Residential proximity to traffic and adverse birth outcomes in Los Angeles county, California, 1994-1996.

Abstract

We reported previously that increases in ambient air pollution in the Los Angeles basin increased the risk of low weight and premature birth. However, ambient concentrations measured at monitoring stations may not take into account differential exposure to pollutants found in elevated concentrations near heavy-traffic roadways. Therefore, we used an epidemiologic case-control study design to examine whether residential proximity to heavy-traffic roadways influenced the occurrence of low birth weight (LBW) and/or preterm birth in Los Angeles County between 1994 and 1996. We mapped subject home locations at birth and estimated exposure to traffic-related air pollution using a distance-weighted traffic density (DWTD) measure. This measure takes into account residential proximity to and level of traffic on roadways surrounding homes. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and risk ratios (RRs) for being LBW and/or preterm per quintile of DWTD. The clearest exposure-response pattern was observed for preterm birth, with an RR of 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.15] for infants in the highest DWTD quintile. Although higher risks were observed for LBW infants, exposure-response relations were less consistent. Examining the influence of season, we found elevated risks primarily for women whose third trimester fell during fall/winter months (OR(term LBW) = 1.39; 95% CI, 1.16-1.67; OR(preterm and LBW) = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.03-1.48; RR(all preterm) = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.05-1.26), and exposure-response relations were stronger for all outcomes. This result is consistent with elevated pollution in proximity to sources during more stagnant air conditions present in winter months. Our previous research and these latest results suggest exposure to traffic-related pollutants may be important.

Cited by papers we hold 14

• Gestational Diabetes and Preeclampsia in Association with Air Pollution at Levels below Current Air Quality Guidelines · 2013
  No notice
• Air pollution exposure during pregnancy and reduced birth size: a prospective birth cohort study in Valencia, Spain · 2010
  No notice
• Ambient air pollution exposure and full-term birth weight in California · 2010
  No notice
• Healthy Neighborhoods: Walkability and Air Pollution · 2009
  No notice
• Association between Local Traffic-Generated Air Pollution and Preeclampsia and Preterm Delivery in the South Coast Air Basin of California · 2009
  No notice
• Meeting Report: Atmospheric Pollution and Human Reproduction · 2008
  No notice
• Prenatal Exposure to Airborne Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Risk of Intrauterine Growth Restriction · 2008
  No notice
• A Cohort Study of Traffic-Related Air Pollution Impacts on Birth Outcomes · 2008
  No notice
• Ambient Air Pollution and Low Birth Weight in Connecticut and Massachusetts · 2007
  No notice
• Traffic-Related Atmospheric Pollutants Levels during Pregnancy and Offspring’s Term Birth Weight: A Study Relying on a Land-Use Regression Exposure Model · 2007
  No notice
• The Environmental “Riskscape” and Social Inequality: Implications for Explaining Maternal and Child Health Disparities · 2006
  No notice
• Ambient Air Pollution and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Review of the Literature · 2005
  No notice
• Local Variations in CO and Particulate Air Pollution and Adverse Birth Outcomes in Los Angeles County, California, USA · 2005
  No notice
• The Effects of the World Trade Center Event on Birth Outcomes among Term Deliveries at Three Lower Manhattan Hospitals · 2004
  No notice

Reads

A person counts once a day per paper. We keep no cookie and no address: a reader is a hash that changes every day. Any month under five reads shows no number.