Link to the University of Pittsburgh Homepage
Link to the University Library System Homepage Link to the Contact Us Form

Ambient Air Pollution, Smoking, and Reproductive Outcomes

Lee, Pei-Chen (2011) Ambient Air Pollution, Smoking, and Reproductive Outcomes. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

[img]
Preview
PDF
Primary Text

Download (2MB) | Preview

Abstract

The number of studies addressing the possible effects of air pollutants on human reproduction, especially prenatal outcomes, has grown extensively. However, the plausible biological mechanisms by which air pollutants influence prenatal outcomes remain unclear. The aims of this dissertation are (1) to determine whether ambient air pollution exposure (including particles of less than 10 µm (PM10) and less than 2.5 µm diameter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone) contributes to increased inflammatory response by measuring C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations during early pregnancy, and (2) to examine associations between ambient air pollution exposures and blood pressure changes during pregnancy. In addition, because smoking during pregnancy is a risk factor for some adverse birth outcomes such as preterm delivery, and inflammation has been suggested to increase the risk of preterm delivery, the other aim of this dissertation was to examine whether systemic inflammation mediates the link between smoking and preterm delivery. The study population was selected from the Prenatal Exposures and Preeclampsia Prevention study (PEPP) conducted in Pittsburgh, PA between 1997 and 2001. Space-time Kriging interpolation for ambient station measures at the maternal ZIP code was performed to estimate maternal air pollution exposure. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were employed to evaluate associations between air pollution, CRP concentrations, and blood pressure changes during pregnancy. Positive associations between particulate (both PM2.5 and PM10) and ozone air pollution and elevated CRP concentrations in non-smoking women during early pregnancy were observed. For blood pressure changes, we found that first trimester exposure to PM10 and ozone air pollution was associated to increases in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes during pregnancy. For smoking and preterm study, no evidence that systemic inflammation mediates this association was found. Our findings provide some new evidence that associations between particulate air pollution and adverse birth outcomes may be mediated by systemic inflammation and blood pressure changes. These findings have considerable public health significance to further prevent the adverse birth outcomes associated with air pollution exposure.


Share

Citation/Export:
Social Networking:
Share |

Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Lee, Pei-Chenpcl0807@gmail.com
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairTalbott, Evelyn O.eot1@pitt.eduEOT1
Committee MemberRoberts, James M.jroberts@mwri.magee.eduJIMROB
Committee MemberCatov, Janet M.catovjm@mail.magee.edu
Committee MemberSharma, Ravi K.rks1946@pitt.eduRKS1946
Committee MemberBilonick, Richard A.rab45@pitt.eduRAB45
Committee MemberStone, Roslyn A.roslyn@pitt.eduROSLYN
Date: 29 June 2011
Date Type: Completion
Defense Date: 12 January 2011
Approval Date: 29 June 2011
Submission Date: 20 February 2011
Access Restriction: 5 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 5 years.
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: School of Public Health > Epidemiology
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: air pollution; birth outcome; pregnant women
Other ID: http://etd.library.pitt.edu/ETD/available/etd-02202011-091419/, etd-02202011-091419
Date Deposited: 10 Nov 2011 19:31
Last Modified: 19 Dec 2016 14:34
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/6382

Metrics

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics


Actions (login required)

View Item View Item