ESTIMATED RISK FOR ALTERED FOETAL GROWTH RESULTING FROM EXPOSURE TO FINE PARTICLES DURING PREGNANCY. AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY IN POLAND

Abstract

ISEE-415 Aim: The purpose of the study was to estimate exposure of pregnant women in Poland to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and to assess its effect on birth outcomes. Methods: The cohort consisted of 362 pregnant women who gave birth between 34–43 weeks of gestation. The enrolment included only non-smoking women with singleton pregnancies, of age 18–35 years, who were free from chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The measurements of PM2.5 were carried out by personal air monitoring over 48 hours during the second trimester of pregnancy. All assessed birth effects were adjusted in multiple linear regression models, for potential confounding factors such as the size of mother (maternal height, pre-pregnancy weight), parity, gender of child, gestational age, season of birth and ETS. Results: The regression model explained 35% of the variability in birth weight and the beta regression coefficient for PM2.5 and birth length was significant (beta= –200.8, p=0.03), but the effect of ETS was insignificant. A similar model for birth length explained 27% of variability and the beta coefficient for birth length and PM2.5 was also significant (beta= −1.44, p=0.01). Regression analysis for head circumference (HC) explained less variability than the models for weight and length at birth, but the effect of PM2.5 on HC was statistically significant (beta = –0.73, p=0.02). The newborns of mothers exposed to higher exposure levels of fine particles (above median=36.3 μg/m3) showed lower birth weight by 128.3 g, shorter length at birth by 0.9 cm, and reduction in head circumference by 0.3 cm.