Source apportionment of fine particulate matter and risk of term low birth weight in California: Exploring modification by region and maternal characteristics.

Previous studies have demonstrated associations between fine particulate matter (PM) and risk of term low birth weight (TLBW; birth weight<2500g and gestational weeks≥37weeks). However, it remains unclear which PM sources mainly contribute to these associations, and which subgroups (e.g. by residential region and maternal characteristics) may be more susceptible to these exposures. Using California birth records and PM data from eight monitoring sites from 2002 to 2009, we examined the relationship between exposures to total PM and PM sources and risk of TLBW. Source apportionment was performed for each site using Positive Matrix Factorization, and five PM sources (i.e., secondary ammonium sulfate, secondary ammonium nitrate, vehicular emissions, biomass burning, and resuspended soil) were included in our analysis. Mean gestational and trimester exposures were calculated for mothers with ZIP codes located within a 20km radius of monitors (N=1,050,330). Logistic regression was conducted and adjusted for maternal age, race/ethnicity, and education, as well as gestational age, year of birth, apparent temperature exposure during gestation, and neighborhood level percentage of households below poverty level. Increased risks of TLBW associated with each interquartile range increase in exposure were 4.9% (95% confidence interval: 2.6, 7.3) for total PM, 7.7% (4.7, 10.7) for secondary ammonium sulfate, 5.6% (3.5, 7.7) for resuspended soil, and 3.1% (1.3, 4.9) for secondary ammonium nitrate. Differences in associations were found between inland and coastal regions, and between northern and southern regions for several sources. Results also showed effect measure modification by maternal race/ethnicity and education, with the lowest risk of TLBW associated with PM exposures found in mothers with at least a college education and Asian mothers. Some PM sources may be more harmful than others, and a better understanding of the relative toxicity of PM from each source could lead to more targeted and cost-effective regulations to protect public health.