Associations of residential greenspace exposure and fetal growth across four areas in Spain. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Torres Toda, Maria; Estarlich, Marisa; Ballester, Ferran; De Castro, Montserrat; Fernández-Somoano, Ana; Ibarluzea, Jesús; Iñiguez, Carmen; Lertxundi, Aitana; Subiza-Perez, Mikel; Sunyer, Jordi; Tardón, Adonina; Foraster, Maria; Dadvand, Payam
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 78(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Natural environments -- Fetal development -- Ultrasound measurements -- Pregnancy -- Greenness exposure; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102912
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: An accumulating body of evidence has associated exposure to greenspace with improved birth outcomes, including higher birth weight and lower risk of low birth weight; however, evidence on such association with in-utero fetal growth is scarce. We explored the influence of maternal exposure to residential greenspace and fetal growth in four INMA (Infancia y Medio Ambiente) Spanish birth cohorts (2003–2008), with 2, 465 participants. Residential greenspace was characterised by the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) average across 100 m, 300 m, and 500 m buffers around the residence. Repeated ultrasound measurements of the abdominal circumference (AC), biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), and estimated fetal weight (EFW) were used. We created customised-generalised least squares models to evaluate associations of residential greenspace exposure on each fetal growth parameter, controlled for the relevant confounders. There were associations between the 500 m buffer and BPD, FL, and AC. We also found associations in the 300 m buffer and FL and AC. The associations in the 100 m buffer were null. Estimates were higher among participants with lower socioeconomic status. Mediation analyses found that air pollution might explain 15–37% of our associations. Mediation by physical activity was not observed. Greenspace exposure may be beneficial for fetal growth. Highlights: Repeated data on ultrasound parameters were analysed in four Spanish birth cohorts. More greenspace exposure at home in larger buffers may be beneficial for fetal growth.