Harvard study finds PM2.5 pollut𝓰ion raises inflammation and risks pregnancy c🧸omplications like preterm birth.
Exposure to PM2.5 pollution poses significant risks to pregnant women by increasing inflammation levels, potentially leading to adverse birth outcomes like low birth weight and preterm birth, according to a recent study published in Science Advances. Conducted by Harvard University’s School of Public Health, the re⭕search sheds light on how air pollution alters DNA at a cellular level, providing critical insights into it🌱s biological impact on maternal and fetal health.
PM2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, produced by sources like vehicular and industrial emissions and natural events such as wildfires and dust storms. These tiny particles are capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream, triggering systemic changes. The study found that exposure to PM2.5 influencꦦes histones, proteins essential for D𝓡NA structure and cellular functions. Disruption in histones affects cytokine genes, which regulate immune responses, leading to heightened inflammation in both mothers and their developing fetuses.
The implications of these findings are substantial. “Our results emphasize the importance of reducing air pollutio🌳n exposure for pregnant women to safeguard maternal and fetal health,” said Youn Soo Jung, a research associate at Harvard. The researchers argue that policy measures to improve air quality and clinical guidelines aimed at limiting pregnant women’s exposure to pollution could directly mitigate risks of pregnancy complications.
By d༒elving deeper into cellular mechanisms, this study builds on earlier research linking PM2.5 exposure to maternal and child health issues, such as developmental delays and low birth weight. It is the first to explore how PM2.5 alters histones and cytokines at a molecular level, offering a clearer understanding of how air pollution triggers inflammation and adverse outcomes during pregnancy.
The research analyzed data from both non-pregnant and 20-week-pregnant women, with PM2.5 exposure levels estimated using U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air quality data. Within cells🌳, the scientists identified changes in histones that regulate cytokine release, which in turn governs inflammatory responses. These modifications were found to activate the inflammasome pathway, a key process in inflammation that is linked to complications in pregnancy.
“These histone and cytokine modifications may represent the toxicological mechanisms through which PM2.5 e♏xposure leads to inflammation and its associated complications,” the study authors wrote. The findings underline the urgency of addressing air pollution not just as an environmental issue but as a public health imperative, particularly for vulnerable populations like pregnant women.
In conclusion, reducing air pollution exposure through stricter regulations and targeted health interventions🎀 could play a critical role in protecting maternal and fetal health, highlighting the far-reaching 💦benefits of improved air quality.
(This article is a reworked version of a PTI feed.)