Wildfire Smoke Doubles Risk for Pregnant Women

New research published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Health, as reported by Euronews, suggests that wildfires are exposing an increasing number of pregnant women to harmful air pollution, despite a decline in emissions from transportation and industry.

The study examined exposure to PM2.5 fine particulate matter in the US from 2003 to 2019. Researchers found that prenatal exposure to smoke more than doubled over the 17-year period, with smoke responsible for approximately 65% of the days when air quality exceeded safe levels for pregnancy.

PM2.5 particles enter the bloodstream and are linked to preterm birth and low birth weight. Due to its composition, smoke from wildfires can be even more toxic than industrial emissions.

At the same time, the increasing frequency of wildfires disproportionately burdens low-income communities, rural populations and Indigenous peoples.

These findings are also relevant to Europe, which is facing devastating wildfires from Greece to Spain. The EU monitoring service and health agencies warn that rising temperatures are exposing millions of Europeans to smoke that travels thousands of kilometers.

According to experts, governments should expand guidelines for vulnerable groups by improving smoke forecasts, issuing early warnings and ensuring clean indoor air.

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