Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Room 3020, New Delhi, 110029, India.
Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Oct;31(50):59819-59851. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-35016-9. Epub 2024 Oct 10.
Air pollution has become a major health concern, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and pregnant women. Studies have reported a strong association between prenatal exposure to air pollutants and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including lower birth weight, reduced fetal growth, and an increased frequency of preterm births. This review summarizes the harmful effects of air pollutants, such as particulate matter, on pregnancy and outlines the mechanistic details associated with these adverse outcomes. Particulate pollutant matter may be able to cross the placenta barrier, and alterations in placental functions are central to the detrimental effects of these pollutants. In addition to associations with preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, air pollutants also induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and epigenetic alteration in the placenta. These pollutants can also affect placental homeostasis and endocrine function, contributing to pregnancy complications and possible transgenerational effects. Prenatal air pollution exposure has been linked to reduced cognitive and motor function in infants and newborns, increasing the predisposition to autism spectrum disorders and other neuropsychiatric disorders. This review also summarizes the use of various animal models to study the harmful effects of air pollution on pregnancy and postnatal outcomes. These findings provide valuable insight into the molecular events associated with the process and can aid in risk mitigation and adopting safety measures. Implementing effective environmental protocols and taking appropriate steps may reduce the global disease burden, particularly for developing nations with poor regulatory compliance and large populations of pregnant women.
空气污染已成为一个主要的健康关注点，尤其是对老年人、儿童和孕妇等脆弱人群而言。研究报告表明，孕妇在产前接触空气污染物与不良妊娠结局之间存在强烈关联，包括出生体重降低、胎儿生长受限以及早产频率增加。本综述总结了空气污染物（如颗粒物）对妊娠的有害影响，并概述了与这些不良结局相关的机制细节。颗粒污染物可能能够穿过胎盘屏障，而胎盘功能的改变是这些污染物产生有害影响的核心。除了与子痫前期和妊娠期高血压相关外，空气污染物还会在胎盘内诱导氧化应激、炎症和表观遗传改变。这些污染物还会影响胎盘的内环境稳定和内分泌功能，导致妊娠并发症并可能产生跨代效应。产前空气污染暴露与婴儿和新生儿认知和运动功能的降低有关，增加了自闭症谱系障碍和其他神经精神疾病的易感性。本综述还总结了使用各种动物模型来研究空气污染对妊娠和产后结局的有害影响。这些发现为与该过程相关的分子事件提供了有价值的见解，并有助于减轻风险和采取安全措施。实施有效的环境协议并采取适当措施可能会减轻全球疾病负担，特别是对于监管合规性差且孕妇人口众多的发展中国家而言。
