RT Journal Article
T1 Exposure to Trihalomethanes through Different Water Uses and Birth Weight, Small for Gestational Age, and Preterm Delivery in Spain
A1 Villanueva, Cristina M
A1 Gracia-Lavedán, Esther
A1 Ibarluzea, Jesús
A1 Santa Marina, Loreto
A1 Ballester, Ferran
A1 Llop, Sabrina
A1 Tardón, Adonina
A1 Fernández, Mariana F
A1 Freire, Carmen
A1 Goñi, Fernando
A1 Basagaña, Xavier
A1 Kogevinas, Manolis
A1 Grimalt, Joan O
A1 Sunyer, Jordi
K1 Contaminantes Químicos del Agua
K1 Trihalometano
K1 Estudios de Cohortes
K1 Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales
K1 Femeninos
K1 Humanos
K1 Recién Nacido de Bajo Peso
K1 Recién nacido
K1 Recién Nacido Pequeño para la Edad Gestacional
K1 Modelos Logísticos
K1 Modelos Teóricos
K1 Embarazo
K1 Nacimiento Prematuro
K1 España
K1 Adulto
K1 birth weight
K1 cohort study
K1 disinfection by-products
K1 epidemiology
K1 low birth weight
K1 newborn
K1 premature birth
K1 small for gestational age
K1 trihalomethanes
K1 water pollution
AB BACKGROUNDEvidence associating exposure to water disinfection by-products with reduced birth weight and altered duration of gestation remains inconclusive.OBJECTIVEWe assessed exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) during pregnancy through different water uses and evaluated the association with birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW), and preterm delivery.METHODSMother-child cohorts set up in five Spanish areas during the years 2000-2008 contributed data on water ingestion, showering, bathing, and swimming in pools. We ascertained residential THM levels during pregnancy periods through ad hoc sampling campaigns (828 measurements) and regulatory data (264 measurements), which were modeled and combined with personal water use and uptake factors to estimate personal uptake. We defined outcomes following standard definitions and included 2,158 newborns in the analysis.RESULTSMedian residential THM ranged from 5.9 μg/L (Valencia) to 114.7 μg/L (Sabadell), and speciation differed across areas. We estimated that 89% of residential chloroform and 96% of brominated THM uptakes were from showering/bathing. The estimated change of birth weight for a 10% increase in residential uptake was -0.45 g (95% confidence interval: -1.36, 0.45 g) for chloroform and 0.16 g (-1.38, 1.70 g) for brominated THMs. Overall, THMs were not associated with SGA, LBW, or preterm delivery.CONCLUSIONSDespite the high THM levels in some areas and the extensive exposure assessment, results suggest that residential THM exposure during pregnancy driven by inhalation and dermal contact routes is not associated with birth weight, SGA, LBW, or preterm delivery in Spain.
PB National Institute of Enviromental Health-Science (NIEHS)
SN 0091-6765
YR 2011
FD 2011-12
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10668/665
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10668/665
LA en
NO Villanueva CM, Gracia-Lavedán E, Ibarluzea J, Santa Marina L, Ballester F, Llop S, et al. Exposure to trihalomethanes through different water uses and birth weight, small for gestational age, and preterm delivery in Spain. Environ. Health Perspect.. 2011 Dec; 119(12):1824-30
NO Reproduced with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives. Journal Article; Meta-Analysis; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't;
DS RISalud
RD Jul 30, 2025