Air Pollution & Pregnancy: Molecular Risks
- Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in air pollution during pregnancy can disrupt a mother's metabolism and raise the risk of premature birth, according to Emory University researchers....
- The research suggests a link between exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and increased risks of preterm and early term births.
- Dr.Donghai Liang,lead author and associate professor of environmental health at the Rollins School of Public Health,said the study identified specific fine particles and pathways that contribute to adverse...
Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy heightens the risk of premature births. Emory University researchers pinpoint how fine particulate matter disrupts maternal metabolisms, impacting pregnancy outcomes. the study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, analyzed blood samples and links increased levels of cortexolone and lysoPE(20:3) with early deliveries. This research also highlights disruptions in protein digestion as a potential cause. These findings show that preterm births and early term births are more commonplace where air quality is poor. News Directory 3 provides this critical report of the research. Discover what’s next in understanding the long-term impact of these findings and potential interventions.
Air pollution Exposure During Pregnancy Linked to Premature Births
Updated June 03, 2025
Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in air pollution during pregnancy can disrupt a mother’s metabolism and raise the risk of premature birth, according to Emory University researchers. The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, analyzed blood samples from 330 pregnant women in metro Atlanta.
The research suggests a link between exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and increased risks of preterm and early term births. This is the first study to investigate how air pollution affects the metabolism of pregnant women.
Dr.Donghai Liang,lead author and associate professor of environmental health at the Rollins School of Public Health,said the study identified specific fine particles and pathways that contribute to adverse birth outcomes.Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing effective interventions, Liang said.
Previous research indicates that pregnant women and fetuses are especially vulnerable to PM2.5,which comes from vehicle exhaust,industrial processes,and wildfires. Exposure increases the likelihood of preterm births, defined as less than 37 weeks of gestation. Preterm birth is a leading cause of death for children under five and is associated with complications like cerebral palsy and respiratory distress syndrome. Early term births (37-39 weeks) also carry increased risks.
The study identified two substances, cortexolone and lysoPE(20:3), as factors linking short-term air pollution exposure to elevated risk of early births.Researchers also highlighted disruptions in protein digestion and absorption as potential links between air pollution and early births.
Of the women in the Emory study, 20% delivered preterm babies, and 16.4% delivered early term babies. These rates are considerably higher than the general U.S. population.
“As an air pollution scientist, I do not think air pollution is going away anytime soon.Even at lower levels, we continue to see harmful health effects, but we can’t just ask people to simply move away from highly polluted areas,” Liang said.
“So, from a clinical intervention standpoint, that’s why it’s critical to gain a better understanding on these pathways and molecules affected by pollution. In the future, we may be able to target some of these molecules to develop effective strategies or clinical interventions that could help reduce these adverse health effects,” Liang said.
What’s next
Liang suggests that future research should focus on developing clinical interventions that target the specific molecules affected by air pollution, potentially reducing adverse health effects related to air pollution exposure and improving birth outcomes.