Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2023 May;66(3):169-180. 10.5468/ogs.22278.

The introduction to air pollution on pregnancy outcome (APPO) study: a multicenter cohort study

• Hur YM
• Park S
• Kwon E
• You YA
• Ansari A
• Kim SM
• Lee G
• Park MH
• Lee KA
• Kim SJ
• Kim YH
• Jung Ys
• Cho GJ
• Oh MJ
• Na SH
• Lee Sj
• An TG
• Bae JG
• Kim YH
• Lee SJ
• Kim NK
• Ha EH
• Kim YJ

• KMID: 2542223
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.22278

Abstract

Objective
The air pollution on pregnancy outcome (APPO) study is a prospective hospital-based cohort study designed to investigate the maternal and fetal effects of a particulate matter with an aerodynamic below 10 μm (PM10) and PM2.5 (below 2.5 μm) exposure. This study aims to analyze a relationship between particulate matter and adverse pregnancy outcomes and to find related biomarkers and develop management guidelines.
Methods
About 1,200 pregnant women are recruited for 3 years (from January 2021 to December 2023) from seven university hospitals to investigate the effects of particulate matter on pregnancy complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We collect biological samples by 5 mL of maternal venous blood and 15 mL of urine in each trimester of pregnancy, and 5 mL of umbilical cord blood and 2×2×2 cm of placental tissue are collected after delivery. In addition, by applying PM10 and PM2.5 concentration values and time-activity patterns from the time weighted average model, the individual predicted exposure of air pollution for the pregnant women are obtained.
Results
The average exposure of PM10 and PM2.5 of the participants in the entire period of pregnancy, was exceeded the World Health Organization air quality guidelines (an annual level, PM10 >15 μg/m3, PM2.5 >5 μg/m3). Moreover, it was revealed that the PM concentration was increasing toward the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
Conclusion
The APPO study will be able to identify the degree of exposure to air pollution in pregnant women and use it as basic data for estimating individual exposure to particulate matter. And the results of the APPO study will facilitate in the development of health management for pregnant women against air pollution.

Keyword

Particulate matter; Air pollution; Environmental exposure; Pregnant women; Pregnancy complications

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The process of APPO study. APPO, air pollution on pregnancy outcome.

Reference

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