Abstract: Retraction Note to: J Zhejiang Univ-Sci B (Biomed & Biotechnol) 2019 20(3):238-252. https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1800122. The authors have retracted this article (Guo et al., 2019) because some data from the original literature had not been converted to appropriate units in the paper, which resulted in deviation of the meta-analysis results. For example, for the forest plot used to examine associations between PM₁₀ exposure and the risk of adverse birth outcomes, the estimates from Brauer et al. (2008), Pedersen et al. (2013), Zhao et al. (2015), and Hansen et al. (2006) were on the originally reported scales of 1 µg/m³, 10 µg/m³, 10 µg/m³, and Inter Quartile Range, respectively. None of these estimates had been converted to 20 µg/m³ increase scale that was stated in the article. Similar problem exists in the analysis on associations between NO₂ exposure and risk of adverse birth outcomes. Therefore, the results of the meta-analysis are misleading. All authors have agreed to this retraction and express their deepest apologies to the original authors, publishers, and readers.

Key words: Air pollution; Low birth weight; Preterm birth; Meta-analysis; Adverse birth outcome

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