Air pollution increases risks of premature births: Study

Nursery Today    09-Jun-2025
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New Delhi: Air pollution increases the risk of premature births in pregnant women. This was revealed in a recent study published in the Environmental Science and Technology Journal. The study was conducted at Emory University in the US on 330 African American pregnant women in Atlanta.

Experts are of the opinion that pregnant women living in such areas as have higher traffic movement are exposed to PM2.5 fine particles in the air, mostly from car emissions. These emissions when inhaled can be harmful and lead to increased premature births.

Two specific substances in the body, cortexolone and lysoPE(20:3), were linked to short-term exposure to this pollution. Cortexolone is a hormone that helps control inflammation and immune response, while lysoPE(20:3) is a fat important for cell function. These substances make it clear how air pollution has been affecting pregnancy.

 

The study also showed that air pollution disrupts the body's processes of proteins and amino acids; these elements play a significant role in a baby's growth. Therefore, this is expected to increase the risk of premature births of babies.
 

Lead researcher Dr. Donghai Liang said, “This is the first time we’ve been able to see the detailed pathway that connects air pollution to early births.”

 

In view of the study, new strategies need to be developed in future for the safety of those pregnant women who are living in polluted areas and don’t have resources to move away from such places.

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