The effect of exposure to particulate matter during pregnancy on lower respiratory tract infection hospitalizations during first year of life

Abstract

Abstract Background Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in early life, including pneumonia, bronchitis and bronchiolitis, can lead to decreased lung function, persistent lung damage and increased susceptibility to various respiratory diseases such as asthma. In-utero exposure to particulate matter (PM) during pregnancy may disrupt biological mechanisms that regulate fetal growth, maturation and development. We aimed to estimate the association between intrauterine exposure to PM of size 24 μg/m3) in the first and second trimesters was found to be adversely associated with LRTIs in the Arab-Bedouin population (1st trimester, RR = 1.31, CI 95% 1.08–1.60; 2nd trimester: RR = 1.34, CI 95% 1.09–1.66). Conclusion Intrauterine exposure to high levels of PM2.5 is associated with a higher risk of hospitalizations due to lower respiratory tract infections in Arab-Bedouin infants.

Keywords

• Pneumonia
• Bronchiolitis
• Intrauterine exposure
• PM2.5
• Pregnancy
• Hospitalizations