{ "abstract": "Background\n\nPregnant women conceiving via in vitro fertilization (IVF) represent a uniquely vulnerable population, yet the impact of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its specific chemical components on their fetal growth remains under-researched. This study aimed to investigate the associations between prenatal exposure to PM2.5 and its key components-sulfate (SO₄²⁻), nitrate (NO₃⁻), ammonium (NH4⁺), organic matter (OM), and black carbon (BC)-with the risk of small for gestational age (SGA) in IVF pregnancies.Methods\n\nA propensity score-matched case-control study was conducted in Guangzhou, China. From a source population of 1,459 women who conceived via IVF, 166 SGA cases were identified and matched 1:1 with controls. Exposure to PM2.5 and its components was estimated using time-weighted average concentrations for each trimester and the entire pregnancy. Logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs), and mixture analyses were employed to identify the dominant pollutants driving the observed risks.Results\n\nExposure to PM2.5 during the second trimester (OR = 1.082, 95% CI: 1.005-1.165) and third trimester (OR = 1.075, 95% CI: 1.002-1.154), and the entire pregnancy (OR = 1.124, 95% CI: 1.015-1.245) was significantly associated with an increased risk of SGA. Significant positive associations were also observed for SO₄²⁻, OM, and BC. Notably, mixture analyses identified NO₃⁻ as the primary driver of SGA risk. Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed no significant associations with these pollutants.Conclusions\n\nPrenatal exposure to PM2.5 and its components, particularly secondary inorganic aerosols and carbonaceous species, is significantly associated with impaired fetal growth in IVF-conceived pregnancies. These findings emphasize the need for component-specific air quality guidelines and targeted interventions to protect this high-risk population during critical gestational windows.", "abstract_shown": true, "affiliations": [ "Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Maternal and Children Health Care Hospital (Huzhong Hospital) of Huadu, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510800, China.", "Department of Pediatrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China.", "Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China.", "Division of Neonatology, The Maternal and Children Health Care Hospital（Huzhong Hospital) of Huadu, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510800, China.", "Maternal & Child Health Research Institute, Zhuhai Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to South China University of Technology, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519001, China.", "Department of Clinical Laboratory, Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital, Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China. 55768643@qq.com.", "Division of Neonatology, The Maternal and Children Health Care Hospital（Huzhong Hospital) of Huadu, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510800, China. zgy0539@126.com.", "Department of Pediatrics, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China. lisit@mail.sysu.edu.cn.", "Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China. lisit@mail.sysu.edu.cn.", "Department of Neonatology, Xinyi People's Hospital, Xinyi, Guangdong, 525300, China. lisit@mail.sysu.edu.cn." ], "article_type": "research article", "arxiv": null, "author_total": 9, "authors": [ { "affs": [ 0 ], "name": "Weiqi Liu" }, { "affs": [ 1, 2 ], "name": "Mengxian Liu" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Yaoxiang Tang" }, { "affs": [ 1, 2 ], "name": "Shiqi Yang" }, { "affs": [ 4 ], "name": "Fei Ma" }, { "affs": [ 3 ], "name": "Qiuzheng Yue" }, { "affs": [ 5 ], "name": "Weiling Liu" }, { "affs": [ 6 ], "name": "Guiying Zhuang" }, { "affs": [ 7, 8, 9 ], "name": "Sitao Li" } ], "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a0byt52935gff.bib", "cited_by": 0, "doi": "10.1186/s12889-026-28800-4", "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13689298", "id": "a0byt52935gff", "issns": [ "1471-2458" ], "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42919280", "language": "eng", "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND", "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND", "licence_source": "article", "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/", "metadata_licence": null, "native_subjects": [ [ "lcc", "RA1-1270" ], [ "openalex", "2307|Air Quality and Health Impacts" ] ], "openalex": "W7171465466", "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13689298?pdf=render", "pmcid": "PMC13689298", "pmid": "42919280", "published": "2026-07-01", "publisher": "BMC", "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a0byt52935gff.ris", "sources": [ { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:02Z", "native_id": "MED:42919280", "source": "europepmc", "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42919280" }, { "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:46:38Z", "native_id": "f01f2ed87e8244839050c3ce4e58c664", "source": "doaj", "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28800-4" } ], "subjects": [ { "field": "medicine", "origin": "openalex:2307|Air Quality and Health Impacts", "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology" } ], "title": "Maternal exposure to PM2.5 and its components and risk of small for gestational age in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a propensity score-matched case-control study in Guangzhou, China.", "title_text": "Maternal exposure to PM2.5 and its components and risk of small for gestational age in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a propensity score-matched case-control study in Guangzhou, China.", "type": "peer-reviewed", "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:46:38Z", "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a0byt52935gff", "venue": "BMC public health", "versions": [] }