From exposure to outcomes: How air pollutants impact maternal and foetal health

Air pollution is a leading environmental risk factor, contributing significantly to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic conditions; ultimately increasing the global burden of ailments. While the harmful effects of air pollutants on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems are well-known, concerns over their impact on pregnancy outcomes are rising. Pregnant women and their developing fetuses are particularly more susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollutants, which can penetrate the placental barrier and lead to a wide range of negative consequences, such as preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, gestational diabetes, and placenta previa. These consequences concurrently lead to adversarial birth outcomes like congenital abnormalities, developmental delays, preterm birth, etc. This review elucidates the link between maternal exposure to air pollutants and the subsequent occurrence of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. It also explores the utility of various biomarkers, including inflammatory markers, oxidative stress markers, and molecular markers, used to assess the presence of air pollutants and their impact on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Furthermore, through assimilating these insights, this review emphasizes the crucial need for targeted interventions and policies to mitigate the air pollutants deadly effect on sensitive and vulnerable groups.