Invited Commentary: The Power of Preterm Birth to Motivate a Cleaner Environment

AbstractThis commentary reflects on a natural experiment reported by Casey et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2018;187(8):1586 –1594) that tested the association between living near a coal or oil power plant and preterm birth. They found that retiring power plants resulted in a significant reduction in preterm birth, with larger effects observed for late preterm birth and among non-Hispanic black mothers and infants. Natu ral experiments, in particular the Utah Valley Steel Mill closure, have played a prominent role in the evidence base for air pollution regulation due to their demonstrated impact on cardiopulmonary effects in adults. Reproductive health, including infant mortality and preterm birth associated with p oor air quality, has generally received less attention. Even small reductions in preterm birth can have a large population health impact, both in terms of preventing mortality in the short-term an in preventing lifelong disability among affected infants.
Source: American Journal of Epidemiology - Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research