Using Satellite-Based Spatiotemporal Resolved Air Temperature Exposure to Study the Association between Ambient Air Temperature and Birth Outcomes in Massachusetts

• Published in: Environmental health perspectives Vol. 123; no. 10; p. 1053
• Main Authors: Kloog, Itai, Melly, Steven J, Coull, Brent A, Nordio, Francesco, Schwartz, Joel D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 01.10.2015; NLM-Export
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Air pollution; Air temperature; Ambient temperature; Bias; Birth; Birth Weight; Birth weight, Low; Children's Health; Density; Emissions; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Monitoring; Exposure; Female; Gestational Age; Health; Health aspects; Heat; Humans; Humidity; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Infants (Premature); Land use; Male; Massachusetts - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Outdoor air quality; Particulate matter; Pregnancy; Pregnant women; Premature birth; Premature Birth - epidemiology; Premature Birth - etiology; Public health; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomics; Stations; Tantalum; Temperature; Windows (intervals); Young Adult; Massachusetts; Iran; USA, Massachusetts
• ISSN: 0091-6765; 1552-9924
• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1308075

Studies looking at air temperature (Ta) and birth outcomes are rare. We investigated the association between birth outcomes and daily Ta during various prenatal exposure periods in Massachusetts (USA) using both traditional Ta stations and modeled addresses. We evaluated birth outcomes and average daily Ta during various prenatal exposure periods in Massachusetts (USA) using both traditional Ta stations and modeled address Ta. We used linear and logistic mixed models and accelerated failure time models to estimate associations between Ta and the following outcomes among live births > 22 weeks: term birth weight (≥ 37 weeks), low birth weight (LBW; < 2,500 g at term), gestational age, and preterm delivery (PT; < 37 weeks). Models were adjusted for individual-level socioeconomic status, traffic density, particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5), random intercept for census tract, and mother's health. Predicted Ta during multiple time windows before birth was negatively associated with birth weight: Average birth weight was 16.7 g lower (95% CI: -29.7, -3.7) in association with an interquartile range increase (8.4 °C) in Ta during the last trimester. Ta over the entire pregnancy was positively associated with PT [odds ratio (OR) = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.05] and LBW (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.13). Ta during pregnancy was associated with lower birth weight and shorter gestational age in our study population.