Maternal Exposure to PM _2.5 and the Risk of Congenital Heart Defects in 1.4 Million Births: A Nationwide Surveillance-Based Study

Abstract

High maternal PM_2.5 exposure, especially during the preconception period, increases risk of certain types of CHD in offspring. These findings are useful for CHD prevention and highlight the public health benefits of improving air quality in China and other highly polluted regions.