Air pollution’s toll on adverse birth outcomes: key research insights from Chinese epidemiological studies
Despite extensive global evidence linking air pollution to adverse birth outcomes, a comprehensive synthesis of China-specific epidemiological insights—particularly across its regionally diverse pollution landscapes and susceptible populations—remains limited. This systematic review integrates evide...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1616787/full |
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| author | Hui Chang Hui Chang Hui Chang Wanting Sun Yuanyuan Tian Yuanyuan Tian Jing Wu Yanru Yue Yanru Yue Wenhua Li Wenhua Li Xin Zhao Xin Zhao Xiaoan Zhang Jian Jin Jian Jin |
| author_facet | Hui Chang Hui Chang Hui Chang Wanting Sun Yuanyuan Tian Yuanyuan Tian Jing Wu Yanru Yue Yanru Yue Wenhua Li Wenhua Li Xin Zhao Xin Zhao Xiaoan Zhang Jian Jin Jian Jin |
| author_sort | Hui Chang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite extensive global evidence linking air pollution to adverse birth outcomes, a comprehensive synthesis of China-specific epidemiological insights—particularly across its regionally diverse pollution landscapes and susceptible populations—remains limited. This systematic review integrates evidence from Chinese epidemiological and retrospective studies (2011–2023) retrieved via PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI, to address critical gaps in contextual understanding of how air pollution uniquely impacts birth outcomes in China. We identify robust associations between exposure to pollutant and risks of miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth defects in Chinese cohorts, while revealing understudied areas such as ozone, heavy metals, and gene–environment interactions. Crucially, our analysis demonstrates how regional policy intervention attenuated birth risks in high-exposure zones, offering actionable models for policymakers. To resolve mechanistic uncertainties, we propose integrating machine learning and multi-omics approaches in future research. This review provides the first China-focused roadmap for optimizing environmental regulations and prenatal protections, directly informing public health strategies tailored to its demographic and pollution realities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-82252a2197c94333bbdca22114eefc9e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-82252a2197c94333bbdca22114eefc9e2025-08-20T03:55:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16167871616787Air pollution’s toll on adverse birth outcomes: key research insights from Chinese epidemiological studiesHui Chang0Hui Chang1Hui Chang2Wanting Sun3Yuanyuan Tian4Yuanyuan Tian5Jing Wu6Yanru Yue7Yanru Yue8Wenhua Li9Wenhua Li10Xin Zhao11Xin Zhao12Xiaoan Zhang13Jian Jin14Jian Jin15Department of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaTianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaSchool of Public Health, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, ChinaZhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaZhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaTianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaTianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Clinical Research and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaTianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDespite extensive global evidence linking air pollution to adverse birth outcomes, a comprehensive synthesis of China-specific epidemiological insights—particularly across its regionally diverse pollution landscapes and susceptible populations—remains limited. This systematic review integrates evidence from Chinese epidemiological and retrospective studies (2011–2023) retrieved via PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI, to address critical gaps in contextual understanding of how air pollution uniquely impacts birth outcomes in China. We identify robust associations between exposure to pollutant and risks of miscarriage, preterm birth, low birth weight, and birth defects in Chinese cohorts, while revealing understudied areas such as ozone, heavy metals, and gene–environment interactions. Crucially, our analysis demonstrates how regional policy intervention attenuated birth risks in high-exposure zones, offering actionable models for policymakers. To resolve mechanistic uncertainties, we propose integrating machine learning and multi-omics approaches in future research. This review provides the first China-focused roadmap for optimizing environmental regulations and prenatal protections, directly informing public health strategies tailored to its demographic and pollution realities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1616787/fullair pollutionbirth outcomepreterm birthstillbirthspontaneous abortion |
| spellingShingle | Hui Chang Hui Chang Hui Chang Wanting Sun Yuanyuan Tian Yuanyuan Tian Jing Wu Yanru Yue Yanru Yue Wenhua Li Wenhua Li Xin Zhao Xin Zhao Xiaoan Zhang Jian Jin Jian Jin Air pollution’s toll on adverse birth outcomes: key research insights from Chinese epidemiological studies Frontiers in Public Health air pollution birth outcome preterm birth stillbirth spontaneous abortion |
| title | Air pollution’s toll on adverse birth outcomes: key research insights from Chinese epidemiological studies |
| title_full | Air pollution’s toll on adverse birth outcomes: key research insights from Chinese epidemiological studies |
| title_fullStr | Air pollution’s toll on adverse birth outcomes: key research insights from Chinese epidemiological studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Air pollution’s toll on adverse birth outcomes: key research insights from Chinese epidemiological studies |
| title_short | Air pollution’s toll on adverse birth outcomes: key research insights from Chinese epidemiological studies |
| title_sort | air pollution s toll on adverse birth outcomes key research insights from chinese epidemiological studies |
| topic | air pollution birth outcome preterm birth stillbirth spontaneous abortion |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1616787/full |
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