The Association Between Air Pollution and Low Birth Weight and Preterm Labor in Ahvaz, Iran

Pregnant women and fetuses are sensitive to air pollution due to physiological changes in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between exposure to air pollution, low birth weight and preterm labor in Ahvaz.

This research was a time-series study. The research sample consisted of all data about low birth weight and preterm labor pregnant women from Imam Khomeini Hospital and Razi Hospital in Ahvaz city. Air pollutant data including O₃, NO, NO₂, SO₂, CO, PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 and climate data were collected from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Khuzestan Province during a 10-year period from 2008 to 2018. The generalized additive models (GAMs) with different air pollutant lags up to 6 days were used.

The results of multiple GAM model have shown that there is a direct and significant relationship between exposure to PM₁₀ at 0-6-day lag, SO₂ at 2- and 3-day lag and low birth weight. In addition, there was a direct and significant correlation between exposure to NO₂, NO, CO and PM_2.5 at 0-6-day lag and preterm labor.

The results indicate the effect of air pollutants on low birth weight and preterm labor. Therefore, pregnant women should be informed about the negative consequences of air pollution and avoid exposure to polluted air during pregnancy.