Associations among prenatal PM_2.5, birth weight, and renal function

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Reproductive Health
• Nephrology

Background:

• Low birth weight (LBW) is associated with long-term health issues, including neurodevelopmental delays and chronic diseases.
• Prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a known risk factor for LBW.
• The impact of PM2.5 on renal function and its mediating role in LBW remain under-recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between prenatal PM2.5 exposure and birth weight.
• To examine the relationship between prenatal PM2.5 exposure and indicators of renal function.
• To determine the mediating effect of renal function on the PM2.5-birth weight association.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study included 8969 singleton live births (2015-2019).
• Inverse distance weighting estimated average maternal PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy.
• Multiple linear regression and mediation analysis assessed associations and mediated effects.

Main Results:

• Each 10 μg/m³ increase in prenatal PM2.5 was associated with an 8.98 g decrease in birth weight.
• Prenatal PM2.5 exposure correlated with decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN).
• GFR and BUN partially mediated the association between PM2.5 and birth weight (5.02% and 14.96%, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Prenatal PM2.5 exposure is linked to reduced birth weight and impaired renal function.
• Renal function plays a partial mediating role in the adverse effects of PM2.5 on birth weight.
• Mitigation strategies for PM2.5 exposure are crucial to protect maternal and infant health.