Preterm birth associated with maternal fine particulate matter exposure: a global, regional and national assessment

Preterm birth associated with maternal fine particulate matter exposure: a global, regional and national assessment [1]

Reduction of preterm births (>37 completed weeks of gestation) would substantially reduce neonatal and infant mortality, and deleterious health effects in survivors. Maternal fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure has been identified as a possible risk factor contributing to preterm birth. The aim of this study was to produce the first estimates of ambient PM2.5-associated preterm births for 183 individual countries and globally. To do this, national, population-weighted, annual average ambient PM2.5 concentration, preterm birth rate and number of livebirths were combined to calculate the number ofPM2.5-associated preterm births in 2010 for 183 countries. Uncertainty was quantified using Monte-Carlo simulations, and analyses were undertaken to investigate the sensitivity of PM2.5-associated preterm birth estimates to assumptions about the shape of the concentration-response function at low and high PM2.5 exposures, inclusion of provider-initiated preterm births, and exposure to indoor air pollution.

Publication Date:

31/01/2017

Author(s): Christopher S. Malley [2], Johan C.I. Kuylenstierna [3], Harry W. Vallack [4], & et al [5]

Source: Environment International [6]

pp:

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