women exposed pollution They give birth to babies smaller than air Above average, according to research at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy. The same research also shows that there are women living. They give birth to larger offspring in greener, forested areas.
According to scientists, there is a strong relationship between birth weight and lung health. Asthma risk increases in low birth weight newborns and higher rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as we age.
There is a need to reduce air pollution and make towns and cities greener to protect newborn babies and their developing lungs from possible harm, researchers say.
The study was based on data from the Respiratory Health in Northern Europe (RHINE) study and was presented by Robin Mzati Sinsamala, a researcher at the Department of Global Public Health at the University of Bergen (UiB), Norway. 4,286 children and their mothers participated in the researchresidents of five European countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Estonia).
Using satellite images, the researchers measured the extent of vegetation cover in the areas where the women lived during pregnancy. These green spaces included forests and agricultural lands, as well as parks in urban areas. Researchers also They used data on five pollutants: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone, black carbon (BC), and two types of microparticles (PM2.5 and PM10).
They found that average air pollution levels were in line with European Union standards. Researchers They compared this information to the babies’ birth weightOther factors known to affect birth weight are also taken into account, such as the mother’s age, whether she smokes, and other health conditions.
Smaller with pollution, larger in green areas
Scientists have found that higher levels of air pollution are linked to lower baby weight. Presence of PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and BC microparticles caused by transportation and industrial emissions, The average reduction in birth weight was 56 grams, 46 grams, 48 grams and 48 grams, respectively.
The changes range from less than 56 grams in babies born in polluted areas to 27 grams in those born in green areas.
On the other hand, when researchers analyzed the situation in regions with green zones, it was seen that the situation was exactly the opposite. The women living there had babies. slightly higher birth weight (27 grams more on average) than mothers living in less green areas
Sinsamala said: “The timing of babies’ growth in the womb is critical for lung development. We know that low birth weight babies are susceptible to respiratory infections and this can then lead to problems such as asthma and COPD”.
“Our results show that pregnant women exposed to air pollution, even at relatively low levels, give birth to smaller babies. They also suggest that living in a greener area may help counteract this effect. Perhaps: Green areas tend to have less traffic or vegetation helps clear air pollutionor that green spaces mean it’s easier for pregnant women to be physically active,” he said.
Low birth weight babies are susceptible to respiratory infections and may experience problems such as asthma and COPD later in life.
The study is part of a larger research program called Life-GAP (Lifespan and Intergenerational Respiratory Effects of Green Exposures and Air Pollution), which examines the lung health effects of air pollution and green spaces across European generations over time.
“We must put pressure on governments”
Professor Arzu Yorgancıoğlu, Chair of the European Respiratory Society Advocacy Council, who was not involved in the research, said: “This study adds to the growing body of evidence about the damage air pollution does to our health, particularly vulnerable babies and young children. Pregnant women will want to protect their babies from possible harm, but As individuals, it can be difficult to reduce our exposure to air pollution. or making our neighborhoods greener.”
“As doctors and researchers who care about child health, We must put pressure on governments and policymakers to reduce pollution levels in the air we breathe. This study also suggests we may be able to help mitigate some of the effects of pollution. “We’re making our neighborhoods greener.”
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