Alert for high AQI! The health effects of air pollution on expectant mothers and their unborn children

Women who are pregnant are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of air pollution. 

Toxic air exposure can aggravate pre-existing medical illnesses and cause neurodevelopmental problems in children.

A major worry is the growing Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in several states, including Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana. Every bodily part may be impacted by the poisonous air, which might result in severe diseases. Breathing can be impacted by air contaminants that enter the lungs. Women who are pregnant are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of air pollution.

Dr. Gandhali Deorukhkar, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai, stated in an interview with HT Lifestyle that air pollution is a serious threat to pregnant women and their growing babies, impacting both the mother's health and the development of the fetus. Numerous negative consequences have been connected to exposure to pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and particulate matter (PM).

Effect on fetal development: Research has indicated that pregnant women who are exposed to elevated air pollution levels are more likely to experience issues like low birth weight, premature delivery, and developmental delays. Fine particulate matter, for example, has the ability to enter the circulation and travel deep into the lungs, which may cause inflammation and lower the fetus's oxygen supply.