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. 2022 Mar;204(Pt B):112087.
doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112087. Epub 2021 Sep 22.

Associations of perinatal exposure to PM2.5 with gestational weight gain and offspring birth weight

Zengjing Liu  1 , Adam A Szpiro  2 , Tsegaselassie Workalemahu  3 , Michael T Young  4 , Joel D Kaufman  4 , Daniel A Enquobahrie  5
Affiliations
Free PMC article

Associations of perinatal exposure to PM2.5 with gestational weight gain and offspring birth weight

Zengjing Liu et al. Environ Res. 2022 Mar.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Background: PM2.5 have been associated with weight change in animal models and non-pregnant populations. Evidence of associations between PM2.5 and gestational weight gain (GWG), an important determinant of course and outcomes of pregnancy, and subsequent birth outcomes is limited.

Methods: The study was conducted among a subset of participants from the Omega Study, a prospective pregnancy cohort. Exposure to PM2.5 (μg/m3) was ascertained for participants (N = 855) based on their residential address using a validated national spatiotemporal model. Adjusted multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate associations of trimester-specific and pregnancy-month PM2.5 exposures with early (<20 weeks gestation), late (≥20 weeks gestation), and total GWG and infant birth weight. Stratified models and product terms were used to examine whether pre-pregnancy BMI (ppBMI) and infant sex modified the associations.

Results: Average monthly PM2.5 exposure during the first, second, and third trimesters were 7.3 μg/m3, 7.9 μg/m3, and 7.7 μg/m3, respectively. Higher third trimester PM2.5 exposure was associated with higher late (0.40 kg per 5 μg/m (McDowell et al., 2018); 95%CI: 0.12, 0.67) and total (0.35 kg; 95%CI: 0.01, 0.70) GWG among participants with normal ppBMI. Higher second month PM2.5 exposure was associated with lower early (-0.70 kg; 95%CI: 1.22, -0.18), late (-0.84 kg; 95% CI: 1.54, -0.14), and total (-1.70 kg; 95%CI: 2.57, -0.82) GWG among participants with overweight/obese ppBMI. Product terms between PM2.5 and ppBMI were significant for second month PM2.5 exposure and early (p-value = 0.01) and total GWG (p-value<0.01). Higher third trimester PM2.5 exposure was associated with higher birth weight, though higher fourth month PM2.5 exposure was associated with lower birth weight, particularly among those with normal ppBMI and male infants.

Conclusions: Associations of PM2.5 with GWG vary by exposure window and ppBMI, while associations of PM2.5 with birth weight potentially vary by exposure window, ppBMI and infant sex. Further exploration of associations between PM2.5 and maternal/child health outcomes are needed.

Keywords: Air pollution; Birth outcomes; Epidemiology; Particulate matter; Pregnancy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Associations between trimester-specific PM2.5 exposure with early, late, and total gestational weight gain (kg) by pre-pregnancy body mass index*
*Adjusted for maternal age, race, maternal education, parity, smoking status, calendar year, and season **Early gestational weight gain is the difference between weight at 20 weeks gestation and pre-pregnancy weight; Late gestational weight gain is the difference between last weight before delivery and weight at 20 weeks ***P-value for interaction by pre-pregnancy body mass index < 0.05
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Associations between monthly PM2.5 exposure with early, late, and total gestational weight gain (kg) by pre-pregnancy body mass index*
*Adjusted for maternal age, race, maternal education, parity, smoking status, calendar year, and season **Early gestational weight gain is the difference between weight at 20 weeks gestation and pre-pregnancy weight; Late gestational weight gain is the difference between last weight before delivery and weight at 20 weeks ***P-value for interaction by pre-pregnancy body mass index < 0.05
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Associations between trimester-specific PM2.5 exposure with birth weight (g) by pre-pregnancy body mass index and infant sex*
*Adjusted for maternal age, race, maternal education, parity, smoking status, calendar year, and season
Figure 4.
Figure 4.. Associations between monthly PM2.5 exposure with birth weight (g) by pre-pregnancy body mass index and infant sex*
*Adjusted for maternal age, race, maternal education, parity, smoking status, calendar year, and season
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