14 DAY TRIAL // In a recent paper in the journal Environmental Research, scientists with the Tel Aviv University in Israel and their colleagues argue that children born to mothers exposed to air pollution are more likely to experience various health trouble.
Thus, the researchers say that air pollution ups a child's risk to present congenital defects. This find is all the more worrying given the fact that, in this day and age, many urban regions around the world are struggling with tainted air.
Documenting the link between air pollution and birth defects
In their report in the journal Environmental Research, the Tel Aviv University specialists and colleagues explain that, as part of this study, they monitored the health condition of 216,730 children born in Israel between the years 1997 and 2004.
Prior to assessing the health of these infants, the researchers took the time to collect and process data concerning the levels of air pollution that their mothers were exposed to while expecting.
The air pollutants that this investigation focused on were as follows: sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and ozone. Air concentrations of these pollutants were monitored using stations up and running close to the mothers' place of residence.
The outcome of this study is worrying to say the least
Having compiled information concerning the health condition of the 216,730 children included in this study and the levels of air pollution their mothers were exposed to while pregnant, the researchers found evidence that toxic compounds in the air can affect infants while they are still in the womb.
More precisely, they found that having a mother breathe in particulate matter and nitrogen oxides while expecting ups her unborn child's risk to present congenital malformations. By the looks of it, these compounds hit the circulatory system the hardest.
Exposure to sulfur dioxide and ozone was also found to up the risk of congenital malformations. The somewhat good news is that, in the case of these two air pollutants, the link was not as strong as it was when the scientists looked at particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
Commenting on the outcome of this investigation, specialist Liat Lerner-Geva said, “Our results suggest that exposure to higher levels of air pollution during pregnancy is associated with various adverse pregnancy outcomes.”
Interestingly enough, evidence at hand indicates that children conceived with the help of assisted reproductive technologies are more likely to be affected by air pollution while still in the womb than children who are the result of spontaneous conception.
