Racial/ethnic disparities in the impact of climate-related stressors and fetal growth-related outcomes in Harris County, Texas

This project seeks to evaluate the impact of climate-related stressors (i.e., PM2.5 and extreme heat) on racial/ethnic disparities in fetal growth-related outcomes using birth records from the Texas Department of State Health Services for Harris County, Texas, 2018–2020. Daily PM2.5 concentrations and mean air temperature at the census tract-level will be used to estimate exposures across the gestational period based on a mother’s address at delivery. Race/ethnicity-specific associations between prenatal exposure to climate-related stressors (i.e., PM2.5 and extreme heat) and alterations in birth weight will be examined. We will also examine whether extreme heat exposure modifies associations between exposure to PM2.5 and alterations in birth weight.