Comment on “Using Satellite-Based Spatiotemporal Resolved Air Temperature Exposure to Study the Association between Ambient Air Temperature and Birth Outcomes in Massachusetts”

This study considered daily maximum temperatures during heat waves (defined in Madrid during 2001–2009 as daily maximum temperatures above 34°C) and during cold waves (defined in Madrid during 2001–2009 as daily maximum temperatures below –2°C). The results for the influence of high temperatures on low birth weight were similar to those found in Rome, with the same short-term association between temperature rise and increased cases of premature birth and, consequently, low birth weight. This suggests heat waves are an acute stressor on pregnant women, not the chronic stressor described by Kloog et al. The mechanism is unclear by which high temperatures may increase the risk of preterm birth, but there is evidence in the literature that supports a relationship (Carolan-Olah and Frankowska 2014). This short-term effect of Ta on adverse birth outcomes is similar to that already described for traffic noise as a factor in adverse birth outcomes in Madrid (Díaz and Linares in press). Although Kloog et al. introduced Ta values with linear components, from our point of view introducing Ta as a linear component and not taking into account the effects of heat and cold separately minimizes the authors’ ability to draw conclusions about potential impacts. The effects of high temperatures may be offset by cold temperatures. Therefore, it would be interesting to improve the analysis of Kloog et al. by taking into account the effect of Ta, but separating its effect by warm and co...
Source: EHP Research - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Correspondence October 2015 Source Type: research