Air Pollution May Lead To Smaller Babies
It’s no secret that air pollution is a bad thing, it causes many different problems including one maybe not all that surprising one: smaller babies.
From an article from by CBS News:
Heavy exposure to the traffic exhaust pollutant nitrogen dioxide during all three trimesters was linked to an increased risk for restricted fetal growth. The researchers reported that risk of a baby being born very small for gestational age rose significantly with each 10 parts per billion increase in nitrogen dioxide exposure.
Along with all the normal risks to a growing baby (mother’s age, smoking, etc) comes the risk of air pollution especially pollution from car exhaust. The study shows a correlation between where the mother lives, her gestational age, and the health of her baby. Inhaling the pollutants in the air can lead to many other health issues as well.
The lead researcher David Q. Rich, ScD, MPH of the study, examined birth certificates and discharge records of 336,000 full term births from 1999 throughout 2003.
Heavy exposure to the traffic exhaust pollutant nitrogen dioxide during all three trimesters was linked to an increased risk for restricted fetal growth. The researchers reported that risk of a baby being born very small for gestational age rose significantly with each 10 parts per billion increase in nitrogen dioxide exposure.
The doctors involved with the study say that more research is needed.
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