Maternal exposure to air pollutants and low birth weight

Abstract

The effects of air pollution on pregnancy outcomes have been considered in some studies. Between these outcomes is low birth weight. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between maternal exposure to air pollutants and low birth weight in Ribeirão Preto – SP (Brazil), in the years 2009 and 2010. This ecological study with data on all births to mothers resident in Ribeirão Preto in 2009 and 2010. This information was obtained from SINASC. The prevalence of low birth weight were estimated according to the characteristics of the newborn, mother and childbirth. The pollutants studied were PM₁₀, O₃, NO₂ and NO. To identify the risk of low birth weight the generalized additive model Poisson regression with a lag of 30, 60 and 90 days considering data accumulated and all pollutants analyzed together. No association between maternal exposure to air pollutants and LBW were found requiring further studies for this identification. The fact that he could not identify the role of exposure and low birth weight may be due to good practice in the care of pregnant women in prenatal care.