The PM2.5 Exposure Level And Its Correlates In The First Trimester Of Pregnancy Of Rural Women In Yunnan

Background:In recent years, air pollution, especially PM2.5 pollution and its effects on human health have become widespread public concern. The exposure of PM2.5 in pregnant women may not only endanger the health of women, but also affect the offspring health. In rural area, air pollution is mainly in doors; and local women who are primarily engaged in housework are the main indoor air pollution exposure crowd.Methods:Rural women in their first trimester of pregnancy were selected in two township hospitals in Xuanwei, Yunnan Province. Portable PM2.5 monitors were used to measure PM2.5 exposure levels of pregnant women continuously for a week. The relevant factors of PM2.5 exposure of pregnant women were investigated by self-designed questionnaire.Results:(1) The total of 124 early pregnant women were recruited in Tangtang and Reshui townships. The average age of women was 24.08 ± 5.042 years. The pregnant women who only received primary school education and junior high school education accounted for 30.6% and 48.4%, respectively. Among the subjects, the mainly occupation was farmer, and 59.5% of them gained household yearly income below 20,000 yuan RMB. Among the sampled women,76.1% were cooking at home in 1 hour and below, and 61.3% used stove for heating in winter. The pregnant women who exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in household and outdoor accounted for 83.1% and 63.7%, respectively.(2) The range of PM2.5 mass concentration the pregnant women daily exposed was between 20.38μg/m3 to 71.86μg/m3, average 30.93μg/m3. The monthly average PM2.5 exposure concentration in winter was higher than those in summer and autumn. The exposure concentration significantly increased during the daily cooking, and the range of PM2.5 concentration was between 42.37μg/m3 to 172.06 μg/m3, with the average of 83.29μg/m. The percentage of women exposed to PM2.5 more than 25μg/m was 71.0%.(3) The Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis showed that the independent risk factors of the pregnant women exposed to PM2.5 more than 25μg/m3 in rural area were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in household and used stove for heating in winter.Conclusion:The PM2.5 exposure level of rural women in their first trimester of pregnancy is low, and is still within the national standard. However, a high exposure period is existence. Rural women in their first trimester of pregnancy exposing to high concentration PM2.5 is correlated with tobacco smoke exposure in household, fuel and stove use for heating in winter. This study suggests that it is necessary to strengthen health education in rural area, raise farmers’ awareness of the hazards of smoking and air pollution, promote their building of healthy lifestyle behaviors; and to advocate the use of clean energy.