Influence of Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Air Pollution on Fetal Growth: A Prospective Study

Meiman Maggie Chen, Chun-Hui Chiu, Chi-Pin Yuan, Yen-Chi Liao and Su-Er Guo
Additional contact information
Meiman Maggie Chen: Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County, Puzi 613016, Taiwan
Chun-Hui Chiu: Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine and Research Center for Food and Cosmetic Safety, Graduate Institute of Health Industry and Technology, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333324, Taiwan
Chi-Pin Yuan: Department of Nursing, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi County, Chiayi 600566, Taiwan
Yen-Chi Liao: Department of Nursing, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi County, Chiayi 600566, Taiwan
Su-Er Guo: Department of Nursing and Graduate Institute of Nursing, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology (CGUST), Chiayi County, Puzi 613016, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-16

Abstract: Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy leads to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Few studies have evaluated the influences of air quality, including environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and particulate matter (PM), on fetal development, which this study examined. This longitudinal correlation study used multiple linear regression data analysis of PM 2.5 /PM 10 , self-reported ETS exposure, urinary cotinine level, maternal characteristics, and birth parameters (gestational week, body weight, body length, head, and chest circumferences) with the effect of air quality on fetal growth. The study included 74 pregnant women (mean age 31.9 ± 4.2 years, body mass index 23.6 ± 3.8 kg/m 2 , average gestational duration 38.5 ± 0.8 weeks). ETS exposure decreased birth length by ≥1 cm, and potentially is an independent risk factor for fetal growth restriction, and pregnant women should avoid indoor and outdoor ETS. However, neither PM 2.5 /PM 10 nor ETS was associated with low birth weight or small for gestational age. This study adds to the evidence base that ETS exposure of nonsmoking pregnant women affects the fetal birth length. Family members should refrain from smoking near expectant mothers, although smoking in the vicinity of their residential surroundings potentially exposes mothers and their fetuses to ETS. Public pollution and childbirth education classes should include details of indoor ETS.

Keywords: environmental tobacco smoke; air pollution; fetal growth; birth length; birth weight (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/15/5319/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/15/5319/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5319-:d:388818

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().