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Gestational exposure to ambient air pollution with black carbon and birthweight : A register-based nationwide birth cohort in Denmark

Zhang, Jiawei ; So, Rina ; Lawlor, Cale LU ; Bergmann, Marie ; Pira, Kajsa LU orcid ; Napolitano, George Maria LU ; Andersson Nystedt, Tanya LU orcid ; Brandt, Jørgen ; Frohn, Lise Marie and Ketzel, Matthias , et al. (2026) In Environmental Pollution 396.
Abstract

Air pollution has been linked to reduced birthweight, but the association with black carbon (BC) remains insufficiently explored. This study examined the association of gestational exposure to BC with birthweight outcomes. We included data on all singleton births in Denmark between 2004 and 2016 (n = 690,898). BC and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were estimated by high-resolution air pollution models based on maternal residential addresses during pregnancy. Linear and Poisson regression models were employed to assess the associations of BC with birthweight, low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA), adjusting for spatiotemporal and individual-level covariates. Effect modification by gender, mothers’ age... (More)

Air pollution has been linked to reduced birthweight, but the association with black carbon (BC) remains insufficiently explored. This study examined the association of gestational exposure to BC with birthweight outcomes. We included data on all singleton births in Denmark between 2004 and 2016 (n = 690,898). BC and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were estimated by high-resolution air pollution models based on maternal residential addresses during pregnancy. Linear and Poisson regression models were employed to assess the associations of BC with birthweight, low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA), adjusting for spatiotemporal and individual-level covariates. Effect modification by gender, mothers’ age and socio-economic status (SES) were examined. Gestational exposure to BC was associated with birthweight and SGA risk: interquartile range (0.34 μg/m3) increase in BC was associated with −9 g (95% CI: 10, −7) decrease in birthweight, a relative risk (RR) of 1.02 (1.01, 1.03) for SGA, and a RR of 1.01 (1.00, 1.03) for LBW. After further adjustment for PM2.5, the associations remained significant for birthweight, were borderline significant for SGA, and null for LBW. Associations of BC with birthweight were stronger in young mothers, in mothers with low SES, and in mothers with higher BMI. In this large nationwide study, we show that gestational exposure to BC is associated with birthweight, persisted after adjusting PM2.5, adding important new evidence supporting regulation of BC in addition to PM2.5.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Birth outcomes, Children, Combustion, Particle components, Particulate matter, Pregnancy
in
Environmental Pollution
volume
396
article number
127908
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:105033080363
  • pmid:41786265
ISSN
0269-7491
DOI
10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127908
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b84afd19-ba3c-4d04-b5df-78a80105a961
date added to LUP
2026-04-22 14:49:37
date last changed
2026-09-25 08:27:35
@article{b84afd19-ba3c-4d04-b5df-78a80105a961,
  abstract     = {{<p>Air pollution has been linked to reduced birthweight, but the association with black carbon (BC) remains insufficiently explored. This study examined the association of gestational exposure to BC with birthweight outcomes. We included data on all singleton births in Denmark between 2004 and 2016 (n = 690,898). BC and fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) were estimated by high-resolution air pollution models based on maternal residential addresses during pregnancy. Linear and Poisson regression models were employed to assess the associations of BC with birthweight, low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA), adjusting for spatiotemporal and individual-level covariates. Effect modification by gender, mothers’ age and socio-economic status (SES) were examined. Gestational exposure to BC was associated with birthweight and SGA risk: interquartile range (0.34 μg/m<sup>3</sup>) increase in BC was associated with −9 g (95% CI: 10, −7) decrease in birthweight, a relative risk (RR) of 1.02 (1.01, 1.03) for SGA, and a RR of 1.01 (1.00, 1.03) for LBW. After further adjustment for PM<sub>2.5</sub>, the associations remained significant for birthweight, were borderline significant for SGA, and null for LBW. Associations of BC with birthweight were stronger in young mothers, in mothers with low SES, and in mothers with higher BMI. In this large nationwide study, we show that gestational exposure to BC is associated with birthweight, persisted after adjusting PM<sub>2.5</sub>, adding important new evidence supporting regulation of BC in addition to PM<sub>2.5</sub>.</p>}},
  author       = {{Zhang, Jiawei and So, Rina and Lawlor, Cale and Bergmann, Marie and Pira, Kajsa and Napolitano, George Maria and Andersson Nystedt, Tanya and Brandt, Jørgen and Frohn, Lise Marie and Ketzel, Matthias and Oudin, Anna and Lim, Youn Hee and Loft, Steffen and Malmqvist, Ebba and Pedersen, Marie and Jovanovic Andersen, Zorana}},
  issn         = {{0269-7491}},
  keywords     = {{Birth outcomes; Children; Combustion; Particle components; Particulate matter; Pregnancy}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environmental Pollution}},
  title        = {{Gestational exposure to ambient air pollution with black carbon and birthweight : A register-based nationwide birth cohort in Denmark}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127908}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.envpol.2026.127908}},
  volume       = {{396}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}