Objective To assess the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure in utero on the physical development of newborns.
Methods A total of 217 mother-newborn pairs were recruited in a hospital in Taiyuan and their informed consents were obtained. Maternal spot urine samples were collected and stored in -80℃ before delivery. The levels of four PAHs metabolites in urine samples were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The mother-newborn pairs were divided into low, medium, and high exposure groups according to the 25th and the 75th percentiles of sum of four PAH metabolites in maternal urine. Neonatal birth weight, head circumference, and body length were measured and the physical development status of neonates was evaluated by birth weight, head circumference, body length, and Zhang-Lu index (ZLI). Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate the association between prenatal PAHs exposure and the physical development of newborns.
Results The median (P25, P75) of sum of four PAH metabolites in the maternal urine samples was 0.90 (0.67, 1.27) mg/mol (Cr). The birth weights of newborns in the low, medium, and high exposure groups were (3 526.11±380.59), (3 386.20±394.79), and (3 254.07±402.04) g, respectively; the head circumferences were (34.45±1.60), (33.54±1.92), and (33.47±1.58) cm, respectively; the body lengths were (51.32±1.90), (51.01±1.53), and (50.28±1.53) cm, respectively; the ZLIs were (1.07±0.08), (1.07±0.10), and (1.03±0.08) g/cm2, respectively. All indices were of significant differences between the groups with different levels of PAH metabolites (P < 0.05), except the birth weight and head circumference of the medium and high PAHs exposure groups and the body length and ZLI of the low and medium PAHs exposure groups (P > 0.05). The multiple regression results showed that birth weight, head circumference, body length, and ZLI were negatively correlated with the sum of four PAH metabolites (b=-0.21, -0.13, -0.20, and -0.16, respectively, P < 0.05).
Conclusion Maternal prenatal exposure to PAHs is associated with lower neonatal birth weight, head circumference, body length, and ZLI, and could adversely affect the physical development of newborns.
DownLoad: