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What are the hidden effects of vehicle emission pollution on pregnant women?
The health of the mother directly affects the development of the fetus. Pregnant women living in an environment with high pollution vehicle emissions may have adverse effects on the health of the fetus. According to statistics, in the United States, about 10% of the population, about 33 million people, live within 900 meters of high-traffic roads, and these high-traffic roads have more than 50,000 vehicles per day and are the main source of toxic vehicle pollution. . Previous studies have found a correlation between exposure to vehicle emissions pollutants and certain diseases (such as asthma, lung and heart diseases, and cancer). Automotive pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, suspended particles (such as fine dust and soot), and other toxic gases. Although these pollutants affect the health of the general population, their specific adverse effects on pregnant women, fetuses and children are more obvious. This article aims to provide an overview of how vehicle pollutants may affect the health of pregnant women, as well as the negative health effects these exposures may have on adults.
In the United States, studies have shown that babies born prematurely face higher risks of pollution exposure than babies who are not born prematurely.
Similarly, research from Spain showed that underweight fetuses were more likely to be exposed to high pollution levels.
Impact of Highly Polluted Areas
High ambient nitrogen oxides are a key indicator of vehicle air pollution and can have negative impacts on fetal health, including fetal growth restriction, premature birth, and respiratory problems. The study showed that women living in the southern United States and Valencia, Spain, had an increased risk of their fetuses being exposed to high pollution environments. For example, a study in Los Angeles County found that pregnant women who lived in high-traffic areas had babies who were at higher risk of being born prematurely or having low birth weight.
Dangers of vehicle emissionsAccording to a study conducted along Interstate 405 and Interstate 710 in Southern California, exposure to particulate matter from vehicle emissions in these areas was nearly 25 times that of residents living 1,000 feet away.
The hazards of carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a pollutant that mainly comes from car engines. Carbon monoxide inhaled by pregnant women may threaten the growth and mental development of their unborn babies. Because carbon monoxide competes for oxygen in the blood, fetal hypoxia may result when pregnant women are exposed to high concentrations of CO. However, it is still unclear how high the exposure concentration would be to pose a threat to the fetus.
The impact of nitrogen oxides
Nitrogen oxides (NO) are common air pollutants throughout the United States. High levels of nitrogen oxides can damage respiratory tissue and interfere with oxygen transport. Studies have shown that high exposure to nitrogen oxides is associated with fetal mutations, developmental impairment and women's fertility.
Dangers of suspended particlesParticulate matter is a collection of particles smaller than a certain size, including ash from fire smoke, dust in homes and fumes from car exhaust. Studies show that women exposed to particulate matter during early pregnancy are more likely to give birth to babies with low birth weight, making particulate matter one of the most dangerous pollutants.
Premature Birth and Low Birth Weight
In a study of the Los Angeles basin in Southern California, scientists consistently found a clear correlation between high levels of carbon monoxide and particulate matter and the risk of premature birth. Premature babies face many health problems, including breathing difficulties, gastrointestinal and blood diseases, and central nervous system problems.
Problems caused by premature birth and low birth weight often stay with these children as they grow up, affecting their mental and physical health.
Long-term and short-term effects on infants
Exposure to vehicle emissions pollution is considered a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality, and may also lead to chronic diseases such as asthma.
The impact of asthma
Over the past few decades, the number of children affected by asthma has continued to increase, becoming the most common chronic disease in the United States and affecting school attendance. Uncontrolled asthma often causes children to suffer in school and may even cause them to repeat a year in school.
Respiratory problems
The study found that children exposed to high levels of car pollutants reported more respiratory problems such as wheezing, ear and throat infections, and had a higher risk of asthma.
Cancer RiskChildren living in high-traffic areas have eight times the risk of developing leukemia. This suggests that cancers caused by traffic exposure, in addition to the health impacts, can also cause regular medical problems for children.
Traffic Exposure and Autism
Autism is a spectrum of symptoms ranging from severe communication disorders to mild attention disorders. Pregnant women exposed to high levels of traffic pollution have a higher risk of giving birth to babies with autism than women who get pregnant in clean air, a study shows. Recent studies have found that exposure to pollutants at the time of conception can increase the risk of having a baby 10% higher than if the baby were not exposed to pollutants.
Conclusion
Auto emissions are not limited to the United States; cities around the world face similar challenges. Countries are working to implement stricter emission standards to protect the health of mothers and children. So, can these policies truly improve the health of pregnant women and fetuses, thereby reducing the occurrence of birth defects in the future?
