J Korean Med Assoc.  2007 Feb;50(2):183-190. 10.5124/jkma.2007.50.2.183.

Health Effects of Air Pollution on Fetus

• Ha EH
• Kim BM

• KMID: 2137792
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2007.50.2.183

Abstract

In many previous studies for the relationship between air pollution and birth outcome, the exposure was based on the data for environmental monitoring site. We reviewed the epidemiologic studies that evaluated the health effects of air pollution on birth outcome such as low birth weight and preterm births. We identified the air pollution exposure during pregnancy was related with low birth weight and preterm birth, although there are differences between studies for the critical period of vulnerability. also suggests that the indoor and personal exposure to VOCs during pregnancy may contribute the adverse pregnancy outcomes. The biological mechanisms whereby air pollution might influence health of fetus are not clearly established. Controlling for potential confounders and valid assessment of exposure are the problem remained in these epidemiologic studies. In the future, more studies are need to investigate the effect of air pollution on preterm birth or stillbirths, considering the various exposure period, and the biological mechanism. also results should be taken into account for future advisories and evaluation of environmental policy .

Keyword

Air pollution; Fetal health; VOCs; Birth outcome

MeSH Terms

Air Pollution*
Critical Period (Psychology)
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental Policy
Epidemiologic Studies
Female
Fetus*
Humans
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Parturition
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Premature Birth
Stillbirth

Figure

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  Figure 1 Relatianshiop between maternal CO, NO2, SO2, TSP exposure and Birth weight in the first trimester Reference: Epidemiology 2001;12(6):643-648.

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  Figure 2 Relationship between 7th month PM10 exposure and log of hazard ratio Reference: J Prev Med Pub Health 2004;37(4):300-305.

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  Figure 3 Scatter plots of correlation among a 72-hr indoor, outdoor and personal VOC exposure concentration (µg/m3)

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  Figure 4 Gestational age by 90 percentile of VOCs personal exposure

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  Figure 5 Birth weight by 90 percentile of VOCs personal exposure

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  Figure 6 Summary of VOCs study results

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