Application of the navigation guide systematic review methodology to evaluate prenatal exposure to particulate matter air pollution and infant birth weight

Low birth weight is an important risk factor for many co-morbidities both in early life as well as in adulthood. Numerous studies report associations between prenatal exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution and low birth weight. Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses report varying effect sizes and significant heterogeneity between studies, but did not systematically evaluate the quality of individual studies or the overall body of evidence. We conducted a new systematic review to determine how prenatal exposure to PM2.5, PM10, and coarse PM (PM2.5-10) by trimester and across pregnancy affects infant birth weight. Using the Navigation Guide methodology, we developed and applied a systematic review protocol [CRD42017058805] that included a comprehensive search of the epidemiological literature, risk of bias (ROB) determination, meta-analysis, and evidence evaluation, all using pre-established criteria. In total, 53 studies met our inclusion criteria, which included evaluation of birth weight as a continuous variable. For PM2.5 and PM10, we restricted meta-analyses to studies determined overall as low or probably low ROB; none of the studies evaluating coarse PM were rated as low or probably low risk of bias, so all studies were used. For PM2.5, we observed that for every 10 mu g/m3 increase in exposure to PM2.5 in the 2nd or 3rd trimester, respectively, there was an associated 5.69 g decrease (I-2: 68%, 95% CI: 10.58, 0.79) or 10.67 g decrease in birth weight (I-2: 84%, 95% CI: 20.91, 0.43). Over the entire pregnancy, for every 10 mu g/m(3) increase in PM2.5 exposure, there was an associated 27.55 g decrease in birth weight (I-2: 94%, 95% CI: 48.45, 6.65). However, the quality of evidence for PM2.5 was rated as low due to imprecision and/or unexplained heterogeneity among different studies. For PM10, we observed that for every 10 mu g/m(3) increase in exposure in the 3rd trimester or the entire pregnancy, there was a 6.57 g decrease (I-2: 0%, 95% CI: 10.66, 2.48) or 8.65 g decrease in birth weight (I-2: 84%, 95% CI: 16.83, 0.48), respectively. The quality of evidence for PM10 was rated as moderate, as heterogeneity was either absent or could be explained. The quality of evidence for coarse PM was rated as very low/low (for risk of bias and imprecision). Overall, while evidence for PM2.5 and course PM was inadequate primarily due to heterogeneity and risk of bias, respectively, our results support the existence of an inverse association between prenatal PM10 exposure and low birth weight.

Automated summary

Numerous studies have shown an inverse association between prenatal exposure to PM2.5 and low birth weight, with an increase in PM2.5 exposure related to a decrease in birth weight. On the other hand, the evidence for the impact of PM10 on birth weight is moderate and the quality of evidence for coarse PM is rated as very low/low, primarily due to heterogeneity and risk of bias.