title: Prenatal Exposure to NO2 and Ultrasound Measures of Fetal Growth in the Spanish INMA Cohort.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Air pollution exposure during pregnancy has been associated with impaired fetal growth. However, few studies have measured fetal biometry longitudinally, remaining unclear as to whether there are windows of special vulnerability.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to investigate the impact of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) exposure on fetal and neonatal biometry in the Spanish INMA study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), abdominal circumference (AC), and estimated fetal weight (EFW) were evaluated for up to 2,478 fetuses in each trimester of pregnancy. Size at 12, 20, and 34 weeks of gestation and growth between these points, as well as anthropometry at birth, were assessed by SD scores derived using cohort-specific growth curves. Temporally adjusted land-use regression was used to estimate exposure to NO2 at home addresses for up to 2,415 fetuses. Associations were investigated by linear regression in each cohort and subsequent meta-analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 10-μg/m(3) increase in average exposure to NO2 during weeks 0-12 was associated with reduced growth at weeks 0-12 in AC (-2.1%; 95% CI: -3.7, -0.6) and EFW (-1.6%; 95% CI: -3.0, -0.3). The same exposure was inversely associated with reduced growth at weeks 20-34 in BPD (-2.6%; 95% CI: -3.9, -1.2), AC (-1.8%; 95% CI: -3.3, -0.2), and EFW (-2.1%; 95% CI: -3.7, -0.2). A less consistent pattern of association was observed for FL. The negative association of this exposure with BPD and EFW was significantly stronger in smoking versus nonsmoking mothers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal exposure to NO2 in early pregnancy was associated with reduced fetal growth based on ultrasound measures of growth during pregnancy and measures of size at birth.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iñiguez
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esplugues
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sunyer
authors.forename: Mikel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basterrechea
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Somoano
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Estarlich
authors.forename: Inmaculada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aguilera
authors.forename: Aitana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lertxundi
authors.forename: Adonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tardón
authors.forename: Mònica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guxens
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murcia
authors.forename: Maria-Jose
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lopez-Espinosa
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballester
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D000886:Anthropometry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013030:Spain; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide