Pregnant women’s exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) may alter immune responses, potentially leading to adverse birth outcomes, according to a new study.
While previous research has linked PM2.5 exposure to maternal and child health complications, including preeclampsia, low birth weight, and developmental delays in early childhood, the new study, published in ‘Science Advances’, is the first to specifically examine the relationship between PM2.5 and maternal and fetal health.
Researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health focused on understanding the impact of air pollutants at a single-cell level.
Kari Nadeau, Professor of Climate and Population Studies at the university, said the findings represent “a substantial step forward in understanding the biological pathways by which PM2.5 exposure affects pregnancy, maternal health, and fetal development.”
The use of advanced methodology also has the potential to change the way “we study immune responses to environmental exposures,” Nadeau added.
The study involved both non-pregnant women and women who were 20 weeks pregnant. Using innovative technology, the team examined how pollution modified the DNA of participants’ individual cells.
Within each cell, they mapped changes to histones, the proteins that help control the release of cytokines—proteins that regulate inflammation in the body and can affect pregnancy.
The study found that PM2.5 exposure can influence the histone profiles of pregnant women, disrupting the normal balance of cytokine genes and leading to increased inflammation in both the women and their fetuses. In pregnant women, this increase in inflammation can be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
The study highlights the importance of minimizing air pollution exposure for pregnant women to protect maternal and fetal health.
The researchers also called for policy interventions to improve air quality and clinical guidelines to help pregnant women reduce their exposure to pollution.
(IANS)