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Air pollution and low birth weight in an industrialized city in Southeastern Brazil, 2003-2006

Marcelo Moreno Dos Reis1,2, Mariana Tavares Guimarães1, Alfésio Luís Ferreira Braga1,3

  • 1Laboratory of Experimental Atmospheric Pollution, Pathology Department, School of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.

Revista Brasileira De Epidemiologia = Brazilian Journal of Epidemiology
|August 24, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Air pollution, specifically PM10 and ozone (O3), is linked to an increased risk of low birth weight (LBW) in newborns. Exposure during pregnancy, even below Brazilian air quality standards, poses risks to fetal development.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Reproductive Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Birth weight is a critical indicator of infant health and long-term well-being.
  • Air pollution exposure during pregnancy is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for adverse birth outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal exposure to air pollutants and low birth weight (LBW) in Volta Redonda, Brazil.
  • To quantify the risk of LBW associated with specific air pollutants (PM10 and O3) during different trimesters of pregnancy.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study utilizing birth data from the Brazilian Information System (2003-2006).
  • Maternal exposure to O3, PM10, temperature, and humidity assessed using data from the Governmental Air Quality Monitoring System.
  • Statistical models (Linear and Logistic) adjusted for multiple covariates including maternal and infant characteristics, and weather variables.

Main Results:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) accounted for 9.1% of 13,660 newborns.
  • Increased exposure to PM10 in the second and third trimesters was associated with higher odds of LBW (OR=1.06).
  • Ozone (O3) exposure in the second and third trimesters also increased LBW odds (OR=1.03) and was linked to a 31.11g reduction in birth weight in the third trimester.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal exposure to PM10 and O3, even below established air quality standards, increases the risk of low birth weight.
  • Findings highlight the need for stricter air quality regulations to protect fetal health.
  • This study underscores the importance of monitoring and mitigating air pollution for improved pregnancy outcomes.
Abstract

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