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Air pollution, inflammation and preterm birth: a potential mechanistic link
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Air pollution, inflammation and preterm birth: a potential mechanistic link

Felipe Vadillo-Ortega, Alvaro Osornio-Vargas, Miatta A Buxton, Brisa N Sánchez, Leonora Rojas-Bracho, Martin Viveros-Alcaráz, Marisol Castillo-Castrejón, Jorge Beltrán-Montoya, Daniel G Brown and Marie S O'Neill
Medical hypotheses, v 82(2)
Feb 2014
PMID: 24382337
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2013.11.042View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Models, Theoretical Air Pollutants - analysis Premature Birth Cytokines - metabolism Oxidative Stress Obesity - complications Humans Risk Factors Air Pollution - adverse effects Pregnancy Complications - diagnosis Pregnancy Inflammation - complications Diet Maternal Exposure - adverse effects Female Mexico Particulate Matter Obstetric Labor, Premature - etiology
Preterm birth is a public health issue of global significance, which may result in mortality during the perinatal period or may lead to major health and financial consequences due to lifelong impacts. Even though several risk factors for preterm birth have been identified, prevention efforts have failed to halt the increasing rates of preterm birth. Epidemiological studies have identified air pollution as an emerging potential risk factor for preterm birth. However, many studies were limited by study design and inadequate exposure assessment. Due to the ubiquitous nature of ambient air pollution and the potential public health significance of any role in causing preterm birth, a novel focus investigating possible causal mechanisms influenced by air pollution is therefore a global health priority. We hypothesize that air pollution may act together with other biological factors to induce systemic inflammation and influence the duration of pregnancy. Evaluation and testing of this hypothesis is currently being conducted in a prospective cohort study in Mexico City and will provide an understanding of the pathways that mediate the effects of air pollution on preterm birth. The important public health implication is that crucial steps in this mechanistic pathway can potentially be acted on early in pregnancy to reduce the risk of preterm birth.

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128 citations in Scopus

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Web of Science research areas
Medicine, Research & Experimental
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