Exposure to higher levels of air pollution during pregnancy leads to high risk of elevated blood pressure in children


Exposure to higher levels of air pollution during pregnancy leads to high risk of elevated blood pressure in children




It is well known that air pollution has very harmful effects on our health. It leads to headaches, nausea, allergic reactions and many more problems. Air pollution is caused by various factors but form of air pollution produced by motor vehicles and the burning of oil, coal and biomass which produces fine particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less is more responsible for affecting human health by entering the circulatory system. It is found that the direct exposure to these fine air pollutants leads to high blood pressure in both children and adults and it can also lead to premature death.

According to several studies it was found that breathing the polluted air during pregnancy can have a direct effect on the cardiovascular health of the baby. Having high blood pressure in childhood would lead to high blood pressure in adulthood and hypertension will lead to cardiovascular disease.

Researchers found that those children who were exposed to high level of fine particulates pollution in the womb during the third trimester were 60% more prone to have elevated systolic blood pressure in childhood in comparison to those who were exposed to lowest level of fine particulates pollution. It is known that during the third trimester, fetal weight gain is most rapid so higher exposure to air pollution during this period influences the birth weight.

To protect ourselves as well as the environment we must strengthen the importance of reducing the emission of particulate matter in the environment. Because the exposure to these particulate matters not only increases the risk of illness and death in those who are directly exposed but during pregnancy it can also cross the placental barrier and effect fetal growth and will increase the risk of high blood pressure in future.

So necessary steps should be taken to keep the air clean and reduce the pollution for human health as well as for the health of our planet.

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