suggest greatest effect in the third trimester. Effect size estimates relate to exposures in the 1990s and are higher than those for recent studies - this may relate to reduced exposure misclassification through use of full residential history information, changes in air pollution toxicity over time and/or residual confounding.