Tracking trends in reproductive outcomes such as premature birth , low birthweight , growth retardation , and shifts in sex ratio at birth is an important step towards improving birth outcomes.

Adverse Birth Outcomes

The EPHT Program tracks adverse birth outcomes because they have been associated with exposures to outdoor air pollution and drinking water contamination.

Reproductive and Birth Outcomes and the Environment

Why are we concerned about environmental exposures like pollution and reproductive outcomes?

The fetus develops many organ systems during pregnancy; there are critical windows of development where environmental exposures could damage growth and function.

Examples: Known risk factors : Smoking during pregnancy and Intrauterine Growth Retardation IUGR.

Comparison of effects:

• Active smoking during pregnancy reduces birthweight by about 200 g.
• Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) exposure during pregnancy reduces birthweight by 30 g.

Possible risk factors: Pesticide exposure during pregnancy and childhood neurodevelopment outcomes (ASD)

Adverse Birth Outcome Data

The NH EPHT Program is tracking 2 vital statistic indicators and provides the following reproductive and birth outcomes data:

• Prematurity
• Growth retardation

Birth records are derived from the collection of vital statistics on birth and deaths. Data for Birth Outcomes in New Hampshire are available on the Environmental Health Data Integration Network (EHDIN).

Definitions of birth conditions

For more information on Birth Outcomes:

• Reproductive health and birth outcomes
• The effects of Workplace Hazards on Female Reproductive Health
• CDC Pregnancy Information
• March of Dimes
• Health Resources and Services Administration
• Tobacco Use and Pregnancy: CDC

 Adobe Acrobat Reader format. You can download a free reader from Adobe.