Exposure to chemical components of fine particulate matter and ozone, and placenta-mediated pregnancy complications in Tokyo: a register-based study

Takehiro Michikawa,Seiichi Morokuma,Akinori Takami,Shin Yamazaki,Junya Hoshi,Yuji Nishiwaki,Ayako Yoshino,Hiroshi Nitta,Kazushige Nakahara,Seiji Sugata,Kiyoko Kato,Yuki Takeda,Shinji Saito

doi:10.1038/s41370-021-00299-4

Abstract

BackgroundMaternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was associated with pregnancy complications. However, we still lack comprehensive evidence regarding which specific chemical components of PM2.5 are more harmful for maternal and foetal health.ObjectiveWe focused on exposure over the first trimester (0–13 weeks of gestation), which includes the early placentation period, and investigated whether PM2.5 and its components were associated with placenta-mediated pregnancy complications (combined outcome of small for gestational age, preeclampsia, placental abruption, and stillbirth).MethodsFrom 2013 to 2015, we obtained information, from the Japan Perinatal Registry Network database, on 83,454 women who delivered singleton infants within 23 Tokyo wards (≈627 km2). Using daily filter sampling of PM2.5 at one monitoring location, we analysed carbon and ion components, and assigned the first trimester average of the respective pollutant concentrations to each woman.ResultsThe ORs of placenta-mediated pregnancy complications were 1.14 (95% CI = 1.08–1.22) per 0.51 μg/m3 (interquartile range) increase of organic carbon and 1.11 (1.03–1.18) per 0.06 μg/m3 increase of sodium. Organic carbon was also associated with four individual complications. There was no association between ozone and outcome.SignificanceThere were specific components of PM2.5 that have adverse effects on maternal and foetal health.

Highlights

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the ambient atmosphere has adverse health effects across all generations [1]
In the analysis of singleton pregnant women in Tokyo between 2013 and 2015, exposure to total PM2.5 was not associated with placenta-mediated pregnancy complications
After adjustment for total PM2.5, we found that exposure to total carbon was positively associated with placentamediated pregnancy complications

Summary

Introduction

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the ambient atmosphere has adverse health effects across all generations [1]. Maternal exposure to PM2.5 appears to have harmful effects on the generation; for example, PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy was associated with foetal growth restriction that resulted in the birth of small for gestational age (SGA) children [6, 7], and was linked to the occurrence of stillbirths [8]. The accumulating findings suggest that total PM2.5 (general mixture) influences maternal and foetal health, we still lack comprehensive evidence regarding which specific chemical components of PM2.5 are more harmful for their health [9]. We still lack comprehensive evidence regarding which specific chemical components of PM2.5 are more harmful for maternal and foetal health

Methods

Results

Conclusion