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Weekly gestational exposure to fine particulate matter and ozone are associated with preterm birth in a state-wide North Carolina cohort from 2006 – 2015
Citation:
Rappazzo, K., J. Warren, AND Tom Luben. Weekly gestational exposure to fine particulate matter and ozone are associated with preterm birth in a state-wide North Carolina cohort from 2006 – 2015. Society for Epidemiologic Research Annual Meeting, NA, Virtual, December 16 - 18, 2020.
Impact/Purpose:
To examine associations between short term air pollution exposure during gestation and preterm birth in a North Carolina cohort
Description:
Adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, are associated with exposure to criteria air pollutants. In this analysis, we examine associations between gestational exposure to particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5) and ozone with preterm birth (less than 37 weeks completed gestation) in a North Carolina (NC) birth cohort from 2006 through 2015 (n=904,909). Residential locations from birth records were geocoded and linked to daily air pollutant concentration estimates provided at the census tract centroids by the EPA’s CMAQ downscaler model and averaged for each week of each individual’s specific pregnancy period. Risk differences (RD) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for exposures at each week of gestation. RDs for PM2.5 exposure were elevated from the null throughout pregnancy (e.g., RD (95%CI) per 10,000 births for a 5 ug/m3 increase in week 8: 49 (42, 57), in week 33: 22 (16, 29)), while RDs for ozone were elevated in early pregnancy and below the null in later pregnancy weeks (e.g., RD for a 10 ppb increase in week 3: 30 (25, 35), in week 31: -4 (-9, 1)). Results of copollutant models were similar to the single pollutant results. Air pollutant exposure is associated with increased risk of preterm birth, however, critical windows of exposure varied by pollutant. The views expressed in this abstract are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.