Document Detail


Particulate air pollution and fetal health: a systematic review of the epidemiologic evidence.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  14712145     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Research on the potential impact of air pollution on the health of adults and children has grown rapidly over the last decade. Recent studies have suggested that air pollution could also be associated with adverse effects on the developing fetus. This systematic review evaluates the current level of epidemiologic evidence on the association between ambient particulate air pollution and fetal health outcomes. We also suggest further research questions. METHODS: Using database searches and other approaches, we identified relevant publications published between 1966 and 2001 in English. Articles were included if they reported original data on birthweight, gestational age at delivery, or stillbirth related to directly measured nonaccidental exposure to particulate matter. RESULTS: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. There was little consistency in the evidence linking particulate air pollution and fetal outcomes. Many studies had methodologic weaknesses in their design and adjustment for confounding factors. Even in well-designed studies, the reported magnitude of the effects was small and inconsistently associated with exposure at specific stages of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The currently available evidence is compatible with either a small adverse effect of particulate air pollution on fetal growth and duration of pregnancy or with no effect. Further research should be directed toward clarifying and quantifying these possible effects and generating testable hypotheses on plausible biologic mechanisms.
Authors:
Svetlana V Glinianaia; Judith Rankin; Ruth Bell; Tanja Pless-Mulloli; Denise Howel
Related Documents :
6751135 - Thiocyanate and drinking during pregnancy.
20729565 - Drinking alcohol during pregnancy: evidence from canadian community health survey 2007/...
8486115 - The effect of moderate maternal alcohol consumption on birth weight and gestational age...
2508175 - Self-reported exposure to pesticides and radiation related to pregnancy outcome--result...
1564725 - Treatment of unruptured ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate.
7246075 - Persistance of ampicillin in the intrauterine content following single and multiple dos...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.)     Volume:  15     ISSN:  1044-3983     ISO Abbreviation:  Epidemiology     Publication Date:  2004 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-01-08     Completed Date:  2004-03-23     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9009644     Medline TA:  Epidemiology     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  36-45     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
School of Population and Health Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kigndom. svetlana.glinianaia@ncl.ac.uk
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Air Pollutants / adverse effects*
Embryonic and Fetal Development
Epidemiologic Studies
Female
Fetal Growth Retardation / etiology*
Humans
Infant Welfare*
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Maternal Exposure*
Obstetric Labor, Premature
Particle Size
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology*
Risk Assessment
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Air Pollutants

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Small-for-gestational-age births in the United States: an age-period-cohort analysis.
Next Document:  Ambient air pollution and cardiovascular emergency department visits.