Traffic Fumes - Dangerous to Unborn Babies

Everyday new evidences demonstrate the hazardous health effects of air pollution. A recent addition in this regard is the study, which states that exposure to heavy traffic exhaust fumes, can be detrimental to baby’s growth in the womb.

The researchers in Brisbane carried out this study. They carried out a study in order to demonstrate the effect of traffic fumes on the unborn baby. For this the ultrasound scans of 15,000 women who lived within 14 kilometer of the city center were analyzed. The findings of this study as published in the Environmental Health Perspectives Journal, concludes that pregnant women who lived closer to main roads carried smaller babies.

Speaking about this research Dr Adrian Barnett, a senior research fellow at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane highlighted some key findings from this study. According to Dr Barnett, the results were based on the average air pollution that a woman was exposed to during to her first four months of pregnancy.

As per Dr Barnett, this research has revealed some very striking results. The study has shown that higher exposure to traffic fumes during pregnancy, is likely to result in smaller babies. He further stated that having smaller babies has a lot of disadvantages as against heavier babies.

In this context he pointed out that over the years numerous studies have shown that heavier babies have a higher IQ (intelligence quotient) at age seven and lower risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes later on in adult life as compared to smaller babies.

According to Dr Barnett, the research has further brought into forefront two major pollutants namely sulfur dioxide and particulate matter that directly comes out of the car exhaust as the most harmful pollutants for the unborn baby.

When asked about the possible precautions which pregnant women can take in this regard, Dr Barnett, replied by saying that women should try and reduce their exposure to air pollution during pregnancy. He further suggested that during pregnancy instead of driving at a time when one is likely to get caught up in heavy traffic, it would be better to drive when the traffic is comparatively lower. In fact he also suggested of temporarily leaving work during your pregnancy.

The research carried out by Dr Barnett and is his team has certainly provided great insights into the effect of traffic fumes on the foetus, however, researchers say a more detailed study is needed to confirm these findings, as other lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking or alcohol consumption were not considered.