Environmental disasters and birth outcomes: Impact of a tailings dam breakage in Brazil

Mrejen, Matías; Perelman, Julian; Machado, Danielle Carusi

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112868

Cited by 14 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…It was found that pregnant women directly exposed to the dam breakage experienced a shortened length of gestation and an increase in preterm birth. Due to the economic depression following the disaster, it was not possible to deduce if these results were caused by the exposure to the Marina Tragedy itself or its aftermath [85].…”

Section: Geologicalmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic during the First 1000 Days: A Historical Perspective

Schoenmakers

Verweij

Beijers

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on society, particularly affecting its vulnerable members, including pregnant women and their unborn children. Pregnant mothers reported fear of infection, fear of vertical transmission, fear of poor birth and child outcomes, social isolation, uncertainty about their partner’s presence during medical appointments and delivery, increased domestic abuse, and other collateral damage, including vaccine hesitancy. Accordingly, pregnant women’s known vulnerability for mental health problems has become a concern during the COVID-19 pandemic, also because of the known effects of prenatal stress for the unborn child. The current narrative review provides a historical overview of transgenerational effects of exposure to disasters during pregnancy, and the role of maternal prenatal stress. We place these effects into the perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hereby, we aim to draw attention to the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women of reproductive age (15–49 year) and its potential associated short-term and long-term consequences for the health of children who are conceived, carried, and born during this pandemic. Timely detection and intervention during the first 1000 days is essential to reduce the burden of transgenerational effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Section: Geologicalmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic during the First 1000 Days: A Historical Perspective

Schoenmakers

Verweij

Beijers

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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“…12 Studies that have addressed both birth weight and gestational age have tended to find stronger effects on birth weight, if they find an effect at all, 7,13-28 and only a few have found an effect on PTB but not low birth weight (LBW; birth weight < 2500 g). 29,30 This is surprising as LBW and PTB co-occur, with early delivery being a common cause of LBW. Best practice is usually considered to analyze small for gestational age (SGA; usually defined as birth weight < 10th percentile for gestational age) rather than LBW per se, because birth weight is affected both by length of gestation and fetal growth.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hurricane Michael and Adverse Birth Outcomes in the Florida Panhandle: Analysis of Vital Statistics Data

Harville

Beitsch

et al. 2022

Disaster med. public health prep.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to examine birth outcomes in areas affected by Hurricane Michael. Methods: Vital statistics data of 2017–2019 were obtained from the state of Florida. Births occurring in the year before and after the date of Hurricane Michael (October 7, 2018) were used. Florida counties were divided into 3 categories reflecting extent of impact from Hurricane Michael. Birth outcomes including incidence of preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA) were also compared before and after Hurricane Michael. Spontaneous and indicated PTBs were distinguished based on previously published algorithms. Multiple regression was used to control for potential confounders. Results: Both LBW (aRR 1.19, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.32) and SGA (aRR 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.21) were higher in the year after Michael than the year before in the most-affected area; a similar effect was not seen in other areas. A stronger effect was seen for exposure in the first trimester or in the 2 months after Michael than in the second or third trimester. Conclusion: Consistent with many previous studies, this study of Hurricane Michael found an effect on fetal growth.

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“…A related study by Mrejen, Perelman, and Machado (2020) on the Mariana disaster finds an effect on preterm pregnancies, but not on birth weight—the authors do not study infant mortality. Our analysis innovates in at least three aspects.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Avoidable environmental disasters and infant health: Evidence from a mining dam collapse in Brazil

et al. 2020

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We study the health consequences of one of the largest environmental disasters of the world mining industry, which largely stemmed from regulatory failure. Exploiting the timing and location of the Mariana mine tailings dam collapse in Brazil, we show that in utero exposure to the tragedy significantly reduced birth weight and increased infant mortality. The adverse effects were stronger for infants born to less educated and nonmarried mothers. These findings indicate that poorly enforced environmental regulation may have long-term welfare impacts on local communities.

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Environmental disasters and birth outcomes: Impact of a tailings dam breakage in Brazil

Cited by 14 publications

References 38 publications

The Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic during the First 1000 Days: A Historical Perspective

The Impact of Maternal Prenatal Stress Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic during the First 1000 Days: A Historical Perspective

Hurricane Michael and Adverse Birth Outcomes in the Florida Panhandle: Analysis of Vital Statistics Data

Avoidable environmental disasters and infant health: Evidence from a mining dam collapse in Brazil

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