Maternal benzene exposure and low birth weight risk in the United States: a natural experiment in gasoline reformulation
Zahran, S; Weiler, S; Mielke, HW; Pena, AA
HERO ID
1063698
Reference Type
Journal Article
Year
2012
Language
English
PMID
| HERO ID | 1063698 |
|---|---|
| In Press | No |
| Year | 2012 |
| Title | Maternal benzene exposure and low birth weight risk in the United States: a natural experiment in gasoline reformulation |
| Authors | Zahran, S; Weiler, S; Mielke, HW; Pena, AA |
| Journal | Environmental Research |
| Volume | 112 |
| Page Numbers | 139-146 |
| Abstract | We investigate the relationship between maternal exposure to benzene and birth weight outcomes for resident births in the United States in 1996 and 1999, taking advantage of a natural experiment afforded by the regulation of benzene content of gasoline in various American cities. Regression results show that a unit increase (μg/m(3)) in maternal exposure to benzene reduces birth weight by 16.5 g (95% CI, 17.6 to 15.4). A unit increase in benzene exposure increases the odds of a low birth weight event by 7%. Similarly, a 1 μg/m(3) increase in benzene concentration increases the odds of very low birth weight event by a multiplicative factor of 1.23 (95% CI, 1.19 to 1.28). Difference-in-differences analyses show that birth weight increased by 13.7 g (95% CI, 10.7 to 16.8) and the risk of low birth weight decreased by a factor of .95 (95% CI, .93 to .98) in counties experiencing a 25% decline in benzene concentrations from 1996 to 1999. Public health policy and economic implications of results are discussed. |
| Doi | 10.1016/j.envres.2011.11.008 |
| Pmid | 22177084 |
| Wosid | WOS:000299804800018 |
| Url | https://www.proquest.com/docview/1710232880?accountid=171501&bdid=64565&_bd=s3s8GK7586k3%2FY7uk8Uq0p86FtE%3D |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Is Public | Yes |
| Language Text | English |
| Keyword | Benzene emissions; Benzene ambient concentration; Birth weight; Low birth weight |
| Is Qa | No |