The association of fractional cover, foliage projective cover and biodiversity with birthweight

Dwan Vilcins; Peter Scarth; Peter D Sly; Paul Jagals; Luke D Knibbs; Peter Baker

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143051

The association of fractional cover, foliage projective cover and biodiversity with birthweight

Sci Total Environ. 2021 Apr 1:763:143051. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143051. Epub 2020 Oct 17.

Authors

Dwan Vilcins¹, Peter Scarth², Peter D Sly³, Paul Jagals⁴, Luke D Knibbs⁵, Peter Baker⁶

Affiliations

¹ Children's Health and Environment Program, The University of Queensland, L7 Centre for Children's Health Research, 62 Graham St, South Brisbane 4101, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: d.vilcins@uq.edu.au.
² School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, L2, Room 210, Steele Building, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia, 4072. Electronic address: p.scarth@uq.edu.au.
³ Children's Health and Environment Program, The University of Queensland, L7 Centre for Children's Health Research, 62 Graham St, South Brisbane 4101, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: p.sly@uq.edu.au.
⁴ Children's Health and Environment Program, The University of Queensland, L7 Centre for Children's Health Research, 62 Graham St, South Brisbane 4101, QLD, Australia. Electronic address: p.jagals@uq.edu.au.
⁵ School of Public Health, Public Health Building, 288 Herston Rd, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4006, Australia. Electronic address: l.knibbs@uq.edu.au.
⁶ School of Public Health, Public Health Building, 288 Herston Rd, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4006, Australia. Electronic address: p.baker1@uq.edu.au.

PMID: 33127150
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143051

Abstract

Introduction: Environmental exposures can contribute both benefits and risks to human health. Maternal exposure to green space has been associated with improvements in birthweight, among other birth outcomes. Newer measures of green space have been developed, which allows for an exploration of the effect of different ground covers (green, dry and bare earth), as well as measures of biodiversity. This study explores the association of these novel green space measures with birthweight in a large birth cohort in Queensland, Australia.

Methods: Birthweight was acquired from the routine health records. Records were allocated green space values for fractional cover, biodiversity and foliage projective cover. Directed acyclic graphs were developed to guide variable selection. Mixed-effects linear regression and generalised linear mixed-effects models were developed, with random intercepts for maternal residential locality and year of birth. Results are presented as standardised beta coefficients or odds ratios, with 95% confidence intervals.

Results: An IQR increase of green cover (29.6 g, 95% CI 13.8-45.5) and foliage projective cover (26.0 g, 95% CI 10.8-41.3) are associated with birthweight in urban areas. An IQR increase in dry cover -34.4 g, 95% CI -60.4 to -8.4) and bare earth (-17.7 g, 95% CI -32.8 to -2.6) are associated with lower birthweight. Mothers living in rural areas had similar results, with an IQR increase in green cover (17.8 g, 95% CI 2.9-32.7) associated with higher birthweight, and bare earth (-27.7 g, 95% CI -45.7 to -9.7) was associated with lower birthweight. The biodiversity measure used in this study was not associated with any birthweight outcomes.

Conclusion: This study finds that the types of ground cover within the maternal residential locality are associated with small, but significant, changes in estimated birthweight, and these effects are not limited to urban areas.

Keywords: Environmental health; Green space; Greenness; Large for gestational age; Small for gestational age; Vegetation.

MeSH terms

Australia
Biodiversity*
Birth Weight
Environmental Exposure*
Female
Humans
Queensland