Air pollution during pregnancy linked to reduced lung function during childhood, claims study

Results: They included 2182 children, ages 6-17 years. Prenatal air pollution exposure was associated with reduced lung function at school age. In children aged 12 years, per 10 µg·m-3 increase in PM2.5 during pregnancy, FEV1 was 55 mL lower (95% CI -84 to -25 mL) and FVC 62 mL lower (95% CI -96 to -28 mL). Associations were age-dependent since they were stronger in younger and weaker in older children. PM2.5 exposure after birth was not associated with reduced lung function. There was no association between NO2 exposure and lung function. In utero lung development is most sensitive to air pollution exposure, since even modest PM2.5 exposure during the prenatal time was associated with reduced lung function, most prominent in younger children.

Reference:

Usemann J, Mozun R, Kuehni CE, de Hoogh K, Flueckiger B, Singer F, Zwahlen M, Moeller A, Latzin P; LUIS Study Group. Air pollution exposure during pregnancy and lung function in childhood: The LUIS study. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2024 Jul 9. doi: 10.1002/ppul.27169. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38980223.