Association between maternal exposure to arsenic by drinking water during pregnancy and risk of preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Int J Environ Health Res. 2024 Aug;34(8):2947-2956. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2023.2280155. Epub 2023 Nov 15.

Abstract

The relation of exposure to arsenic in drinking water during pregnancy to the risk of preterm birth (PTB) was contradictory. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the association between drinking water arsenic and PTB. A systematic search in PubMed and Scopus was performed to achieve all relevant studies. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to pool data using the random-effect models. Overall, 11 studies with a total sample size of 3,404,189 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Arsenic exposure through drinking water during pregnancy was related to an increased risk of PTB (OR = 1.06; 95%CI = 1.01-1.10 for highest versus lowest category of arsenic), with significant heterogeneity across the studies (I2 = 84.8%, P = 0.001). This finding was supported by cohort studies (OR = 1.05; 95%CI = 1.01-1.10). This meta-analysis proposes that higher arsenic exposure in drinking water may be a risk factor for PTB.

Keywords: Arsenic; meta-analysis; pregnancy; preterm birth; water.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic* / analysis
  • Arsenic* / toxicity
  • Drinking Water* / analysis
  • Drinking Water* / chemistry
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Maternal Exposure* / adverse effects
  • Maternal Exposure* / statistics & numerical data
  • Pregnancy
  • Premature Birth* / chemically induced
  • Premature Birth* / epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / analysis
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical* / toxicity

Substances

  • Arsenic
  • Drinking Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical