Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41286689›Full record

SynthesisBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025

Association between maternal exposure to oil and gas extraction process with adverse birth outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ali Mohammad Latifi, Fatemeh Abdi, Mohammad Miri, Sara Ashtari, Seyedeh Noushin Ghalandarpoor-Attar, Milad Mohamadzadeh, Abbas Ali Imani Fooladi, Shahab Uddin, Amir Vahedian-Azimi

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ali Mohammad LatifiMedical Biotechnology, Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8952-5174
Fatemeh AbdiNursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8338-166X
Mohammad MiriDepartment of Environmental Health, Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9424-6487
Sara AshtariGastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1108-664X
Seyedeh Noushin Ghalandarpoor-AttarPerinatology, Medicine Faculty, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0093-4335
Milad MohamadzadehApplied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-1131-6553
Abbas Ali Imani FooladiApplied Microbiology Research Center, Biomedicine Technologies Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7339-8257
Shahab UddinTranslational Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, 3050, Doha, Qatar.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1886-6710
Amir Vahedian-AzimiNursing Care Research Center, Clinical Sciences Institute, Nursing Faculty, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Sheykh Bahayi Street, P.O. Box 19575-174, Vanak Square Tehran, Iran. amirvahedian63@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1678-7608

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOil and gas extraction plays a critical role in global energy supply and economic development, but it is increasingly associated with adverse health outcomes, particularly during pregnancy. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the relationship between maternal exposure to oil and gas pollutants and selected adverse birth outcomes.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to June 16, 2024. We included studies assessing the effects of maternal exposure to oil and gas extraction processes on preterm birth (PTB), miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, small for gestational age (SGA), low birth weight (LBW), and birth weight (BW). Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and GRADE framework. From 4,235 screened articles, 24 studies met inclusion criteria.

resultsOur analyses revealed statistically significant associations between maternal exposure and increased odds of PTB (pooled OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01-1.13), miscarriage (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.60-2.58), SGA (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05-1.45), and reduced BW (mean difference: -30.36 g, 95% CI: -43.98 to -17.28). No significant associations were observed for stillbirth (OR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.68-1.40), birth defects (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.84-1.53), or LBW (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.93-1.24). Substantial heterogeneity was present across most outcomes, and publication bias could not be ruled out in several analyses.

conclusionsThese findings suggest possible associations between maternal exposure to oil and gas extraction processes and several adverse birth outcomes, including PTB, miscarriage, SGA, and LBW. However, due to methodological variability, potential biases, and high heterogeneity among studies, these results should be interpreted with caution. Further research with standardized exposure assessments and larger, population-based cohorts is needed to confirm and refine these associations.

Indexed as

Maternal ExposureOil and Gas IndustryPregnancy OutcomeAbortion, SpontaneousCongenital AbnormalitiesFemaleHumansInfant, Low Birth WeightInfant, NewbornInfant, Small for Gestational AgePregnancyPremature BirthStillbirthBirth defect and low birth weightBirth outcomesMaternal exposureMiscarriageOil and gas extractionPreterm birthSmall for gestational ageStillbirth

Identifiers

PMID41286689
PMCPMC12645784

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.