Wildfires are now the leading source of unhealthy levels of air pollution for pregnant women in the United States, according to a recent study. Researchers analyzed data from roughly 64.5 million pregnancies in 48 states between 2003 and 2019, looking at neighborhood exposure to tiny airborne particles that can travel deep into the lungs and bloodstream.

Air Pollution and Pregnancy

The study found that prenatal exposure to these particles, known as PM2.5, declined substantially between 2003 and 2019. However, the contribution of wildfire smoke to PM2.5 pollution more than doubled during that time, from around 3.7% to 8.2% overall. By 2019, wildfire smoke was the dominant contributor to high-pollution days experienced during US pregnancies, with approximately 65% of “exceedance days” due to wildfire air pollution.

Wildfire smoke has been linked to adverse birth outcomes, and the study’s findings highlight the need for governments and communities to take action to reduce exposure to air pollution. This can include providing access to clean air shelters, installing air filtration systems in homes, workplaces, and schools, and ensuring that people who are exposed to high levels of air pollution have access to high-quality medical care.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.