Linking Wildfire Exposure Data to Vital Records to Study Wildfire Smoke Exposures During Pregnancy and Infant Birth Weight | Nat
Source: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/chords/research/pregnancy
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
Linking Wildfire Exposure Data to Vital Records to Study Wildfire Smoke Exposures During Pregnancy and Infant Birth Weight | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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Linking Wildfire Exposure Data to Vital Records to Study Wildfire Smoke Exposures During Pregnancy and Infant Birth Weight
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Connecting Health Outcomes Research and Data Systems (CHORDS)
This article demonstrates the use of state level vital statistics records for a study investigating the impact of wildfire smoke exposures during pregnancy on infant birth weight. The vital statistics records included population data for the study area which were used to create comparison groups of unexposed births from before and after the wildfire.
Summary:
Holstius et al. (2012) assessed the impact of wildfire-related exposures during pregnancy on infant birth weight. They obtained vital records data from the California Center for Health Statistics for singleton term births and compared infant birth weights from pregnancies that took place entirely before or after the 2003 southern California wildfires. Exposure windows were defined using reports from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and MODIS satellite imagery. Satellite images were also used to determine geographic locations impacted by the fires. Exposure windows and geographic areas were linked to gestational stages and mother’s place of residence, from vital records, to determine pregnancies exposed to the wildfires.
Exposure Data
Health Data
Satellite Data Sources:
CA Department of Forestry & Fire Protection:
California Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health Services
NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery
Supporting Publication:
Birth Weight Following Pregnancy During the 2003 Southern California Wildfires
Holstius DM, Reid CE, Jesdale BM, Morello-Frosch R. Birth weight following pregnancy during the 2003 Southern California wildfires. Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Sep;120(9):1340-5. Doi: 10.1289/ehp.1104515. Epub 2012 May 29. PMID: 22645279; PMCID: PMC3440113. [
Abstract
]
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Last Reviewed: February 06, 2026
Skip Navigation
Linking Wildfire Exposure Data to Vital Records to Study Wildfire Smoke Exposures During Pregnancy and Infant Birth Weight
Close the left navigation
Connecting Health Outcomes Research and Data Systems (CHORDS)
This article demonstrates the use of state level vital statistics records for a study investigating the impact of wildfire smoke exposures during pregnancy on infant birth weight. The vital statistics records included population data for the study area which were used to create comparison groups of unexposed births from before and after the wildfire.
Summary:
Holstius et al. (2012) assessed the impact of wildfire-related exposures during pregnancy on infant birth weight. They obtained vital records data from the California Center for Health Statistics for singleton term births and compared infant birth weights from pregnancies that took place entirely before or after the 2003 southern California wildfires. Exposure windows were defined using reports from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and MODIS satellite imagery. Satellite images were also used to determine geographic locations impacted by the fires. Exposure windows and geographic areas were linked to gestational stages and mother’s place of residence, from vital records, to determine pregnancies exposed to the wildfires.
Exposure Data
Health Data
Satellite Data Sources:
CA Department of Forestry & Fire Protection:
California Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health Services
NASA Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite imagery
Supporting Publication:
Birth Weight Following Pregnancy During the 2003 Southern California Wildfires
Holstius DM, Reid CE, Jesdale BM, Morello-Frosch R. Birth weight following pregnancy during the 2003 Southern California wildfires. Environ Health Perspect. 2012 Sep;120(9):1340-5. Doi: 10.1289/ehp.1104515. Epub 2012 May 29. PMID: 22645279; PMCID: PMC3440113. [
Abstract
]
Back
to Top
Last Reviewed: February 06, 2026