Journal Article

Exposure to chemical components of fine particulate matter and ozone, and placenta-mediated pregnancy complications in Tokyo: a register-based study

Takami Akinori, Morokuma Seiichi, Takeda Yuki, Sugata Seiji, Nishiwaki Yuji, Nitta, Hiroshi, Yamazaki, Shin, Nakahara Kazushige, Hoshi Junya, Michikawa Takehiro, Yoshino Ayako, Saito Shinji, Kato Kiyoko

2022

Overview

BackgroundMaternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was associated with pregnancy complications. However, we still lack comprehensive evidence regarding which specific chemical components of PM2.5 are more harmful for maternal and foetal health.ObjectiveWe focused on exposure over the first trimester (0–13 weeks of gestation), which includes the early placentation period, and investigated whether PM2.5 and its components were associated with placenta-mediated pregnancy complications (combined outcome of small for gestational age, preeclampsia, placental abruption, and stillbirth).MethodsFrom 2013 to 2015, we obtained information, from the Japan Perinatal Registry Network database, on 83,454 women who delivered singleton infants within 23 Tokyo wards (≈627 km2). Using daily filter sampling of PM2.5 at one monitoring location, we analysed carbon and ion components, and assigned the first trimester average of the respective pollutant concentrations to each woman.ResultsThe ORs of placenta-mediated pregnancy complications were 1.14 (95% CI = 1.08–1.22) per 0.51 μg/m3 (interquartile range) increase of organic carbon and 1.11 (1.03–1.18) per 0.06 μg/m3 increase of sodium. Organic carbon was also associated with four individual complications. There was no association between ozone and outcome.SignificanceThere were specific components of PM2.5 that have adverse effects on maternal and foetal health.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Carbon / Exposure / Organic carbon / Ozone / Particulate matter / Placenta / Pollutants / Pre-eclampsia / Pregnancy / Pregnancy complications / Small for gestational age