Urban Pollution Increases Premature Birth
We all know that air pollution can be harmful for human health, it can even reduce baby weight and shorten human age! Well, according to research, the risks of giving birth prematurely in pregnant women who lives in big cities are 30 percent higher compared to those who lives in rural areas.
It was known that 30 percent increase of premature births was caused by chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) which is a byproduct of gasoline, coming from smoke due to busy traffic.
Benzene, petrochemical, and diesel fumes causes a 10 percent increase of premature births, while ammonium nitrate from agriculture and industry increases the threat by 21 percent.
There are other interesting things found by the researchers, like how coastal cities have cleaner air than inland cities, and it was also noted that pollutant concentrations is higher in winter than in summer.
“Air pollution is known to be associated with low birth weight and preterm birth,” said study author, Dr. Beate Ritz, according to the Daily Mail.
“Our results show traffic-related PAH is a particular concern as a pollutant and that the sources of PAH other than traffic contributes to premature birth.”
“The increased risk due to the ammonium nitrate particles show that secondary pollutants also have a negative impact on the health of unborn babies.”
Los Angeles is an area which is famous for its automobile-related air pollution, and researchers from the University of California investigated 100,000 births which are in the five-mile radius of the air quality monitoring stations in the state.
The result of this study which was published in the ‘Environmental Health’ journal, revealed that increasing concentrations of PAHs, gasoline, or diesel can increase the risk of premature birth.
“Some of the pollutants are specific areas, related to industry and urbanization. However, overall exposure to pollutants is important, such as PAH, resulting in an increase to 30 percent risk of preterm delivery,” says Dr. Ritz.
“Other toxic substances, such as benzene and fine particles from diesel fumes, are associated with an increase of 10 percent, while the fine particles of ammonium nitrate are associated with an increase of 21 percent.”
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