Exposure to air pollution increases the probabilities of getting low birth weight in babies and the danger might be mitigated if pregnant women live in greener spaces, a latest study has found.

Studies have shown that children with low birth weight are at an increased risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) as they get older.

The newest study highlights the importance of reducing pollution and increasing green spaces in residential areas for the health of future generations. The findings were published in BMC Medicine.

Researchers used data from the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study, which incorporates details about 4,286 children and their moms. The study measured the greenness of the areas using satellite images and the pollution in the realm when it comes to five pollutants: nitrogen dioxide, ozone, black carbon and two varieties of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).

The team compared the birth weights of youngsters born to pregnant women exposed to numerous levels of pollution and located that higher levels of air pollution were linked with lower birth weight. The typical reductions in birth weight were 56g, 46g, 48g and 48g for PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide and black carbon respectively.

“The time when babies are growing within the womb is critical for lung development. We all know that babies with lower birth weights are liable to chest infections, and this may result in problems like asthma and COPD in a while,” said Robin Mzati Sinsamala, who presented the study on the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Italy on Sunday.

“Our results suggest that pregnant women exposed to air pollution, even at relatively low levels, give birth to smaller babies. In addition they suggest that living in a greener area could help counteract this effect. It might be that green areas are likely to have lower traffic or that plants help to clear the air of pollution, or green areas may mean it’s easier for pregnant women to be physically lively,” Sinsamala said.

Professor Arzu Yorgancioğlu, the chairperson of the European Respiratory Society Advocacy Council, said the study adds more evidence to the impact of air pollution on human health.

“This study adds to a growing body of evidence on the damage that air pollution is having on our health, especially in vulnerable babies and young children. Women who’re pregnant will wish to protect their babies from potential harm. Nevertheless, as individuals, it will probably be difficult to cut back our exposure to air pollution or make our neighborhoods greener,” explained Yorgancioğlu, who was not involved within the study.

“As doctors and researchers who care about kid’s health, we want to place pressure on governments and policymakers to lower the degrees of pollution within the air we breathe. This study also suggests that we could help to mitigate a number of the effects of pollution by making our neighborhoods greener,” Yorgancioğlu added.

Published by Medicaldaily.com