Air pollution exposure during pregnancy linked with asthma risk

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-02/elf-ape020816.php

Public Release: 8-Feb-2016
Air pollution exposure during pregnancy linked with asthma risk
European Lung Foundation

Babies born to mothers exposed to air pollution from traffic sources during pregnancy have an increased risk of developing asthma before the age of 5 years, according to new findings.

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The findings revealed that exposure to air pollution from traffic sources during pregnancy increases the risk of developing asthma during the first 5 years of life, even in urban areas with relatively low levels of pollution. Children whose mothers lived close to highways during pregnancy had a 25% increased relative risk of developing asthma before the age of five.

The risk increased with an increase in levels of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide: two markers of traffic-related air pollution. In addition, children born with a low birth weight were more susceptible to the respiratory effects of air pollution. The results were found after other factors, such as low birth weight at term, gestational period, breastfeeding and socio-economic factors had been controlled for.

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