Particulate matter exposure during pregnancy and birth outcomes: exposure windows of susceptibility and socioeconomic inequalities

We aimed (i) to assess the relationship of pregnancy-average particulate matter (PM) exposure with birthweight, birthweight at term, low birthweight at term, small for gestational age, and preterm birth, (ii) to identify critical windows of susceptibility to PM exposure across pregnancy on birthweight and small for gestational age, and (iii) to assess the presence of socioeconomic inequalities on these associations. We established a population-based, nationwide cohort using the Spanish birth registry between 2004 and 2016 (N = 3,678,445). We estimated daily PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations for the entire pregnancy at the maternal residential address at child's delivery using spatiotemporal land use random-forest models. Linear, logistic, and distributed lag linear models were used for the different analysis. All models were stratified by maternal educational level and area-level deprivation index. Mean PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations during pregnancy were 25.1 and 12.7 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, respectively. Higher pregnancy-average PM<sub>10</sub> concentrations were associated with lower birthweight and increased odds of preterm birth (-7.1 g [95%CI -8.5; -5.7] and OR 1.04 [95%CI 1.02; 1.05], respectively, per 10 µg/m<sup>3</sup> increase in PM<sub>10</sub>). Similar results were found for PM<sub>2.5</sub>, in particular for levels above 10 µg/m<sup>3</sup>. These associations were stronger in infants born to mothers with lower education, particularly when combined with residence in more deprived areas. We observed some windows of susceptibility to PM<sub>10</sub> for birthweight, mainly in the third trimester of pregnancy, with a similar pattern across socioeconomic levels. We did not observe windows of susceptibility to PM<sub>2.5</sub>. Structural policies to reduce exposure to current PM levels in pregnant women and socioeconomic inequalities are needed.

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Journal
European Journal of Epidemiology
Published
2025-07-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-025-01274-1
Primary Topic
Air Quality and Health Impacts
Type
article
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article

Particulate matter exposure during pregnancy and birth outcomes: exposure windows of susceptibility and socioeconomic inequalities

Carmen Freire, Rebeca Ramis, Aitana Lertxundi, Èlia Díez et al.
European Journal of Epidemiology
Air Quality and Health Impacts
article

Particulate matter exposure during pregnancy and birth outcomes: exposure windows of susceptibility and socioeconomic inequalities

Carmen Freire, Rebeca Ramis, Aitana Lertxundi, Èlia Díez, Marc Marí-Dell’Olmo, Carmen Iñiguez, Massimo Stafoggia, Anne-Claire Binter, Marcelle V. Canto, Antònia Valentín, Mònica Guxens, Sami Petricola, Ana Fernández‐Somoano, Anna García‐Altés, María José López, Núria Botella
article en

Abstract

We aimed (i) to assess the relationship of pregnancy-average particulate matter (PM) exposure with birthweight, birthweight at term, low birthweight at term, small for gestational age, and preterm birth, (ii) to identify critical windows of susceptibility to PM exposure across pregnancy on birthweight and small for gestational age, and (iii) to assess the presence of socioeconomic inequalities on these associations. We established a population-based, nationwide cohort using the Spanish birth registry between 2004 and 2016 (N = 3,678,445). We estimated daily PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations for the entire pregnancy at the maternal residential address at child's delivery using spatiotemporal land use random-forest models. Linear, logistic, and distributed lag linear models were used for the different analysis. All models were stratified by maternal educational level and area-level deprivation index. Mean PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> concentrations during pregnancy were 25.1 and 12.7 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, respectively. Higher pregnancy-average PM<sub>10</sub> concentrations were associated with lower birthweight and increased odds of preterm birth (-7.1 g [95%CI -8.5; -5.7] and OR 1.04 [95%CI 1.02; 1.05], respectively, per 10 µg/m<sup>3</sup> increase in PM<sub>10</sub>). Similar results were found for PM<sub>2.5</sub>, in particular for levels above 10 µg/m<sup>3</sup>. These associations were stronger in infants born to mothers with lower education, particularly when combined with residence in more deprived areas. We observed some windows of susceptibility to PM<sub>10</sub> for birthweight, mainly in the third trimester of pregnancy, with a similar pattern across socioeconomic levels. We did not observe windows of susceptibility to PM<sub>2.5</sub>. Structural policies to reduce exposure to current PM levels in pregnant women and socioeconomic inequalities are needed.

European Journal of EpidemiologyVol. 40(9)
Universitat de València (ES), University of the Basque Country (ES), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES), Universidad de Granada (ES), Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (ES), Gobierno del Principado de Asturias (ES), Basque Government (ES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES), Hospital de Sant Pau (ES), Erasmus MC (NL), Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (ES), Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute (ES), Centro Nacional de Epidemiología (ES), Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ES), Agència de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitàries de Catalunya (ES), Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ES), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (ES), Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 3 (IT), Agencia de Salud Pública de Barcelona (ES), Institut de Recerca Sant Pau (ES), Erasmus University Rotterdam (NL)
Health Effects Institute, Centres de Recerca de Catalunya, Generalitat de Catalunya, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
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Air Quality and Health Impacts
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