Smog During Pregnancy Threatens Newborn Health

TUESDAY, Feb. 18, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- Newborns are more likely to be born sickly if their moms are exposed to air pollution during pregnancy, a new study says.

A woman's exposure to air pollution during the last month of pregnancy can increase their newborn’s risk of landing in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), according to findings published recently in the journal Scientific Reports.

For example, the risk of a newborn requiring NICU treatment increased by 30% to 35% with their mom’s exposure to higher levels of nitrogen dioxide, a noxious gas produced by the burning of fossil fuels in cars and power plants, researchers found.