Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

Racial/ethnic disparities in preterm birth: clues from environmental exposures

Heather H Burris1, James W Collins, Robert O Wright

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Division of Newborn Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, and Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. heburris@bidmc.harvard.edu

Current Opinion in Pediatrics
|February 9, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Environmental exposures like lead and tobacco smoke are linked to preterm birth, highlighting a need to study these factors to reduce racial disparities in birth outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Reproductive Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Preterm birth and associated racial/ethnic disparities persist as significant public health challenges despite medical advancements.
  • Environmental exposures are increasingly recognized as potential contributors to these disparities in birth outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of environmental exposures in contributing to racial disparities in preterm birth.
  • To identify potential mechanisms underlying preterm birth disparities through the investigation of environmental factors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent studies examining environmental exposures such as lead, air pollution (nitric oxide species), and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).
  • Analysis of research investigating the modification of air pollution effects by socioeconomic status.
  • Evaluation of interventions, like cognitive behavioral therapy, aimed at reducing ETS exposure in pregnant minority women.

Main Results:

  • Lead levels below 10 μg/dl were associated with preterm birth and premature rupture of membranes in Iran.
  • Studies on air pollution yielded mixed results regarding associations with preterm birth, with some showing links (California) and others none (Netherlands).
  • Socioeconomic status was found to modify the association between air pollution and preterm birth in South Korea; an intervention reducing ETS exposure in pregnant minority women led to decreased risk of very preterm birth.

Conclusions:

  • Investigating differences in environmental exposures can provide insights into the mechanisms driving preterm birth disparities.
  • Incorporating environmental variables into birth outcome studies is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
  • Such research efforts can lead to effective strategies for reducing the incidence of preterm birth and its associated disparities.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice04:18

Modeling Ascending Vaginal Infection, Preterm Birth, and Neonatal Morbidity in Mice

Published on: October 10, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Environmental Influences on Intelligence01:29

Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...