SUBNORMAL BIRTHWEIGHT AND INDUSTRIAL AIR POLLUTANTS – A COMPARISON OF SPATIAL-TEMPORAL HOT SPOT PATTERNS

摘要

BACKGROUNDDisorders related to short gestation and low birth weight are the 2^nd cause of infant death in Canada and have been increasing, especially in Alberta. Individual maternal risks are important but environmental exposures during pregnancy may restrict fetal growth. This contributes to small for gestational age (SGA: < tenth percentile weight for pregnancy duration) and low birth weight at term (LBWT: <2500 grams at ≥37 weeks-gestation).