BEIJING (AP) — A study shows that women in the final stage of pregnancy during the 2008 Beijing Olympics — when officials strictly controlled pollution — gave birth to heavier babies than in years when the Chinese capital was smoggier.
The study, led by epidemiologist David Q. Rich of University of Rochester Medical Center and published Wednesday in Environmental Health Perspectives, found babies born to Beijing mothers in their eighth month of pregnancy during the Olympics were on average 23 grams (0.81 ounce) heavier than those born a year earlier or a year later.
It found no significant effect for mothers in their first through seventh month of pregnancy during the Olympics.
Studies previously have linked pollution to birth weight, but didn’t pinpoint at what stage during the pregnancy the association is greatest.
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