Exposure of Particulate Matters PM10 and PM2.5 to Pregnant Ladies during First Trimester and its Impact on Adverse Birth Outcomes in Delhi, India

Abstract:

The incessant exposure to criteria air pollutants at different level of concentrations is associated with adverse birth outcomes. The present study advocates the importance of the early period of pregnancy (first trimester) for association between growth in term of small gestational age (SGA) and birth weight (BW) with PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ for megacity Delhi. The association of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 average concentration, SGA, pre term birth (PTB) and lower birth weight (LBW < 2500g or 5.5 pounds) outcomes have been investigated among 1749 live births in a large hospital during the year 2012 New Delhi, India. The air pollutants PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ have been used in single pollutant logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (OR) for these outcomes. Growth in term of SGA is associated with PM_2.5 levels (OR = 0.99, confidence interval (CI) = 0.99 – 1.0) and PM₁₀ levels (OR= 0.99, CI= 0.99 – 1.001) in the first trimester of pregnancy. Birth weight outcome in terms of lower birth weight (LBW) has been found to be significantly associated with PM_2.5 (OR= 0.99, CI = 0.98 – 1.00) exposure in the first trimester. A very significant decrease of 0.1% has been observed in growth of infant in terms of SGA with per 10 mg/m³ increase in PM_2.5. Also, 0.1 % statistically significant adverse association of BW in terms of LBW has been found with per 10 mg/m³  increased vulnerability of PM_2.5 during first trimester of gestation.