This study investigated the association between prenatal greenspace exposure and low birth weight (LBW) in Iran using a nationwide retrospective cohort of 4,021,741 live births. Greenness exposure was assessed using satellite-based NDVI and EVI. Analyses revealed an L-shaped exposure-response relationship, with each 0.1-unit rise in NDVI/EVI associated with a 7.0–11.5% decline in LBW odds. Counterfactual analyses suggested that achieving greenness targets could avoid 3931–5099 LBW births (4.4–5.6% of the total). The findings highlight the potential health benefits of improved greenspace in reducing LBW risk and burden in low- and middle-income countries.

Siqi Luo, Yaqi Wang, Fatemeh Mayvaneh, Helder Relvas, Mohammad Baaghideh, Kai Wang, Yang Yuan, Zhouxin Yin, Yunquan Zhang