Exposure to pollution during pregnancy and occurrence of miscarriage

Exposición a la contaminación durante el embarazo y ocurrencia de aborto espontáneo

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of miscarriages in a population of 360 women distributed in areas exposer to higher and lower vehicle traffic air pollution on the Island of São Luís, MA, Brazil, and identify associated variables. Participants were interviewed and bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were conducted. The overall miscarriage prevalence was of 15.83%, totaling 25.56% (n=180) in the higher exposure area and 6.11% (n=180) in the lower exposure area. Maternal alcohol consumption (OR=3.11), STIs during pregnancy (OR=2.74), living in a high-exposure area (OR=8.32), having suffered physical or psychological distress during pregnancy (OR=4.25) and repeated miscarriages (OR=39.11) were all associated to the miscarriage outcome. The findings reported herein thus indicate potential vehicle traffic air pollution contribution as a risk factor in the etiology of miscarriages.

Keywords:
Miscarriage, atmospheric pollution; vehicle traffic; epidemiology; early pregnancy loss