Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Home Remedies
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
BLA21 cibil.com ageas federal zee hindustan
Home / Pregnancy / Pregnant women beware: Breathing in polluted air may harm your unborn child

Pregnant women beware: Breathing in polluted air may harm your unborn child

New study finds evidence that toxic particles can pass from a mother’s lungs to her placenta, harming the baby. Read on to know the harmful effects of pollution on unborn babies.

By: Paras Hemrajani   | | Updated: November 27, 2019 4:18 pm
Tags: Air Pollution  
air pollution -health issues that occur in your unborn baby due to air pollution - protecting you from exposure to air pollution and its effects.
Polluted air, generally, contains toxins such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, second-hand smoke, dust and chemicals.

Tired of coughing and wheezing because of Delhi’s air pollution? It is definitely not healthy for any living creature. But, according to a new study, it can even have a severe impact on pregnant women and babies. This research from Queen Mary’s University of London says that air pollution particles have been found in the placentas of five women living in London. According to the study, these particles were inhaled by the mothers from the polluted air in the environment. These particles then found their way to the placenta from the mothers’ lungs, potentially damaging the foetus. Also Read - Parents, take note! Air pollution may impair your child’s thinking skills later in life

London is currently ranked 142 in cities with the worst air quality, while Delhi is at number 16. To study the effects of air pollution on a baby and mother, researchers studied 3,500 macrophages from five different placentas. Macrophages are cells that form part of the immune system and protect a baby from harmful bacteria and pollution particles. Out of the 3500 cells, 60 contained small black areas, which on further investigation were found to be carbon particles. Researchers say that this study proves that there is a need for stricter policies regarding pollution and cleaner air. Also Read - Air pollution may up risk of cardiovascular diseases; lowering your BP may reduce the effect



DANGER OF AIR POLLUTION DURING PREGNANCY

Polluted air, generally, contains toxins such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, second-hand smoke, dust and chemicals. Prolonged exposure to these toxins has been linked to coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, eye irritation, respiratory diseases like bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema, chronic fatigue and cancer in children. According to UNICEF, more than 300 million children live in environments that contain toxic air. Pregnant women, unborn babies, children, those with respiratory problems and the elderly are at a higher risk of health complications. Also Read - Beware! Air pollution can lead to irreversible blindness. Here’s how to stay safe

Here, let us take a look at some of the health issues that occur in your unborn baby due to air pollution.

Low birth weight

The recommended weight of a baby after 38 weeks is six to nine pounds. Anything less than that is considered to be ‘low birth weight’. There are plenty of reasons why this can happen. One cause is exposure to air pollution. According to a study, published in the BMC Public Health journal, in two months’ time, when China was improving its air quality for the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing, it was seen that babies delivered that year, but after the event, were 22.6 grams heavier than other babies.

Pre-term birth

Pre-term birth means that the baby is delivered before 38 weeks of pregnancy. Children born before term have major risks of neurological disorders and physical abnormalities. One of the reasons for pre-term birth is air pollution. It can damage babies’ lungs and, in order to reverse the damage, you may have to deliver early.

Asthma

Air pollution is the biggest contributor to asthma. In pregnant women, asthma may lead to preeclampsia (elevated blood pressure and decreased function of the liver and kidneys). If left untreated, it can cause oxygen deprivation in the baby, leading to premature birth, low birth weight and slow organ development. Exposure to pollution particles in the womb increases the chances of having asthma later in life.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM POLLUTION

Air pollution is a man-made crisis. You can manage it by taking certain precautionary steps. Here are some things that may help in protecting you from exposure to air pollution and its effects.

Get an air purifier

If you can’t control the air outside, the least you can do is control the air inside the house. Pregnant women spend most of their time inside the house. By getting an air purifier, you will help in removing toxins from kitchen smoke and germs from furniture molds.

Stay inside

Delhi pollution is worse during the winter season. You must remain inside the house as much as possible. Take up some exercises that you can perform inside the house.

Published : November 27, 2019 1:19 pm | Updated:November 27, 2019 4:18 pm
Read Disclaimer

Is your baby born too soon? Shield her heart with breast milk

Is your baby born too soon? Shield her heart with breast milk

5 baby-making mistakes that lead to unsuccessful pregnancy

5 baby-making mistakes that lead to unsuccessful pregnancy

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • Gurugram apartment declared containment zone after 20 tested positive for COVID-19
  • COVID-19 vaccine: Complete list of private hospitals where you can get the jab
  • COVID-19 vaccination for above 45: Full list of comorbidities that can make you eligible
  • Here's CoWIN 2.0 is different from its previous version
  • 'Do not let your guards down': Centre asks states to deal COVID-19 violations firmly

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

Why newborns are more susceptible to pollution and how to protect them?

Why newborns are more susceptible to pollution and how to protect them?

Parents, take note! Air pollution may impair your child’s thinking skills later in life

Parents, take note! Air pollution may impair your child’s thinking skills later in life

Air pollution may up risk of cardiovascular diseases; lowering your BP may reduce the effect

Air pollution may up risk of cardiovascular diseases; lowering your BP may reduce the effect

Beware! Air pollution can lead to irreversible blindness. Here’s how to stay safe

Beware! Air pollution can lead to irreversible blindness. Here’s how to stay safe

Achieving India's air quality target across south Asia may prevent 7% of pregnancy losses: Lancet study

Achieving India's air quality target across south Asia may prevent 7% of pregnancy losses: Lancet study

Health News in Hindi

Garlic Oil Benefits: त्वचा और बालों के लिए लहसुन के तेल के फायदे, जानें इस्तेमाल का सही तरीका

उम्र बढ़ने के साथ क्‍यों वजन कम कर पाना हो जाता है मुश्किल, जानिए वजन कम न कर पाने के कारण और बचाव

पीरियड्स के दौरान यीस्ट इंफेक्शन क्यों होता है? जानें यीस्ट इंफेक्शन को दूर करने के उपाय

Cardamom Side Effects: इलायची अधिक खाएंगे तो सेहत को हो सकते हैं ये 5 नुकसान

Beetroot Benefits For Skin And Hair: चुकंदर से करें बालों और त्‍वचा की हर समस्‍या का उपचार, जानिए कैसे

Read All

Recent Posts

  • US, China approve single-shot COVID-19 vax; India to get 3-4 vaccines in some weeks
  • Benefits of hair massage: Rujuta Diwekar shares the right way to do weekly Champi
  • COVID-19 vaccine at ₹250 too low to sustain, Companies ‘feel betrayed’: Kiran Mazumdar Shaw
  • Gurugram apartment declared containment zone after 20 tested positive for COVID-19
  • COVID-19 vaccine: Complete list of private hospitals where you can get the jab

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.