Impact of exposure to air pollution on cervicovaginal microbial communities.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Vaginal microbial communities can be dominated by anaerobic (community state type IV, CST IV) or Lactobacillus (other CSTs) species. CST IV is a risk factor for spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) and is more common among Black than White populations. In the US, average air pollution exposures are higher among Black compared to White people and exert systemic health effects. We sought to (1) quantify associations of air pollution, specifically particulate matter <2.5 μm in diameter (PM_2.5), with CST IV and (2) explore the extent to which racial disparities in PM_2.5 exposure might explain racial differences in the prevalence of CST IV.

Design

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of 566 participants of the Motherhood & Microbiome study. PM

SUBMITTER: Oyebode IH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10527781 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature