This study explored the association of exposure to air pollutants during gestational and the first year of life with physical growth in preschoolers. The linear and logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations between air pollution and childhood growth. After adjusting for confounders, z-scores of body mass index (zBMI, and 95% confidence intervals, 95%CI) increased by 1.164(1.054,1.285), 1.136(1.050,1.228) and 1.165(1.041,1.303), associated with per interquartile range (IQR) increase in NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), PM2.5 and PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤2.5 μm and 10 μm) during gestational, respectively. The odds ratios (and 95%CI) of childhood overweight/obesity associated with per IQR increase in NO2, PM2.5 and PM10 during gestational were 1.425(1.168,1.737), 1.255(1.087,1.450) and 1.332(1.104,1.605). Positive associations were found between air pollution during the first year of life and zBMI or overweight/obesity. Our findings suggest exposure to air pollution were associated with childhood growth, and improving air quality is beneficial for childhood growth.
Keywords: Air pollution; China; childhood growth; obesity; prenatal exposure.