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Maternal Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution and Birth Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Peter Franklin

    (School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia)

  • Mark Tan

    (School of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
    Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia)

  • Naomi Hemy

    (Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia)

  • Graham L. Hall

    (Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
    School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia)

Abstract

There is a growing body of research on the association between ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes. However, people in high income countries spend most of their time indoors. Pregnant women spend much of that time at home. The aim of this study was to investigate if indoor air pollutants were associated with poor birth outcomes. Pregnant women were recruited prior to 18 weeks gestation. They completed a housing questionnaire and household chemical use survey. Indoor pollutants, formaldehyde (HCHO), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), were monitored in the women’s homes at 34 weeks gestation. Gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW) and length (BL) and head circumference (HC) were collected from birth records. The associations between measured pollutants, and pollution surrogates, were analysed using general linear models, controlling for maternal age, parity, maternal health, and season of birth. Only HCHO was associated with any of the birth outcomes. There was a 0.044 decrease in BW z-score ( p = 0.033) and 0.05 decrease in HC z-score ( p = 0.06) for each unit increase in HCHO. Although HCHO concentrations were very low, this finding is consistent with other studies of formaldehyde and poor birth outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Franklin & Mark Tan & Naomi Hemy & Graham L. Hall, 2019. "Maternal Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution and Birth Outcomes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:8:p:1364-:d:223184
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Evridiki Patelarou & Frank J. Kelly, 2014. "Indoor Exposure and Adverse Birth Outcomes Related to Fetal Growth, Miscarriage and Prematurity—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-30, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Guanglai & Yu, Yanni, 2023. "Preventing a new baby: Impact of air pollution on fertility intention," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    2. Meiman Maggie Chen & Chun-Hui Chiu & Chi-Pin Yuan & Yen-Chi Liao & Su-Er Guo, 2020. "Influence of Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Air Pollution on Fetal Growth: A Prospective Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-16, July.

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