Air Pollution: Even Small Amounts Could Have Long-Term Effects For Developing Fetus

Low level exposure of a woman pre-conception and during pregnancy to particulate matter increases the risk of intrauterine inflammation, according to a study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. IUI was said to be a significant risk factor for preterm birth and neurodevelopmental concerns.

Researchers looked into the association between a mother's exposure to particulate matter and intrauterine inflammation in the Boston Birth Cohort, which is a predominantly urban and low-income minority population. Besides preterm births, lifelong neurological and respiratory disorders for children were also linked to small amounts of air pollution, per the study published in Environmental Health Perspectives.

Study Authors Weigh In On Past Findings And Present Standards

"Twenty years ago, we showed that high levels of air pollution led to poor pregnancy outcomes, including premature births," said senior author, Xiaobin Wang, MD, ScD, MPH, as per Science Daily. "Now we are showing that even small amounts of air pollution appear to have biological effects at the cellular level in pregnant women."

#medicine Even a little air pollution may have long-term health effec... https://t.co/tK7osSPlX6

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Meanwhile, the study's lead author, Rebecca Massa Nachman, PhD, said that the results raise concern that present air pollution standards may not be stringent enough to ensure the protection of the fetus. "We found biological effects in women exposed to air pollution levels below the [Environmental Protection Agency] EPA standard," Nachman said, according to Science Daily.

Air Pollution And The Placenta

IUI affects the placenta of pregnant women, The Baltimore Sun reported. It is through the placenta that the mother gives her fetus blood, oxygen and nutrition.

One cause of IUI seems to be air pollution from car exhaust, power plants and other industrial sources. The researchers said that IUI occurs in one out of nine births in the United States and one out of six African-American births.

"The placenta may be a window into what is going on in terms of early life exposure and what it means for future health problems," Wang said. Wang added that the placenta is a potential source of environmental information.

Should the EPA review its air pollution standards due to the results of this study? Share your thoughts below.