title: Low-level exposure to air pollution and risk of adverse birth outcomes in Hillsborough County, Florida.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this retrospective cohort (1998 to 2007), 145,445 singleton live births in Hillsborough, Florida, were analyzed to elucidate the relationship between fetal morbidity and prenatal exposure to six criteria air pollutants.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was based on three linked databases: Florida Hospital Discharge, vital statistics records, and air pollution meteorological data from the Environmental Protection Agency. The primary outcomes of interest were low birth weight, preterm births, and small for gestational age. This study used structural equation modeling and trimester groupings to evaluate the relationship between air pollution and birth outcomes of pregnant residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The latent variables of structural equation modeling yielded a significant B value of 0.35, indicating that exposure to the criteria pollutants in pregnancy may have a significant relationship to fetal morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to criteria air pollutants in pregnancy is associated with fetal morbidity outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Environmental Medicine Residency, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. mainolfi_maria@guthrie.org
authors.forename: Maria B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mainolfi
authors.forename: Hamisu M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Salihu
authors.forename: Roneé E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Alfred K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mbah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D007854:Lead; D010126:Ozone; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide