Ambient fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and term birth weight in New York, New York.
Building on a unique exposure assessment project in New York, New York, we examined the relationship of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm and nitrogen dioxide with birth weight, restricting the population to term births to nonsmokers, along with other restrictions, to isolate the potential impact of air pollution on growth. We included 252,967 births in 2008-2010 identified in vital records, and we assigned exposure at the residential location by using validated models that accounted for spatial and temporal factors. Estimates of association were adjusted for individual and contextual sociodemographic characteristics and season, using linear mixed models to quantify the predicted change in birth weight in grams related to increasing pollution levels. Adjusted estimates for particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm indicated that for each 10-µg/m(3) increase in exposure, birth weights declined by 18.4, 10.5, 29.7, and 48.4 g for exposures in the first, second, and third trimesters and for the total pregnancy, respectively. Adjusted estimates for nitrogen dioxide indicated that for each 10-ppb increase in exposure, birth weights declined by 14.2, 15.9, 18.0, and 18.0 g for exposures in the first, second, and third trimesters and for the total pregnancy, respectively. These results strongly support the association of urban air pollution exposure with reduced fetal growth.
David A
DA
Savitz
Jennifer F
JF
Bobb
Jessie L
JL
Carr
Jane E
JE
Clougherty
Francesca
F
Dominici
Beth
B
Elston
Kazuhiko
K
Ito
Zev
Z
Ross
Michelle
M
Yee
Thomas D
TD
Matte
D001724:Birth Weight; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009519:New York City; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047929:Term Birth
D052638:Particulate Matter; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
air pollution; birth weight; nitrogen dioxide; particulate matter; pregnancy