Ambient Fine Particulate Matter, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Term Birth Weight in New York City

Background The growing volume of studies addressing the association between air pollution and pregnancy outcomes remains inconclusive due to methodologic limitations. Using a unique community air pollution survey in New York City, we addressed this question with improved exposure assessment, a large number of births, freedom from confounding by socioeconomic status, and refined analytic methods. Aims We assessed the relationship between exposure to ambient pollutants, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and a term birth weight, considering trimester-specific and aggregate pregnancy exposure. Methods We included 252,967 singleton, term births to non-smokers, without congenital malformations, with known address, with birth dates in the years 2008-2010 restricted to avoid fixed cohort bias. Data from the New York City Community Air Survey were used to estimate exposure for all two week periods at all residences based on a network of 150 monitors. We examined term birth weight (37-42 w...