Long-term exposure to mould/damp stains and mouldy odour increases low birth weight. (15th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Chan; Xiao, Fang; Norbäck, Dan; Yang, Xu; Zhang, Yinping; Li, Baizhan; Zhao, Zhuohui; Huang, Chen; Zhang, Xin; Qian, Hua; Wang, Juan; Liu, Wei; Sun, Yuexia; Sun, Yu; Fu, Xi; Deng, Qihong
• Is Part Of: Building and environment. Volume 222(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08-15
• Subjects: Low birth weight -- Pregnancy -- Mould -- Indoor environment -- Air pollution -- Temperature; Buildings -- Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Building -- Research -- Periodicals; Constructions -- Technique de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 696
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109418
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-1323

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Low birth weight (LBW), as a major concern in public health, is now increasing worldwide, but its main indoor environmental factors remain unclear. Objective: We examined whether LBW including term-LBW (T-LBW) and preterm-LBW (P-LBW) was associated with maternal exposure to indoor environmental factors, with a purpose to identify the key indoor environmental factor(s) contributing to LBW. Methods: A nationwide retrospective cohort study of 30, 735 pre-schoolers in six Chinese cities was performed from 2010 to 2012. One questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information on the pre-schoolers' birth outcomes and their maternal exposure of indoor environmental factors including new furniture, house redecoration, cooking fuels, mould/damp stains, and mouldy odour during pregnancy. Maternal exposure of traffic-related air pollutant (NO2 ), industrial pollutant (SO2 ), and inhalable particulate matter (PM10 ), as well as meteorological parameters, was estimated in pregnancy. Associations of LBW, T-LBW and P-LBW with indoor environmental factors were evaluated by two-level (city-child) logistic regression models with an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: We found that P-LBW (1.0%) and T-LBW (1.4%) prevalence were respectively associated with persistent mould/damp stains and mouldy odour exposure in utero, ORs = 1.81 (95% CI: 1.01–3.24) and 1.49 (95% CI: 1.01–2.21). Exposure to high temperature and PM2.5 in pregnancy significantly enhanced the effect of persistent mould/damp stains and/or mouldy odour on P-LBW and LBW, ORs (95% CI) = 2.92 (1.40–6.07) and 1.78 (1.00–3.15) with significant interaction p values of 0.067 and 0.094 respectively. Sensitivity analysis suggested that raising cats and dogs significantly increased LBW risk of persistent mould/damp stains and mouldy odour exposure. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that long-term exposure to indoor mould/damp stains and mouldy odour in utero plays a key role in LBW, and this association can be significantly modified by some specific personal, indoor, and outdoor factors. Graphical abstract: Image 1 H I G H L I G H T S: Mould/damp stains exposure was significantly associated with term-low birth weight (LBW). Maternal exposure to residential mouldy odour significantly increased the risk of preterm-LBW. High temperature and PM2.5 enhanced LBW risk of mould/damp stains and mouldy odour. Families with pets were more susceptible to LBW risk of mould/damp stains and mouldy odour. Our study has a new implication for the effective reduction and early prevention of LBW.