Background: Studies looking at air temperature (Ta) and birth outcomes are rare.

Objectives: We investigated the association between birth outcomes and daily Ta during various prenatal exposure periods in Massachusetts (USA) using both traditional Ta stations and modeled addresses.

Methods: We evaluated birth outcomes and average daily Ta during various prenatal exposure periods in Massachusetts (USA) using both traditional Ta stations and modeled address Ta. We used linear and logistic mixed models and accelerated failure time models to estimate associations between Ta and the following outcomes among live births > 22 weeks: term birth weight (≥ 37 weeks), low birth weight (LBW; < 2,500 g at term), gestational age, and preterm delivery (PT; < 37 weeks). Models were adjusted for individual-level socioeconomic status, traffic density, particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM_2.5), random intercept for census tract, and mother’s health.

Results: Predicted Ta during multiple time windows before birth was negatively associated with birth weight: Average birth weight was 16.7 g lower (95% CI: –29.7, –3.7) in association with an interquartile range increase (8.4°C) in Ta during the last trimester. Ta over the entire pregnancy was positively associated with PT [odds ratio (OR) = 1.02; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.05] and LBW (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.13).

Conclusions: Ta during pregnancy was associated with lower birth weight and shorter gestational age in our study population.

Citation: Kloog I, Melly SJ, Coull BA, Nordio F, Schwartz JD. 2015. Using satellite-based spatiotemporal resolved air temperature exposure to study the association between ambient air temperature and birth outcomes in Massachusetts. Environ Health Perspect 123:1053–1058;  http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1308075

Address correspondence to I. Kloog, Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer Sheva, Israel. Telephone: 972-86428394. E-mail: ikloog@bgu.ac.il

This study was funded by the Harvard U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Particulate Matter Clean Air Research Center (Harvard EPA PM CLARC) (grant R-834798), the National Institute of Environmental Sciences/National Institutes of Health (grant ES000002), and the following R21 climate grants: ES020695 and AG040027.

The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.

Received: 31 December 2013 Accepted: 2 April 2015 Advance Publication: 7 April 2015 Final Publication: 1 October 2015

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