Toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm Birth in Louisiana
Previous studies indicate that pollution exposure can increase risks of adverse birth outcomes, but Black communities are underrepresented in this research, and the potential moderating role of neighborhood context has not been explored. These issues are especially relevant in Louisiana, which has a...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research: Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5309/ad3084 |
| _version_ | 1797261648183951360 |
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| author | Kimberly A Terrell Gianna N St Julien Maeve E Wallace |
| author_facet | Kimberly A Terrell Gianna N St Julien Maeve E Wallace |
| author_sort | Kimberly A Terrell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previous studies indicate that pollution exposure can increase risks of adverse birth outcomes, but Black communities are underrepresented in this research, and the potential moderating role of neighborhood context has not been explored. These issues are especially relevant in Louisiana, which has a high proportion of Black residents, an entrenched history of structural racism, the most pounds of toxic industrial emissions annually, and among the nation’s highest rates of low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and infant mortality. We investigated whether air pollution and social polarization by race and income (measured via the index of concentration at the extremes [ICE]) were associated with LBW and PTB among Louisiana census tracts ( n = 1101) using spatial lag models. Data sources included 2011–2020 birth records, U.S. Census Bureau 2017 demographic data, and 2017 respiratory hazard (RH) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Both RH and ICE were associated with LBW ( z = 4.4, P < 0.0001; z = −27.0, P < 0.0001) and PTB ( z = 2.3, P = 0.019; z = −16.7, P < 0.0001), with no interaction. Severely polluted tracts had 25% higher and 36% higher risks of LBW and PTB, respectively, versus unpolluted tracts. On average, 2166 low birthweight and 3583 preterm births annually were attributable to pollution exposure. Tracts with concentrated social deprivation (i.e. low ICE scores) had 53% higher and 34% higher risks of LBW and PTB, respectively, versus intermediate or mixed tracts. On average, 1171 low birthweight and 1739 preterm births annually were attributable to concentrated deprivation. Our ecological study found that a majority of adverse birth outcomes in Louisiana (i.e. 67% of LBW and PTB combined) are linked to air pollution exposure or disadvantage resulting from social polarization. These findings can inform research, policy, and advocacy to improve health equity in marginalized communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:44:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-79489d04e7154a2c91e651e88cbafb87 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2752-5309 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:44:33Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research: Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-79489d04e7154a2c91e651e88cbafb872024-03-15T08:37:31ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research: Health2752-53092024-01-012202100210.1088/2752-5309/ad3084Toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm Birth in LouisianaKimberly A Terrell0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7729-3628Gianna N St Julien1Maeve E Wallace2Environmental Law Clinic, Tulane University School of Law , New Orleans, LA, United States of America; Department of Biology, University of Memphis , Memphis, TN, United States of America; School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, LA, United States of AmericaEnvironmental Law Clinic, Tulane University School of Law , New Orleans, LA, United States of AmericaSchool of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University , New Orleans, LA, United States of AmericaPrevious studies indicate that pollution exposure can increase risks of adverse birth outcomes, but Black communities are underrepresented in this research, and the potential moderating role of neighborhood context has not been explored. These issues are especially relevant in Louisiana, which has a high proportion of Black residents, an entrenched history of structural racism, the most pounds of toxic industrial emissions annually, and among the nation’s highest rates of low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and infant mortality. We investigated whether air pollution and social polarization by race and income (measured via the index of concentration at the extremes [ICE]) were associated with LBW and PTB among Louisiana census tracts ( n = 1101) using spatial lag models. Data sources included 2011–2020 birth records, U.S. Census Bureau 2017 demographic data, and 2017 respiratory hazard (RH) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Both RH and ICE were associated with LBW ( z = 4.4, P < 0.0001; z = −27.0, P < 0.0001) and PTB ( z = 2.3, P = 0.019; z = −16.7, P < 0.0001), with no interaction. Severely polluted tracts had 25% higher and 36% higher risks of LBW and PTB, respectively, versus unpolluted tracts. On average, 2166 low birthweight and 3583 preterm births annually were attributable to pollution exposure. Tracts with concentrated social deprivation (i.e. low ICE scores) had 53% higher and 34% higher risks of LBW and PTB, respectively, versus intermediate or mixed tracts. On average, 1171 low birthweight and 1739 preterm births annually were attributable to concentrated deprivation. Our ecological study found that a majority of adverse birth outcomes in Louisiana (i.e. 67% of LBW and PTB combined) are linked to air pollution exposure or disadvantage resulting from social polarization. These findings can inform research, policy, and advocacy to improve health equity in marginalized communities.https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5309/ad3084health disparitiescancer alleyhealth outcomessocial determinants of healthrespiratory hazardreproduction |
| spellingShingle | Kimberly A Terrell Gianna N St Julien Maeve E Wallace Toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm Birth in Louisiana Environmental Research: Health health disparities cancer alley health outcomes social determinants of health respiratory hazard reproduction |
| title | Toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm Birth in Louisiana |
| title_full | Toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm Birth in Louisiana |
| title_fullStr | Toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm Birth in Louisiana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm Birth in Louisiana |
| title_short | Toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm Birth in Louisiana |
| title_sort | toxic air pollution and concentrated social deprivation are associated with low birthweight and preterm birth in louisiana |
| topic | health disparities cancer alley health outcomes social determinants of health respiratory hazard reproduction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5309/ad3084 |
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