Population-attributable risk of low birthweight related to PM10 pollution in seven Korean cities.
To understand the preventable fraction of low birthweight (LBW) deliveries due to maternal exposure to air pollution during pregnancy in Korea, it is important to quantify the population-attributable risk (PAR). Thus, we investigated the association between maternal exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and LBW, and calculated the PAR for air pollution and LBW in seven Korean cities. We used birth records from the Korean National Birth Register for 2004. A geographic information system and kriging methods were used to construct exposure models. Associations between air pollution and LBW were evaluated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression, and the PAR for LBW due to air pollution was calculated. Of 177 660 full-term singleton births, 1.4% were LBW. When only spatial variation of air pollution was considered in each city, the adjusted odds ratios unit of particulate matter <10 microm in diameter (PM(10)) for LBW were 1.08 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99, 1.18] in Seoul, 1.24 [95% CI 1.02, 1.52] in Pusan, 1.19 [95% CI 1.04, 1.37] in Daegu, 1.12 [95% CI 0.98, 1.28] in Incheon, 1.22 [95% CI 0.98, 1.52] in Kwangju, 1.05 [95% CI 1.00, 1.11] in Daejeon and 1.19 [95% CI 1.03, 1.38] in Ulsan. The PARs for LBW attributable to maternal PM(10) exposure during pregnancy were 7%, 19%, 16%, 11%, 18%, 5% and 16% respectively. Because a large proportion of pregnant women in Korea are exposed to PM(10)--which is associated with LBW--a substantial proportion of LBW could be prevented in Korea if air pollution was reduced.
Seo
Ju-Hee
JH
Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Medical Research Center, Ewha Womens University, Seoul, South Korea.
Leem
Jong-Han
JH
Ha
Eun-Hee
EH
Kim
Ok-Jin
OJ
Kim
Byung-Mi
BM
Lee
Ji-Young
JY
Park
Hye-Sook
HS
Kim
Hwan-Cheol
HC
Hong
Yun-Chul
YC
Kim
Young-Ju
YJ
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity; D014504:Urban Health
D000393:Air Pollutants; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009569:Nitric Oxide