Air pollution is associated with almost 6 million premature births annually worldwide

The light of publicity sees a new American scientific study, the most comprehensive of its kind to date, according to which, the air pollution in open and closed spaces contributes to almost six million preterm births a year and at birth almost three million underweight babies worldwide every year.

In particular, researchers from the Universities of California-San Francisco and Washington, led by epidemiologist Dr. Rakes Goss, who analyzed data for 204 countries and published them in the medical journal PLoS Medicine, believe that could be reduced by about 78%, if air pollution was minimized in some areas, mainly in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where (pollution) indoors is very common and the rates of preterm birth are the highest in the world.

Premature birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide

Pollution, due to suspended and inhaled microparticles, affects pregnancy in many ways. There is a growing indication – from studies – that air pollution is a major cause of premature births and low birth weight babies. Premature birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality worldwide (over 15 million baby deaths a year). Premature or low birth weight babies, on the other hand, are more likely to develop various health problems later in life.

The World Health Organization estimates that 92% of the world’s population lives in air pollution, while about half of the population (49%) suffers from poor indoor air quality, mainly from burning wood, coal and biomass for heating. and cooking.

49 of the 50 cities with the highest air pollution in the world are located in Bangladesh, Pakistan, China and India. The problem, however, concerns even developed countries, as e.g. in the US it is estimated that air pollution contributes to almost 12,000 premature births a year.