Fine Particulates, Preterm Birth, and Membrane Rupture in Rochester, NY

Epidemiology. 2016 Jan;27(1):66-73. doi: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000366.

Abstract

Background: It remains unclear whether fine particulate (PM2.5) exposure affects risk of preterm birth and prelabor rupture of membranes. Unmeasured, poorly measured, and undiscovered individual-level confounders might have introduced bias into past studies that relied on between-women comparisons.

Methods: This was a longitudinal study of preterm birth and prelabor rupture of membranes in Rochester, NY, 2004-2012 (N = 3,264 women, N = 7,121 singleton births). We used conditional logistic regression to match pregnancies to the same woman and estimate the odds of each outcome associated with average PM2.5 concentrations during each trimester and whole pregnancy.

Results: For preterm birth, adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for 1 μg/m increase in PM2.5 in the first trimester, second trimester, third trimester, and whole pregnancy were 1.11 (1.04, 1.18), 1.09 (1.02, 1.16), 1.06 (1.00, 1.13), and 1.17 (1.07, 1.28), respectively. For prelabor rupture of membranes, corresponding odds ratios were 1.00 (0.97, 1.04), 0.99 (0.96, 1.02), 0.99 (0.96, 1.03), and 0.99 (0.94, 1.04), respectively.

Conclusion: Risk of preterm birth was greater for pregnancies with elevated PM2.5 exposure than other pregnancies to the same women at lower exposure. We did not observe an association between PM2.5 concentrations and prelabor rupture of membranes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Air Pollutants / analysis
  • Air Pollutants / toxicity*
  • Air Pollution / adverse effects*
  • Air Pollution / analysis
  • Air Pollution / statistics & numerical data
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis
  • Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • New York
  • Odds Ratio
  • Particulate Matter / analysis
  • Particulate Matter / toxicity*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimesters
  • Premature Birth / etiology*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Particulate Matter