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Increasing number of studies have investigated the impact of maternal exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes, particularly low birth weight (LBW, <2,500 g at birth) and preterm birth (PTB, <37 completed weeks of gestation). We performed a comprehensive review of the peer-reviewed literature and a meta-analysis to quantify the association between maternal exposure to particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter 2.5 and 10 μm (PM 2.5  and PM 10 ) during pregnancy and the risk of LBW and PTB. We identified 20 peer-reviewed articles providing quantitative estimate of exposure and outcome that met our selection criteria. There was significant heterogeneity between studies, particularly for findings related to PM 10  exposure (LBW,  I -squared 54%,  p  = 0.01; PTB,  I -squared = 73%,  p  < 0.01). Results from random-effect meta-analysis suggested a 9% increase in risk of LBW associated with a 10-μg/m 3  increase in PM 2.5  (combined odds ratios (OR), 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.90–1.32), but our 95% CI included the null value. We estimated a 15% increase in risk of PTB for each 10-μg/m 3  increase in PM 2.5  (combined OR, 1.15; CI, 1.14–1.16). The magnitude of risk associated with PM 10  exposure was smaller (2% per 10-μg/m 3  increase) and similar in size for both LBW and PTB, neither reaching formal statistical significance. We observed no significant publication bias, with  p  > 0.05 based on both Begg's and Egger's bias tests. Our results suggest that maternal exposure to PM, particularly PM 2.5  may have adverse effect on birth outcomes. Additional mechanistic studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms for this association.

Vivian Hoffman, University of Maryland; Kent D. Messer and Jacob Fooks, University of Delaware // Keywords: HIV/AIDS, field experiment, stigma; 2012-003

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health R18 study is first to examine the relation between postpartum depression and health services expenditures

Donna Howard and colleagues are studying the impact of electronic communication technologies on dating violence

Amy O. Tsui, Director, The Bill & Melinda Gates Institute of Population & Reproductive Health, Professor, Population, Family & Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University

Alex Ortega, Principal Investigator, Center for Population Health and Health Disparities, Professor, Department of Health Services, University of California

Georges Reniers, Assistant Professor, Office of Population Research, Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs, Department of Sociology, Princeton University

Edmond D. Shenassa, Director, Maternal and Child Health Program, Associate Professor, Department of Family Science, University of Maryland

Faculty Associate Robin Puett undertakes R01 study of air pollution effects for diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Faculty Associate Feinian Chen studies health implications for grandparents caring for grandchildren