Air pollution causes underweight in babies

Underweight newborns due to air pollution

02/07/2013

Air pollution has a negative effect on the birth weight of children. An international research team involving such renowned institutions as the US Department of Health „Centers for Disease Control and Prevention“ (CDC), Yale University (USA); The University of British Columbia (Canada), Utrecht University (Netherlands), Newcastle University (England), Ewha Womans University in Seoul (South Korea) and the University of Sydney (Australia) have made a comprehensive study of possible links between the University of Analyzed air pollution and birth weight in children.

In previous studies, there was increasing evidence that a „maternal exposure to air pollution is associated with adverse effects on fetal growth“, the researchers report in the journal „Environmental Health Perspectives“. However, the available literature comes to inconsistent results. Therefore, the researchers evaluated the data from 14 birth centers in nine countries worldwide. Overall, the scientists were able to draw on the data of about three million births in their meta-analysis. „To study the relationships between maternal exposure to particulate matter pollution and low birth weight“ Researchers compared neonatal data with estimated air pollution on the spot. Births were considered in Asia, Europe, Australia, North and South America. The higher the level of air pollution, the more children were born underweight, the researchers write.

Particulate pollution of the mother leads to lower birth weight of the children
In their investigations, the scientists evaluated the particulate matter in the air with particles smaller than 10 micrometers (PM10) and smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5). When comparing the particulate matter concentration - measured in micrograms per cubic meter - with the birth weight of the children, there was an association with a too low birth weight (less than 2.5 kilograms) at both high PM10 and PM2.5 levels. According to the experts, children's low birth weight is often associated with a higher susceptibility to first-week illnesses, they are at a higher risk of dying prematurely and are increasingly suffering from chronic diseases. Government regulation or minimization of air pollution was therefore urgently advised. For example, the „Clean Air Act“ In the US, it has been shown that the cost of reducing air pollution is lower than the „Gain for health and well-being“ the population, reports the co-author of the post, Tracey Woodruff of the University of California in San Francisco.

National limit values ​​for air pollution
The results of the international team of researchers are alarming and highlight the urgent need for national legislation to reduce air pollution. Because in countries with stricter air pollution laws, not only are the actual levels of air pollution lower, but significantly fewer children are born with low birth weight. Limitations of air pollution, as in the US by the Clean Air Act, which requires a PM10 concentration of up to 150 micrograms per cubic meter of air as a daily average, which may be exceeded at most once a year, thus have a very far-reaching effect. In the European Union a daily average PM10 concentration of 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air is allowed, which may be exceeded for a maximum of seven days a year. In addition, an average annual value of 20 micrograms per cubic meter of air must be maintained throughout Europe for PM10 particulate matter pollution. (Fp)