Title
Air pollution exposure during pregnancy, ultrasound measures of fetal growth, and adverse birth outcomes: A prospective cohort study
Author
van den Hooven, E.H.
Pierik, F.H.
de Kluizenaar, Y.
Willemsen, S.P.
Hofman, A.
van Ratingen, S.W.
Zandveld, P.Y.J.
Mackenbach, J.P.
Steegers, E.A.P.
Miedema, H.M.E.
Jaddoe, V.W.V.
Publication year
2012
Abstract
Background: Air pollution exposure during pregnancy might have trimester-specific effects on fetal growth. Objective: We prospectively evaluated the associations of maternal air pollution exposure with fetal growth characteristics and adverse birth outcomes in 7,772 subjects in the Netherlands. Methods: Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter < 10 μm (PM 10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) levels were estimated using dispersion modeling at the home address. Fetal head circumference, length, and weight were estimated in each trimester by ultrasound. Information on birth outcomes was obtained from medical records. Results: In cross-sectional analyses, NO 2 levels were inversely associated with fetal femur length in the second and third trimester, and PM 10 and NO 2 levels both were associated with smaller fetal head circumference in the third trimester [-0.18 mm, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.24, -0.12 mm; and -0.12 mm, 95% CI: -0.17, -0.06 mm per 1-μg/m 3 increase in PM 10 and NO 2, respectively]. Average PM 10 and NO 2 levels during pregnancy were not associated with head circumference and length at birth or neonatally, but were inversely associated with birth weight (-3.6 g, 95% CI: -6.7, -0.4 g; and -3.4 g, 95% CI: -6.2, -0.6 g, respectively). Longitudinal analyses showed similar patterns for head circumference and weight, but no associations with length. The third and fourth quartiles of PM 10 exposure were associated with preterm birth [odds ratio (OR) = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.89; and OR = 1.32; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.79, relative to the first quartile]. The third quartile of PM10 exposure, but not the fourth, was associated with small size for gestational age at birth (SGA) (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.90). No consistent associations were observed for NO 2 levels and adverse birth outcomes. Conclusions: Results suggest that maternal air pollution exposure is inversely associated with fetal growth during the second and third trimester and with weight at birth. PM10 exposure was positively associated with preterm birth and SGA.
Subject
Earth & Environment
UES - Urban Environment & Safety
EELS - Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences
Health Environment
Energy / Geological Survey Netherlands
Air pollution
Birth weight
Dispersion modeling
Fetal growth
Intrauterine growth restriction
Nitrogen dioxide
Particulate matter
Pregnancy
Preterm birth
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:d888678e-c390-4752-ad71-6c849152743d
TNO identifier
445986
ISSN
0091-6765
Source
Environmental Health Perspectives, 120 (1), 150-156
Document type
article