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Ambient air pollution and low birthweight: A European cohort study (ESCAPE)

Pedersen, Marie
; 
Giorgis-Allemand, Lise
; 
Bernanrd, Claire
; 
Aguilera, Immaculada
; 
Andersen, Anne-Marie Nybo
; 
Ballester, Ferran
; 
Beelen, Rob
; 
Chatzi, Leda
; 
Cirach, Marta
; 
Danileviciute, Asta
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Author
Pedersen, Marie
Giorgis-Allemand, Lise
Bernanrd, Claire
Aguilera, Immaculada
Andersen, Anne-Marie Nybo
Ballester, Ferran
Beelen, Rob
Chatzi, Leda
Cirach, Marta
Danileviciute, Asta
Dedele, Audrius
van Eijsden, Manon
Estarlich, Marisa
Fernandez-Somoano, Ana
Fernandez, Mariana F.
Forastiere, Francesco
Gehring, Ulrike
Grazuleviciene, Regina
Gruzieva, Olena
Heude, Barbara
Hoek, Gerard
de Hoogh, Kees
van den Hooven, Edith H.
Haberg, Siri E.
Jaddoe, Vincent W. V.
Klumper, Claudia
Korek, Michal
Kramer, Ursula
Lerchundi, Aitana
Lepuele, Johanna
Nafstad, Per
Nystad, Wenche
Patelarou, Evridiki
Porta, Daniela
Postma, Dirkje
Raaschou-Nielsen, Ole
Rudnai, Peter
Sunyer, Jordi
Stephanou, Euripides
Sorensen, Mette
Thiering, Elisabeth
Tuffnell, Derek
Varro, Mihaly J.
Vrijkotte, Tanja
Wijga, Alet
Wilhelm, Michael
Wright, John
Nieuwenhuijsen, Mark
Pershagen, Goran
Brunekreef, Bert
Kogevinas, Manolis
Slama, Remy
Abstract
Background Ambient air pollution has been associated with restricted fetal growth, which is linked with adverse respiratory health in childhood. We assessed the effect of maternal exposure to low concentrations of ambient air pollution on birthweight. Methods We pooled data from 14 population-based mother–child cohort studies in 12 European countries. Overall, the study population included 74 178 women who had singleton deliveries between Feb 11, 1994, and June 2, 2011, and for whom information about infant birthweight, gestational age, and sex was available. The primary outcome of interest was low birthweight at term (weight gestation). Mean concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2·5 μm (PM2·5), less than 10 μm (PM10), and between 2·5 μm and 10 μm during pregnancy were estimated at maternal home addresses with temporally adjusted land-use regression models, as was PM2·5 absorbance and concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides. We also investigated traffic density on the nearest road and total traffic load. We calculated pooled effect estimates with random-effects models. Findings A 5 μg/m3 increase in concentration of PM2·5 during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of low birthweight at term (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1·18, 95% CI 1·06–1·33). An increased risk was also recorded for pregnancy concentrations lower than the present European Union annual PM2·5 limit of 25 μg/m3 (OR for 5 μg/m3 increase in participants exposed to concentrations of less than 20 μg/m3 1·41, 95% CI 1·20–1·65). PM10 (OR for 10 μg/m3 increase 1·16, 95% CI 1·00–1·35), NO2 (OR for 10 μg/m3 increase 1·09, 1·00–1·19), and traffic density on nearest street (OR for increase of 5000 vehicles per day 1·06, 1·01–1·11) were also associated with increased risk of low birthweight at term. The population attributable risk estimated for a reduction in PM2·5 concentration to 10 μg/m3 during pregnancy corresponded to a decrease of 22% (95% CI 8–33%) in cases of low birthweight at term. Interpretation Exposure to ambient air pollutants and traffic during pregnancy is associated with restricted fetal growth. A substantial proportion of cases of low birthweight at term could be prevented in Europe if urban air pollution was reduced.
Keywords
Date
2013
Type
Journal article
Journal
The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
Book
Volume
1
Issue
9
Page Range
695-704
Article Number
ACU Department
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
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URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14802/24724
Relation URI
DOI
10.1016/S2213-2600(13)70192-9
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