Maternal Exposure to PM_2.5 and the Risk of Congenital Heart Defects in 1.4 Million Births: A Nationwide Surveillance-Based Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Evidence remains limited about the association of maternal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter (airborne particles with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm [PM_2.5]) with fetal congenital heart defects (CHDs) in highly polluted regions, and few studies have focused on preconception exposure.

Methods

Using a nationwide surveillance-based case-control design in China, we examined the association between maternal exposure to PM_2.5 during periconception (defined as 3 months before conception until 3 months into pregnancy) and risk of CHD in offspring. The study included 1 434 998 births involving 7335 CHDs from 2014 through 2017 on the basis of the National Population-Based Birth Defects Surveillance System, covering 30 provinces, municipaliti

SUBMITTER: Yuan X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9988362 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature