Air pollutants associated with insufficient to birth weight

Abstract

Studies show that children born underweight (birth weight between 2,500 g 2.999g) have higher risks than those born with adequate weight. There are two to three times more likely to die, there is a greater chance for infectious diseases to respiratory infections and delayed growth and development, and a greater possibility of chronic diseases in the future. Among the numerous risk factors for underweight at birth, several have been investigated, but little attention was paid to air pollutants. Air pollution may not be the most damaging factor against pregnancy and the fetus, but its importance derives from its ability to reach large numbers of people at the same time, in other words, it is not a risk factor only for the individual. The objective of this research is to evaluate the effect of air pollution on birth weight, more specifically, insufficient birth weight of newborns in the city of Sao Jose dos Campos. It is a longitudinal study with data on all babies born to mothers residing in that city in the years 2006 to 2010. This information will be obtained from the Information System on live births (SINASC) through the Statement of Live Birth (DN). The pollutants studied are PM10, SO2, and O3 which are quantified by measuring the Companhia Technology for Environmental Sanitation (CETESB) station in Sao Jose dos Campos, in addition to information about minimum temperatures, and average and maximum relative humidity. Data analysis will be primarily descriptive, using graphics and simple frequency tables from the database of births and pollutants. To examine the association between maternal exposure to air pollution and less weight gain at birth will be used linear regression (univariate and multivariate) and to analyze the insufficient birth weight will be used logistic regression (univariate and multivariate). Statistical analysis will be performed in Excel and Stata v.9.(AU)