Gynecology & Obstetrics Ibrahimou et al., Gynecol Obstet (Sunnyvale) 2014, 4:9 http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2161-0932.1000244 Research Article Open Access Volume 4 • Issue 9 • 1000244 Gynecol Obstet (Sunnyvale) ISSN: 2161-0932 Gynecology, an open access journal Risk of Low Birth Weight and Very Low Birth Weight from Exposure to Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) Speciation Metals during Pregnancy Boubakari Ibrahimou 1,3 *, Hamisu M Salihu 3,4 , Janvier Gasana 1,5 and Hilda Owusu 2 1 Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, FL, USA 2 Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Services, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA 3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, FL, USA 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, FL, USA 5 South Florida Asthma Consortium, 2020 S Andrews Ave, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA Abstract Purpose: To examine the association between maternal exposures to particulate matter speciation metals during pregnancy and the risk of Low Birth Weight (LBW) or Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) in offspring. Methods: This retrospective population-based cohort study involved two linked databases: the Florida birth certiicate records for births for Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties from 2004 to 2007, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) particulate matter speciation data. Exposure values of speciation chemicals for pregnant mothers were allocated based on their residential proximity to monitoring sites. Primary outcomes of interest were LBW and VLBW. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% Conidence Intervals (CI) were computed using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Exposure to particulate matter sodium and aluminum during irst trimester and the entire pregnancy period were associated with the odds of having LBW and VLBW. Exposure to PM 2.5 sodium increased the risk of LBW by more than 35% for both the irst trimester and the entire pregnancy period (OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.19-1.68 and OR=1.35, 95% CI=1.02-1.79 respectively). PM 2.5 sodium exposure was also associated with the risk of VLBW for the entire pregnancy exposure (OR=2.06, 95% CI=1.07-3.96). PM 2.5 aluminum exposure during the whole pregnancy also was associated with an increased the risk of low birth weight (OR=1.08, 95% CI= 1.01-1.15) but not associated with the risk of very low birth weight (OR=1.02, 95% CI= 0.97-1.06). Conclusion: Maternal exposure to PM 2.5 aluminum and sodium during pregnancy increases the risk of both low birth weight and very low birth weight, which suggests a need for further research to be conducted on the health effects of exposure to PM 2.5 speciation metals in general, and aluminum and sodium in particular. *Corresponding author: Boubakari Ibrahimou, Department of Biostatistics, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, AHC2 576A, Miami, FL 33199, USA, Tel: 305 348-7524; Fax: 305 348-4901; E-mail: bbrahim@iu.edu Received February 24, 2014; Accepted September 13, 2014; Published September 20, 2014 Citation: Ibrahimou B, Salihu HM, Gasana J, Owusu H (2014) Risk of Low Birth Weight and Very Low Birth Weight from Exposure to Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) Speciation Metals during Pregnancy. Gynecol Obstet (Sunnyvale) 4: 244. doi:10.4172/2161-0932.1000244 Copyright: © 2014 Ibrahimou B, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Keywords: Low birth weight; Very low birth weight; Normal birth weight; Particulate matter; Metals; Air pollutants; Sodium; Aluminum Introduction Toxicological and epidemiological studies have attempted to establish relationships between measured Particulate Matter (PM) mass and adverse health efects [1]. Exposure to ine particles, less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM 2.5 ) are believed to pose the greatest risk [2]. Rapid industrial development enhances the possibility of occupational and environmental exposure to various air pollutants (including metals and particulate matter) among women, a situation that has been shown to have adverse efects on pregnant mothers [3]. According to Semczuk and Sikora, pollution resulting from industrial products and wastes, increased motorization, and the chemization of agriculture has given rise to an increased amount of toxic metals and air pollutants in the environment [4]. Continuous exposure of pregnant women to small concentrations of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium demonstrate cumulative characteristics, and can result in irreversible disorders in the course of fetal growth and development. Although these heavy metals have been shown to be teratogenic and embryotoxic, the placenta serves as a natural barrier that decreases feto-maternal transmission of some heavy metals [4]. Studies of four counties in Connecticut and Massachusetts found associations between PM 2.5 components of aluminum, elemental carbon, nickel, silicon, vanadium, and zinc and risk of LBW [5]. Increases in air pollutants and subsequent exposure to low-levels of contaminants place expectant mothers at risk for adverse birth outcomes [6]. Negative health efects of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants have been established in studies involving laboratory animals, controlled human exposures, and population-based epidemiologic studies [7-12]. Low Birth Weight (LBW) or infants weighing less than <2500 g and Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) or infants weighing less than <1500 g are major health issues in public health. Epidemiologic studies commencing in the 1990’s to date have shown that exposure to ambient air pollution during the gestational or prenatal period could intensify the risk of Low Birth Weight (LBW), Small-for-Gestational Age (SGA) and preterm infants [10,13-16]. Studies done in diferent geographic regions have reported associations between air pollution and birth outcomes such as LBW, SGA and preterm delivery and increased infant morbidity and mortality [6,17]. Exposure to higher concentrations of Carbon monoxise (CO), Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), Total Suspended Particles (TSP) and PM 10 during the irst trimester to mid pregnancy periods were associated with an increased risk of LBW [9,18]. Several PM 2.5 chemicals such as aluminum, elemental carbon, nickel and titanium were found to be associated with LBW [19]. Darrow et al. found that exposure to various concentrations of air pollutants in the latter stages of pregnancy causes slight decreases in the birth weights of full term infants [11].