1. Air pollution from incinerators and reproductive outcomes: a multisite study.
- Author
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Candela S, Ranzi A, Bonvicini L, Baldacchini F, Marzaroli P, Evangelista A, Luberto F, Carretta E, Angelini P, Sterrantino AF, Broccoli S, Cordioli M, Ancona C, and Forastiere F
- Subjects
- Adult, Air Pollutants analysis, Air Pollution analysis, Databases, Factual, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Small for Gestational Age, Italy epidemiology, Male, Maternal Exposure statistics & numerical data, Multiple Birth Offspring statistics & numerical data, Pregnancy, Premature Birth chemically induced, Sex Ratio, Young Adult, Air Pollutants adverse effects, Air Pollution adverse effects, Incineration, Maternal Exposure adverse effects, Premature Birth epidemiology
- Abstract
Background: The few studies that have investigated the relationship between emissions from municipal solid-waste incinerators and adverse pregnancy outcomes have had conflicting results. We conducted a study to assess the effects of air emissions from the eight incinerators currently in operation in the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy on reproductive outcomes (sex ratio, multiple births, preterm births, and small for gestational age [SGA] births)., Methods: We considered all births (n = 21,517) to women residing within a 4-km radius of an incinerator at the time of delivery during the period 2003-2010 who were successfully linked to the Delivery Certificate database. This source also provided information on maternal characteristics and deliveries. Each newborn was georeferenced and characterized by a specific level of exposure to incinerator emissions, categorized in quintiles of PM10, and other sources of pollution (NOx quartiles), evaluated by means of ADMS-Urban system dispersion models. We ran logistic regression models for each outcome, adjusting for exposure to other pollution sources and maternal covariates., Results: Incinerator pollution was not associated with sex ratio, multiple births, or frequency of SGA. Preterm delivery increased with increasing exposure (test for trend, P < 0.001); for the highest versus the lowest quintile exposure, the odds ratio was 1.30 (95% confidence interval = 1.08-1.57). A similar trend was observed for very preterm babies. Several sensitivity analyses did not alter these results., Conclusions: Maternal exposure to incinerator emissions, even at very low levels, was associated with preterm delivery.
- Published
- 2013
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