Maternal benzene exposure and low birth weight risk in the United States: A natural experiment in gasoline reformulation

Zahran, Sammy; Weiler, Stephan; Mielke, Howard W.; Pena, Anita Alves

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2011.11.008

Cited by 32 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Air pollution is well known to affect perinatal outcomes [ 13 , 23 – 24 , 42 ], and a meta-analysis of 62 studies recently pointed to particulate matter, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide [ 43 ]. Potential UGD derived air pollutants that are known to be associated with low birth weight include diesel exhaust [ 43 ], heavy metals [ 21 – 22 , 44 ], benzene [ 45 ] and other volatile organic compounds [ 46 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perinatal Outcomes and Unconventional Natural Gas Operations in Southwest Pennsylvania

et al. 2015

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Unconventional gas drilling (UGD) has enabled extraordinarily rapid growth in the extraction of natural gas. Despite frequently expressed public concern, human health studies have not kept pace. We investigated the association of proximity to UGD in the Marcellus Shale formation and perinatal outcomes in a retrospective cohort study of 15,451 live births in Southwest Pennsylvania from 2007–2010. Mothers were categorized into exposure quartiles based on inverse distance weighted (IDW) well count; least exposed mothers (first quartile) had an IDW well count less than 0.87 wells per mile, while the most exposed (fourth quartile) had 6.00 wells or greater per mile. Multivariate linear (birth weight) or logistical (small for gestational age (SGA) and prematurity) regression analyses, accounting for differences in maternal and child risk factors, were performed. There was no significant association of proximity and density of UGD with prematurity. Comparison of the most to least exposed, however, revealed lower birth weight (3323 ± 558 vs 3344 ± 544 g) and a higher incidence of SGA (6.5 vs 4.8%, respectively; odds ratio: 1.34; 95% confidence interval: 1.10–1.63). While the clinical significance of the differences in birth weight among the exposure groups is unclear, the present findings further emphasize the need for larger studies, in regio-specific fashion, with more precise characterization of exposure over an extended period of time to evaluate the potential public health significance of UGD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perinatal Outcomes and Unconventional Natural Gas Operations in Southwest Pennsylvania

et al. 2015

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“…Effects of benzene on human health, including on fetal development, have been widely studied. Prenatal exposure to low environmental levels of benzene or a mixture of organic solvents has been associated with reduced birth weight (Aguilera et al, 2009;Chen et al, 2000;Ha et al, 2002;Slama et al, 2009;Zahran et al, 2012), increased risk of childhood leukemia (Carlos- Wallace et al, 2016;Whitworth et al, 2008;Zhou et al, 2014) and birth defects such as cleft palate and spina bifida (Lupo et al, 2011;Tanner et al, 2015). In utero exposure to high concentrations of toluene was also associated with growth retardation, preterm birth (Wilkinshaug and Gabow, 1991), spontaneous abortion and reduced fertility (Bukowski, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gestational exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Northeastern British Columbia, Canada: A pilot study

Caron-Beaudoin

Valter

Chevrier

et al. 2018

Environment International

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“…We recently reported higher median concentrations of one benzene metabolite (trans, trans-muconic acid) and several trace metals (e.g., barium, aluminum, strontium, and manganese) in a pilot study of 29 pregnant women in Northeastern British Columbia compared to reference populations [11,12]. Exposure to trace metals, low levels of volatile organic compounds and/or poor indoor air quality has been associated with reduced birthweight [32][33][34][35][36][37][38] and increased risk of preterm birth [33,[39][40][41][42][43][44].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Density and proximity to hydraulic fracturing wells and birth outcomes in Northeastern British Columbia, Canada

Caron-Beaudoin

Whitworth

Bosson-Rieutort

et al. 2020

J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol

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Background Hydraulic fracturing, a method used in Northeastern British Columbia (Canada) to extract natural gas, can release contaminants with potential deleterious health effects on fetal development. To date, the association between hydraulic fracturing activity and birth outcomes has not been evaluated in this region. Objective To evaluate the association between the hydraulic fracturing well density/proximity and birth outcomes (birthweight, head circumference, preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA)). Methods We used birth records from the Fort St John hospital between December 30, 2006 and December 29, 2016 (n = 6333 births). To estimate gestational exposure, we used inverse distance weighting (IDW) to calculate the density/proximity of hydraulic fracturing wells to pregnant women's postal code centroid. For each birth, we calculated three IDWs using 2.5, 5, and 10 km buffer zones around women's postal code centroid. We used linear and logistic regressions to evaluate associations between quartiles of postal code well density/proximity and birth outcomes, controlling for relevant covariates. Results No associations were found between postal code well density/proximity and head circumference or SGA. A negative association was found between postal code well density/proximity and birthweight for infants born to women in the 2nd quartile of the 10 km buffer (β [95% confidence interval (CI)]: −47.28 g [−84.30; −10.25]), and in the 2nd (β [95% CI]: −40.87 g [−78.01; −3.73]) and 3rd (β [95% CI]: −42.01 g [−79.15; −4.87]) quartiles of the 5 km buffer. Increased odds of preterm birth were observed among women in the 2nd quartile of the 2.5 km buffer (odds ratio (OR) [95% CI]: 1.60 [1.30; 2.43]). Conclusions This is the first epidemiological study in Northeastern British Columbia evaluating associations between hydraulic fracturing and health outcomes. Our results show inconsistent patterns of association between hydraulic fracturing, preterm birth and reduced birthweight, and effect estimates did not match expected dose-response relationships.

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Maternal benzene exposure and low birth weight risk in the United States: A natural experiment in gasoline reformulation

Cited by 32 publications

References 29 publications

Perinatal Outcomes and Unconventional Natural Gas Operations in Southwest Pennsylvania

Perinatal Outcomes and Unconventional Natural Gas Operations in Southwest Pennsylvania

Gestational exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Northeastern British Columbia, Canada: A pilot study

Density and proximity to hydraulic fracturing wells and birth outcomes in Northeastern British Columbia, Canada

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