Research

Impact of ambient air pollution on gestational age is modified by season in Sydney, Australia

Bin Jalaludin¹ , Trish Mannes² , Geoffrey Morgan³ , Doug Lincoln⁴ , Vicky Sheppeard⁵ and Stephen Corbett⁶

¹  Centre for Research, Evidence Management and Surveillance, Sydney, Australia and School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

²  NSW Public Health Officer Training Scheme, New South Wales Health Department, Sydney, Australia

³  Northern Rivers Department of Rural Health, Sydney University, Lismore, Australia

⁴  Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Australia

⁵  Environmental Health Branch, New South Wales Health Department, Sydney, Australia

⁶  Centre for Public Health, Sydney, Australia

author email corresponding author email

Environmental Health 2007, 6:16doi:10.1186/1476-069X-6-16

Published:	7 June 2007

Abstract

Background

The effect of individual pollutants and the period(s) during pregnancy when pollutant levels are likely to have most impact on preterm birth is not clear. We evaluated the effect of prenatal exposure to six common urban air pollutants in the Sydney metropolitan area on preterm birth.

Methods

We obtained information on all births in metropolitan Sydney between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2000. For each birth, exposure to each air pollutant was estimated for the first trimester, the three months preceding birth, the first month after the estimated date of conception and the month prior to delivery. Gestational age was analysed as a categorical variable in logistic regression models.

Results

There were 123 840 singleton births in Sydney in 1998–2000 and 4.9% were preterm. Preterm birth was significantly associated with maternal age, maternal smoking, male infant, indigenous status and first pregnancy. Air pollutant levels in the month and three months preceding birth had no significant effect on preterm birth after adjusting for maternal and infant covariates. Ozone levels in the first trimester of pregnancy and spring months of conception and sulphur dioxide were associated with increased risks for preterm births. Nitrogen dioxide was associated with a decreased risk of preterm births.

Conclusion

We found more protective than harmful associations between ambient air pollutants and preterm births with most associations non-significant. In view of these inconsistent associations, it is important to interpret the harmful effects with caution. If our results are confirmed by future studies then it will be imperative to reduce Sydney's already low air pollution levels even further.