Increased risk of preterm delivery in women residing near thermal power plants in Taiwan.
In this article, the researchers studied the prevalence of preterm births for women living near thermal power plants. The prevalence of delivery of preterm birth infants was significantly higher among women living within 3 km of a thermal power plant than among women living within 3-4 km of a plant. After controlling for several possible confounders (including maternal age, season, marital status, maternal education, infant gender, and birth site), the adjusted odds ratio was 1.14 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.30) for delivery of preterm infants for women living close to the thermal power plants. These data provide further support for the hypothesis that air pollution can affect the outcome of pregnancy, although a semiecological study cannot confirm a direct causal relationship.
Tsai
Shang-Shyue
SS
Department of Healthcare Administration, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Yu
Hsin-Su
HS
Chang
Chih-Ching
CC
Chuang
Hung-Yi
HY
Yang
Chun-Yuh
CY
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011210:Power Plants; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D013624:Taiwan
D000393:Air Pollutants