Irish Wedding News
15/10/2013
A study, which was conducted by a Europe-wide group of researchers and published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine Journal, found that nitrogen oxides and fine particles produced by traffic, increased the risk of low birth weight by almost 20%.
It was also discovered that the impact persisted at levels 'well below' those imposed by EU air quality directives.
Furthermore, the average size of babies' heads was found to decrease, despite accounting for factors such as smoking, age, weight and education.
More than 74,000 women from 12 European countries participated in the study and experts are now calling for measures to be introduced to reduce the levels of microscopic particles known as PM 2.5.
Microscopic particles largely generated by diesel exhausts have previously been shown to damage the lungs and cause harmful changes in blood vessels and clotting.
The research found that by increasing the exposure to pollutants by five micrograms per cubic metre, caused an 18% greater risk of small babies. For newborns weighing less than 5lb 8oz, they can also suffer health problems in later life.
Experts believe that by slashing the levels of PM 2.5 to 10 micrograms per cubic metre could prevent more than one in five cases of low birth weight.
Lead author Dr Marie Pedersen, from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, Spain, said: "Our findings suggest that a substantial proportion of cases of low birthweight at term could be prevented in Europe if urban air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter, was reduced.
"The widespread exposure of pregnant women worldwide to urban ambient air pollution at similar or even higher concentrations than those assessed in our study provides a clear message to policy makers to improve the quality of the air we all share."
Commenting on the study, Dr Patrick O'Brien, spokesperson for The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: "The results of this study suggest that maternal exposure to common air pollutants and traffic is associated with restricted fetal growth, resulting in reductions in birth weight and head circumference.
"Exposure to some level of air pollution is unavoidable in day-to-day life and the risk still remains fairly low. Other factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure or excessive alcohol consumption, may contribute more to the risk of having a low birth weight baby.
"This research, using data from several large population based studies, is very helpful in providing further evidence on the potential health impacts of air pollution. More research in this area could further our knowledge on the impact of air pollution on women and their babies."
(JP/IT)
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Air Pollution Danger To Unborn Babies - Study
New research has warned that pregnant women who are exposed to "safe" levels of air pollution still have an increased risk of giving birth to small babies.A study, which was conducted by a Europe-wide group of researchers and published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine Journal, found that nitrogen oxides and fine particles produced by traffic, increased the risk of low birth weight by almost 20%.
It was also discovered that the impact persisted at levels 'well below' those imposed by EU air quality directives.
Furthermore, the average size of babies' heads was found to decrease, despite accounting for factors such as smoking, age, weight and education.
More than 74,000 women from 12 European countries participated in the study and experts are now calling for measures to be introduced to reduce the levels of microscopic particles known as PM 2.5.
Microscopic particles largely generated by diesel exhausts have previously been shown to damage the lungs and cause harmful changes in blood vessels and clotting.
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The research found that by increasing the exposure to pollutants by five micrograms per cubic metre, caused an 18% greater risk of small babies. For newborns weighing less than 5lb 8oz, they can also suffer health problems in later life.
Experts believe that by slashing the levels of PM 2.5 to 10 micrograms per cubic metre could prevent more than one in five cases of low birth weight.
Lead author Dr Marie Pedersen, from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona, Spain, said: "Our findings suggest that a substantial proportion of cases of low birthweight at term could be prevented in Europe if urban air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter, was reduced.
"The widespread exposure of pregnant women worldwide to urban ambient air pollution at similar or even higher concentrations than those assessed in our study provides a clear message to policy makers to improve the quality of the air we all share."
Commenting on the study, Dr Patrick O'Brien, spokesperson for The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: "The results of this study suggest that maternal exposure to common air pollutants and traffic is associated with restricted fetal growth, resulting in reductions in birth weight and head circumference.
"Exposure to some level of air pollution is unavoidable in day-to-day life and the risk still remains fairly low. Other factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure or excessive alcohol consumption, may contribute more to the risk of having a low birth weight baby.
"This research, using data from several large population based studies, is very helpful in providing further evidence on the potential health impacts of air pollution. More research in this area could further our knowledge on the impact of air pollution on women and their babies."
(JP/IT)
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