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Association between fetal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and low birth weight: a case–control study in Shenzhen, China

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Abstract

The potential hazards of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on fetus development have raised widespread concerns in recent years, although current epidemiological findings are conflicting. The aim of this case–control study was to investigate the relationship between PAH concentrations in maternal serum and low birth weight (LBW). A questionnaire survey was conducted among 144 (72 pairs) neonates with normal or LBW and their mothers at four different hospitals in Shenzhen, China. Peripheral blood from primiparas and umbilical cord blood from neonates were collected. Concentrations of PAHs were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The detection frequencies of PAHs were relatively higher in the peripheral blood samples, while levels of low molecular weight PAHs were greater than high molecular weight PAHs in both peripheral and umbilical cord blood samples. Phenanthrene was frequently detected in blood samples from the case and control groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that acenaphthene in peripheral blood was positively associated with LBW (p < 0.05). This study found a relationship between exposure to certain PAHs and LBW, although future studies are needed to confirm these results.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Shenzhen Municipal Government Research Projects (No. 201302112).

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Author notes

  1. Lei Jiang and Qinru Xiao contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518028, China

    Lei Jiang & Lihua Chen

  2. School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China

    Qinru Xiao, Yang Zhao & Shaoyou Lu

  3. Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, 518055, China

    Jianqing Zhang

Authors
  1. Lei Jiang
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  2. Qinru Xiao
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  4. Yang Zhao
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  5. Lihua Chen
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  6. Shaoyou Lu
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Contributions

Lei Jiang shared efforts in investigation, data analysis, and writing; Qinru Xiao shared efforts in investigation, data analysis, and writing; Jianqing Zhang shared efforts in writing (reviewing and editing); Yang Zhao shared efforts in investigation; Lihua Chen shared efforts in writing (reviewing and editing); Shaoyou Lu supervised statistical analysis and revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Shaoyou Lu.

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The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Shenzhen Maternal and Child Health Hospital (Shenzhen, China).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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The authors affirm that human research participants provided informed consent for publication of the aggregate data produced in the study.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Responsible Editor: Lotfi Aleya

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Jiang, L., Xiao, Q., Zhang, J. et al. Association between fetal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and low birth weight: a case–control study in Shenzhen, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 88779–88787 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21965-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-21965-6

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