title: Air Pollution and the Risk of Birth Defects in Anqing City, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore evidence for the influence of air pollution on the risk of birth defects in China and contribute to establish prevention strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective cohort study in Anqing city, Eastern China, from 2010 to 2012. Binary logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) per 10 μg/m3 change for SO2, NO2, and PM10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For continuous exposure to SO2 (10 μg/m increase), the adjusted OR for birth defects is 1.20 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.09 to 1.29] in the preconception. A 10 μg/m increase in SO2 (adjusted OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.36) during the second trimester is strongly associated with birth defects. No associations have been observed for NO2 and PM10.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that exposure to ambient SO2 during pregnancy may increase the risk of birth defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental (Yao, Chen, Zhu, Liu, JZhang, Hou, Xu, CZhang, Cao), and The Teaching Center for Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, China (Cao).
authors.forename: Cijiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Yachun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002947:Cities / Q000453:epidemiology; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide; D016017:Odds Ratio; D052638:Particulate Matter; D047489:Preconception Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D013458:Sulfur Dioxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide