Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41862669›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

A case-control study identifying critical exposure windows in the association between ambient air pollution and spontaneous abortion.

Yingying Zhang, Zhiwei Zou, Haonan Dai, Leyao Wang, Jie Wang, Wen Sun, Hui Wang, Qingqing Dong, Wenlin Bai, Ruiling Fang and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. 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

15 authors.

Yingying ZhangShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Zhiwei ZouShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Haonan DaiShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Leyao WangShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Jie WangShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Wen SunShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Hui WangChangzhi maternal and child health care hospital, Changzhi, 046011, China.
Qingqing DongChangzhi maternal and child health care hospital, Changzhi, 046011, China.
Wenlin BaiShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Ruiling FangShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Yue ZhangShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Ping ZhangShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Wenping ZhangShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
Wenxia SongChangzhi maternal and child health care hospital, Changzhi, 046011, China. songwenxia.love@163.com.
Lijian LeiShanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Health Impairment and Prevention, NHC Key Laboratory of Pneumoconiosis, MOE Key Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China. wwdlijian@sxmu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Science Foundation of China No. 82103938Research Project Supported by Shanxi Scholarship Council of China No. 2022-113Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi 2020L0176Shanxi Basic Research Program Project No. 202303021221126Shanxi Province Higher Education Billion Project Science and Technology Guidance Project BYBLD002Shenzhen Ripson Institute of Stem Cell Regenerative Medicine Special R&D Project JCYJ202003010103Startup Foundation for Doctors of Shanxi Medical University XD1916Startup Foundation for Doctors of Shanxi Province SD1916Youth Science and Technology Research Foundation of Shanxi Province 20210302124038
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

To examine associations between early-pregnancy exposure to ambient air pollutants and spontaneous abortion (SA), identify lag windows using distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM), and explore the potential mechanisms via network toxicology. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Changzhi, Shanxi Province. Individual daily exposures were estimated using inverse distance weighting (IDW) based on residential geocoding and monitoring data. Multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for BMI, gestational age, gravidity, and parity. DLNM were applied to pollutants showing statistical significance in the logistic model. Network toxicology was used to identify overlapping targets, construct PPI networks, and perform GO/KEGG enrichment analyses. O₃ Q3 (vs. Q1) was inversely associated with SA (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.211–0.824). SO₂ showed positive gradient associations (Q3 vs. Q1: OR = 2.124, 95% CI: 1.068–4.291; Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 2.992, 95% CI: 1.536–5.946). DLNM suggested a lag-dependent SO₂ effect, peaking at lag 28 days (OR = 1.242, 95% CI: 1.0077–1.5363), with a significant association observed during lag 22–28 days, whereas O₃ displayed weak and inconsistent lag patterns. Network toxicology highlighted inflammation/immune-related pathways (e.g., Toll-like receptor and IL-17 signaling). SO₂ exposure was associated with increased SA risk with a more evident late-lag effect, while the inverse association for O₃ should be interpreted cautiously. Inflammation-related immune activation may be a plausible mechanistic pathway.

Indexed as

Abortion, SpontaneousAir PollutantsAir PollutionEnvironmental ExposureAdultCase-Control StudiesChinaFemaleHumansLogistic ModelsOzonePregnancyAir PollutantsOzoneAir pollution monitorsCritical exposure windowsDistributed lag nonlinear modelsEarly pregnancySpontaneous abortions

Identifiers

PMID41862669
PMCPMC13144535

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.