Air pollution
PM2.5 and ozone trim North Carolina birth weights
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
Among 457,642 NC births, pregnancy PM2.5 and ozone were linked to slightly lower birth weight and higher SGA odds, while race/SES gaps were much larger.
Study at a glance
- Design
- Cohort — NC birth records linked to census-tract PM2.5 and ozone with mixed models
- N
- N=457642 · 457,642 births after exclusions
- Population
- North Carolina births linked to neighborhood air pollution
- Outcome
- Birth weight, LBW, SGA, and preterm birth related to PM2.5/ozone and social factors
Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.
Key findings
An IQR rise in pregnancy PM2.5 cut birth weight 3.1 g and raised SGA odds (OR 1.03). An IQR of ozone cut 7.4 g and raised SGA (OR 1.04) and LBW (OR 1.06). Non-Hispanic Black infants weighed 187.5 g less than White infants (LBW OR 2.13). Pollution means were similar across race/SES.
Methodology
Authors linked NC birth records to census-tract fused PM2.5 and ozone surfaces and fit mixed models of birth weight, LBW, SGA, and preterm birth with race, education, and neighborhood income.
Limitations
Fused outdoor concentrations ignore indoor time and activity. Pollution effects are tiny versus racial disparities and are not causal at the individual level.
How this study connects
Role on claims
Each row is a claim on a concept or method page where this paper supports, challenges, or qualifies the statement. Roles are hand-checked — not a model guess.
North Carolina birth records linked to census-tract fused PM₂.₅ and ozone found an IQR rise in pregnancy PM₂.₅ cut birth weight 3.1 g and raised SGA odds (OR 1.03); an IQR of ozone cut 7.4 g and raised SGA (OR 1.04) and LBW (OR 1.06). Non-Hispanic Black infants weighed 187.5 g less than White infants (LBW OR 2.13). Pollution means were similar across race/SES — so the racial gap is not explained by assigned outdoor concentrations.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
Assigned 'PM₂.₅' does not predict one health number. North Carolina fused surfaces give a 3.1 g birth-weight decrement per IQR beside a 187.5 g racial gap; Rome's tiny panel finds COPD sensitive to PM₂.₅/metals but asthmatics to NO₂; Canadian MI visits at mean 6.91 μg/m³ are modified by glutathione oxidative potential, not ascorbate OP. Dust days change coarse-PM cardiac effects (9.73% vs 0.86%) with no fine-PM interaction. Mass from a monitor is not a portable toxicity.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
Open questions
Tensions this paper is part of
From concept pages' “where studies disagree.” Disagreement means the same question; scope means different assays, populations, or outcomes.
Assigned 'PM₂.₅' does not predict one health number. North Carolina fused surfaces give a 3.1 g birth-weight decrement per IQR beside a 187.5 g racial gap; Rome's tiny panel finds COPD sensitive to PM₂.₅/metals but asthmatics to NO₂; Canadian MI visits at mean 6.91 μg/m³ are modified by glutathione oxidative potential, not ascorbate OP. Dust days change coarse-PM cardiac effects (9.73% vs 0.86%) with no fine-PM interaction. Mass from a monitor is not a portable toxicity.
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