Fine particle pollution may raise risks for pregnant parents and their children: Study

Source: The Hill

11/29/24 2:00 PM ET


The tiny pollutants emitted by fossil fuel combustion and wildfires may be raising the risk of adverse birth outcomes, a study has found. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) can cause higher inflammation levels in pregnant people, potentially causing negative impacts to their children, according to the study, published Friday in Science.

Previous research had already identified associations between exposure to PM 2.5 and maternal and child health issues, including preeclampsia, low birth weight and developmental delays in early childhood. But this latest study, conducted by a Harvard University-led research team in California, is the first to explore the relationship between these pollutants and maternal and fetal health on a single-cell level.

“This study represents a substantial step forward in understanding the biological pathways through which PM 2.5 exposure affects pregnancy, maternal health, and fetal development,” corresponding author Kari Nadeau, a professor of climate and population studies at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said in a statement.

PM 2.5 pollution — generated from the combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel and wood — can come from a variety of sources, including motor vehicle exhaust, industrial processes, residential wood-burning and wildfires. Breathing in these particles can raise the risk of a variety of health problems, including heart disease, asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5010833-fine-particle-pollution-birth-outcomes-study/