Premature Births Linked To Air Pollution, Costs More Than $4 Billion Each Year

For the first time, a new study has quantified the cost of premature births associated with air pollution. The new study estimates the economic costs linked to premature births to be a whopping $4 billion each year in the United States.

There's growing evidence that claims pollution is one of the contributing factors of premature births in the United States. According to CBS News, the study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives on March 29, states that a staggering 16,000 premature deaths in the U.S. have been linked to air pollution in 2010.

That is 3 percent of the total premature deaths of 475,368 nationwide. The result is a massive economic cost of $4.33 billion, which includes $760 million on hospital stay and long-term use of medications, and another $3.57 billion lost in economic productivity due to physical or mental disabilities that may result from premature births.

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For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Institute of Medicine, reports Science Daily. For each county, they determined the average level of pollution and the number of premature births.

After which, they identified long-term health impacts as shown in previous studies. The effects could range from death, reduced IQ level, and work absences due to prolonged hospitalizations or deteriorating health.

With these findings, there's an urgent need for policymakers to make drastic moves to curb air pollution in the country. "Without data documenting the health effects of air pollution on preterm births, there's only one side to that discussion," lead author Dr. Leonardo Trasande, an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Population Health and Environmental Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, told CBS News.

Trasande and his team are planning to present the findings to policy makers so they can make corresponding regulations and laws to limit pollution in the country. The researchers quantified the resulting effects of pollution, so lawmakers can easily grasp its impact not only socially but economically as well.

Dr. Trasande added the staggering economic cost can be avoided by limiting emissions from automobiles and coal-fired power plants. It is also recommended for individuals to use air filters and close windows of the house and reduce time spent outdoors, especially on days with high levels of air pollution.

There will be further research according to Dr. Trasande to determine the effects of particulate matter in any of the pregnancy stages. As of the moment, the study findings are limited in the U.S., but researchers hope they could conduct one that will cover globally. To know more effects of pollution during pregnancy, check out the video below: