Study: Exposure to wildfire smoke during pregnancy linked to childhood asthma
California researchers concluded that mothers' exposure to wildfire smoke and air pollution during pregnancy increases the likelihood of children developing asthma, especially when exposed in the second and third trimesters.
Translated by Qiyas from الراي — Original source
Researchers from California concluded at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, held in Phoenix, that children whose mothers inhaled wildfire smoke and other air pollutants during the middle and late months of pregnancy are more likely to develop asthma.
Dr. Anne Nguyen, head of the research team from the University of California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, said in a statement, “Fetal lung development begins before birth, and our study suggests that certain stages of pregnancy may be particularly susceptible to the effects of wildfire smoke.”
The researchers examined the cases of 1,097 children born at term to mothers who were pregnant during wildfires that erupted in Northern California between 2017 and 2020.
They found that early childhood asthma was associated with higher overall exposure to fine particulate matter pollution during the second trimester of pregnancy, and with wildfire smoke pollution during the third trimester.
The study does not prove that smoke causes asthma. However, the researchers said that knowing which months of pregnancy may be most critical could help doctors provide clearer guidance to pregnant women during wildfire season.
Nguyen added, “Pregnant women cannot control when wildfires start, but there are steps they can take on days with heavy smoke. Staying indoors, keeping windows closed, and using an air purifier can all help reduce the amount of smoke they inhale.”
