Study Finds Polluted Air May Put Women at Greater Risk of Miscarriage

Study of data over eight years shows a strong correlation between smog levels and miscarriage.

A Chinese study has added to international research that links air pollution to birth defects and the pregnancy complications. Previous studies have linked long-term exposure to air pollution to chromosomal abnormalities in mothers; this increases the risk of still births or birth defects.

A missed or silent miscarriage is when a fetus dies or stops developing during pregnancy, usually with no symptoms. Such miscarriages usually happen in the first trimester, and can be picked up on 12-week scans.

The researchers collected data on the levels of four air pollutants recorded by air monitoring stations close to where each woman lived and worked. Researched also tracked the levels of tiny particles, such as soot, and noted the sulphur dioxide, ozone and carbon monoxide.

The research was published in the journal Nature Sustainability, and reviewed data from over 255,000 pregnant women living in Beijing during an eight-year period. The study uncovered a significant correlation between pollution levels and ‘missed abortion’ in the first trimester, which is a common type of miscarriage that may go undiagnosed.

Studies of this nature are important so women can make decisions relating to their health and to that of their fetus. In addition, governments around the world should listen closely, as we are only uncovering the effects of pollution and climate change.

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