Capobussi, M; Tettamanti, R; Marcolin, L; Piovesan, L; Bronzin, S; Gattoni, ME; Polloni, I; Sabatino, G; Tersalvi, CA; Auxilia, F; Castaldi, S
OBJECTIVE: This retrospective observational study investigates the association between maternal exposure to air pollutants and pregnancy adverse outcomes in low urbanization areas.
METHODS: We used multivariate regression analysis to estimate, in the Como province (2005-2012), the effects of NOx, NO2, SO2, O3, CO, and PM10 on low birth weight (LBW), babies small for gestational age (SGA), and preterm birth (PTB).
RESULTS: PTB was inversely associated with high (5.5 μg/m) exposure to SO2 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.74, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.58-0.95) and to CO (1.8 mg/m, aOR = 0.84, CI = 0.72-0.99). PTB risk increased with second trimester exposure to NOx (118.3 μg/m, aOR = 1.53, CI = 1.25-1.87), while LBW risk increased with third trimester PM10 (56.1 μg/m, aOR = 1.44, CI = 1.03-2.02). SGA was inversely associated with third trimester NOx (115.8 μg/m, aOR = 0.89, CI = 0.79-0.99).
CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to SO2 and CO seems to postpone delivery: a longer gestation could compensate for maternal hypoxemic-hypoxic damage.