Relationship between Low Birthweight and Air Pollution in a Port Brazilian City

摘要

Santos is a seaboard Brazilian city recognized by its port activity. Because of proximity to the city of Sao Paulo, the road and rail infrastructure and the large transportation operation, there is an intense cargo handling capable of emitting all kinds of toxic and polluting waste. Some studies have pointed out the relationship between air pollution and perinatal outcomes. Pollutant gases such as CO, SO2, NOx e O3 and particulate matter PM2,5, PM10 have been cited as factors involved in such outcomes. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the association between atmospheric pollutants monitored by the Sao Paulo State Environmental Agency (CETESB) and perinatal outcomes in the city of Santos from January 2011 to December 2015. METHODS: It is a historical cohort study of pregnant women. Birth weight and information on mother and pregnancy were obtained at the Brazilian 'Born Alive National Information System' (SINASC, in Portuguese). Daily records of air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2 and O3), temperature and relative humidity of air, for the study period, were obtained from CETESB. Associations between low birth weight and air pollutants mean levels at each gestational trimester were investigated using multiple logistic regression model controlled by the variables: maternal education, prenatal care, marital status, maternal age, anomalies, pregnancy type and number of dead children. RESULTS: The effects for PM2,5 and PM10 in the third trimester for the last quartile (19,59 μg/m3 and 38,64 μg/m3 respectively) were found the risk of 1,18 (CI 95% 1,01; 1,38 for PM2,5 and 1,01; 1,42 for PM10). CONCLUSION: Although air pollution levels are lower than the other metropolitan areas in Brazil, the results show an effect on low birth weight at higher concentrations suggesting that not only burning of fossil fuels but port activity also can contribute in the emission of organic particulate matter such as soybeans, corn, wheat, etc.