Air pollution exposure curbs foetal growth

Women who are exposed to air pollution during pregnancy have a greater risk of having a smaller baby, new research has revealed.

The study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, found that exposure to air pollution during early and late pregnancy could restrict the normal growth of the developing foetus.

The report found that the risk of a small birth weight baby rose significantly with every ten parts per billion increase in nitrogen dioxide.

Researchers based their findings on data collected from almost 336,000 births between 1999 and 2003 in New Jersey, taking into account factors such as tobacco use during pregnancy.

Daily readings of air pollution from monitoring points within six miles of the mothers’ homes were used to calculate levels of exposure to air pollution during each of the three stages of pregnancy.

Previous research has suggested that air pollution might cut the amount of oxygen and nutrients the baby receives while in the womb, but the authors of this latest report stressed that exactly how air pollution might restrict foetal growth is unclear.