title: Effects of fine particulate matter and its constituents on low birth weight among full-term infants in California.
abstract: Relationships between prenatal exposure to fine particles (PM2.5) and birth weight have been observed previously. Few studies have investigated specific constituents of PM2.5, which may identify sources and major contributors of risk. We examined the effects of trimester and full gestational prenatal exposures to PM2.5 mass and 23 PM2.5 constituents on birth weight among 646,296 term births in California between 2000 and 2006. We used linear and logistic regression models to assess associations between exposures and birth weight and risk of low birth weight (LBW; <2500g), respectively. Models were adjusted for individual demographic characteristics, apparent temperature, month and year of birth, region, and socioeconomic indicators. Higher full gestational exposures to PM2.5 mass and several PM2.5 constituents were significantly associated with reductions in term birth weight. The largest reductions in birth weight were associated with exposure to vanadium, sulfur, sulfate, iron, elemental carbon, titanium, manganese, bromine, ammonium, zinc, and copper. Several of these PM2.5 constituents were associated with increased risk of term LBW. Reductions in birth weight were generally larger among younger mothers and varied by race/ethnicity. Exposure to specific constituents of PM2.5, especially traffic-related particles, sulfur constituents, and metals, were associated with decreased birth weight in California.
authors.affiliation: California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Air Pollution Epidemiology Section, Oakland, CA, USA. Electronic address: Rupa.Basu@oehha.ca.gov.
authors.forename: Rupa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lillian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sie
authors.affiliation: California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Air Pollution Epidemiology Section, Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malig
authors.affiliation: California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Air Pollution Epidemiology Section, Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Broadwin
authors.affiliation: California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Air Pollution Epidemiology Section, Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Rochelle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002140:California; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: California; Constituents; Full-term infants; Low birth weight; Particulate matter; Retrospective cohort