Maternal exposure to benzene and toluene and preterm birth. A longitudinal study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exposure to air pollutants has several effects on human health, including during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To identify whether exposure to benzene and toluene among pregnant women contributes to preterm delivery. DESIGN AND SETTING: Longitudinal study using data on newborns from mothers living in São José dos Campos (SP) in 2016, who had been exposed to benzene and toluene. METHODS: A logistic regression model with three hierarchical levels was constructed using maternal variables relating to newborns, and using benzene and toluene concentrations in quartiles. Occurrences of cesarean births, twins or malformations were excluded. Maternal exposure windows of 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days prior to delivery were considered. RESULTS: Out of the 9,562 live births, 3,671 newborns were included and 343 newborns were born at less than 37 weeks of gestation (9.3%). The average birth weight was 3,167.2 g. Exposure to benzene and toluene was significantly associated (P = 0.04) with preterm delivery in the five-day window. There was no association in any of the other exposure windows. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to identify that maternal exposure to benzene and toluene has an acute effect on preterm delivery.

Maternal environmental, occupational, and urinary metabolite levels of benzene compounds and their association with congenital heart diseases in offspring: a case‒control study in China

“…A few studies have evaluated the association between benzene and nonisolated pulmonary atresia (Tanner et al 2015 ), cleft palate (Ramakrishnan et al 2013 ), and major congenital, and neural crest malformations (Janitz et al 2018 ; Wennborg et al 2005 ). Some studies have shown that exposure to a mixture of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) compounds during pregnancy may lead to premature birth (PTB) in pregnant women (Cassidy-Bushrow et al 2021a ; Santos and Nascimento 2019 ). Frequent exposure to or the use of aromatic solvents (e.g., o-xylene, styrene, and ethylbenzene) during pregnancy may have toxic vestibular effects on the fetus (Tallandier et al 2021 ).…”

Análise bibliométrica: parto prematuro, poluição do ar e lógica fuzzy

“…Também foi encontrada associação da exposição materna da gestante a poluentes ambientais, e dentre estes destacamse o monóxido de carbono (CO), ozônio (O₃), dióxido de nitrogênio (NO₂), precursor da formação de ozônio, dióxido de enxofre (SO₂) e o material particulado com diâmetro aerodinâmico menor de 10𝜇m (PM10), composto por uma mistura de partículas sólidas e líquidas (Harrison & Goldenberg, 2016;Nascimento et al, 2017). Além dos gases citados, a exposição ao tolueno e benzeno também são responsáveis por causar o parto prematuro, assim como doenças respiratórias e cardiovasculares (Santos & Nascimento, 2019).…”