Study finds wildfires pose health risks to pregnant women
NEW YORK (PIX11) -- The results of a 12-year study involving 400,000 pregnant women found that breathing polluted air during the second trimester increases the risk of premature birth.
Doctors say the dirty air in the wildfires should make pregnant women more aware of the hazards.
Smoke generated by wildfires contains a mixture of chemicals, carbon monoxide, and fine particles that can penetrate the lungs, get into the bloodstream, and deposit into a pregnant woman's placenta.
Dr. Victor Klein, a specialist in high-risk pregnancies at Northwell Health says women should be careful if they live in areas with wildfires, "Women who are pregnant are at risk of pre-term labor, and pre-term birth if they're exposed to these wildfires."
The study found that exposure to wildfires during pregnancy was associated with higher rates of stress and depression which could lead to poor birth outcomes. According to Dr. Klein, "Some of it you can't see. It's in the air. Air quality may be bad but it looks great outside as far as you could see, but if it's smokey and it's not that clear, you might be at risk of preterm."
It's recommended that pregnant women exposed to wildfires should spend less time outdoors, get an air purifier at home, and surround themselves with plants and other greenery, which are known to purify the air.
Dr. Klein suggests, "It's not a bad idea if you're a pregnant woman and it's bad air quality and you're going outside, consider wearing a mask." According to the study, the effects of poor exposure to wildfires could linger even after a premature delivery. "Some of the research has shown that maybe the first two years of life, after delivery, that a mother's exposure to wildfires has caused problems in the newborn well after delivery."
Doctors stress that pregnant women should not panic over the findings of the study but simply be more aware of their surroundings and take proper precautions. They also recommend that if you are pregnant and concerned about air pollution, it is best to contact your doctor.