title: Epigenetics-a potential mediator between air pollution and preterm birth.
abstract: Preterm birth is a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality and a potential risk factor for adult chronic disease. With over 15 million infants born preterm worldwide each year, preterm birth poses a global health concern. There is a possible association between air pollution and preterm birth, though studies have been inconsistent, likely due to variation in study design. How air pollution induces health effects is uncertain; however, studies have repeatedly demonstrated the effects of air pollution on epigenetic modifications. More recent evidence suggests that epigenetics may, in turn, be linked to preterm birth. Discovery of environmentally modifiable epigenetic processes connected to preterm birth may help to identify women at risk of preterm birth, and ultimately lead to development of new preterm birth prevention measures.
authors.affiliation: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, 60064 USA; Department of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215 USA.
authors.forename: Vania W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115 USA.
authors.forename: Andrea A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Baccarelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215 USA; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115 USA.
authors.forename: Heather H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Burris
keywords: DNA methylation; air pollution; epigenetics; pregnancy; preterm birth