The Effects of Environmental Health in Pregnancy

GeneralPregnancy

Oct 15

“Environment & Health: Analyzing Air Pollution Effects During Pregnancy on Newborn Gene Expression.” YouTube, 3 July 2024, youtu.be/Wr1YuMnXkes?si=co5crcK3ILp_BIkm.

Environmental Health: What is it?

Environmental health is a growing public health concern. It is an aspect of public health that examines the relationship between people and their environment. Continued exposure to hazardous conditions such as air pollution and unclean water (typically described as water with high levels of lead) can cause several severe health conditions including asthma, heart disease, cancer, and dementia.1 This can be especially dangerous for women who are pregnant and their babies.

Types of Environmental Concerns and Their Effects on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

There are many environmental health concerns that can negatively impact the health of pregnant mothers and their babies. The most common environmental concerns are climate change/climate-related hazards and pollution.2

Climate Change

Pregnancy can bring about more vulnerability to climate change. Many climate-related hazards (wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat) have been linked to various health concerns including preterm birth, low birth weight, and in some cases, miscarriage.2

Water-related Illness

The impact of climate change on water resources has grown with time. Access to clean water is essential to human life. Climate change has caused a significant variance in water and air temperature and longer/ heavier rains, leading to flooding and rising sea levels. As we adapt to these changes, we find disease-carrying organisms being introduced to the drinking and recreational water supply. It is particularly risky for pregnant women to drink or come in contact with tainted water because it can cause gastrointestinal problems. If this occurs and grows to a severe case, it has the potential to cause pregnancy loss and preterm birth.2

The long and heavy rain trends we see are causing increased flooding. Flooding has long been associated with negative maternal health outcomes such as low red blood cell count (anemia), and high blood pressure conditions (preeclampsia and eclampsia).2

Food Systems Impact

Another more subtle byproduct of climate change is the negative impact on food systems. Floods and droughts are often caused by rising temperatures, which in turn, jeopardizes food quality and food safety. Once the quality and safety of food are diminished and consumed by individuals, food-related illnesses are bound to occur. If a pregnant woman contracts listeria or toxoplasma, common food-related illnesses, it could be life-threatening and dramatically increases the risk of miscarriages and premature deliveries.2

A disruption in food production and distribution threatens the health of the general population but can be devastating for pregnant women. A lack of access to healthy food, limited availability, and food shortages can lead to poor nutritional outcomes that jeopardize the health of both the mother and baby. This has led to delivery problems, low birth weight, and in extreme cases, mortality.2

Heat Illness

The increased heat index is a major component of climate change. Rising temperatures have consistently contributed to the increased vulnerability to and death due to heat illnesses. When pregnant women are exposed to extreme heat over a prolonged period of time, dehydration, kidney failure, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke can occur. This exposure has also been linked to low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality.2

Plastic

Overexposure to plastic pollution can cause great harm to mother and baby. This has been associated with asthma, cancer, fertility problems, and increased rates of miscarriage and preterm birth.3 There are a variety of chemicals in plastic that we should be made aware of including Bisphenol A and phthalates.

BPA

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in a particular kind of plastic called polycarbonate. BPA is commonly found in the linings of nearly all food and drink cans, as well as liquid infant formula. Exposing unborn infants and small children to low levels of BPA has the potential to negatively impact the developing brain and behavioral development (hyperactivity and aggression). When drinking liquid or eating food from a bottle or can that contains BPA, it can deposit small amounts of the chemical into the body. If a mother consumes food or drinks from a can with BPA, it can be passed to the baby. This chemical also has the ability to transfer into an infant’s formula or milk in certain plastic baby bottles.4

Tips to Avoid/ Prevent Health Issues Caused by BPA

Avoid items typically containing BPA such as baby bottles, water bottles, and aluminum cans.4
Look for a #7 recycling symbol and the letter PC, this may mean that the bottle contains BPA. If the bottle is hard plastic and a tinted color or is clear, then BPA may be present.
Check to make sure your baby bottles are BPA-free.
Glass and/or stainless-steel bottles do not have BPA.
It is recommended to avoid BPA while pregnant and breastfeeding.4
Breastfeed or use powdered formula.4

Phthalates

Phthalates, chemicals in plastics, a variety of fragrances, and colored personal and cleaning products are other elements in plastics that can be harmful to both mother and baby. They can be found in everyday products, including plastic food, drink containers, nail polish, fast/processed food, body wash, and products with fragrances (makeup, hair care, perfumes). A few studies have shown that pregnant women who may be exposed to phthalates have a higher chance of gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and possibly delay in motor skills development. Mothers can pass phthalates to their babies through the placenta during pregnancy and through breast milk while breastfeeding.5

Tips to Avoid/ Prevent Health Issues Caused by Phthalates

Use wax paper or paper towels instead of plastic wrap.5
Choose fresh and unprocessed food.5
Choose fragrance-free products, makeup, and cleaning supplies.5
Choose nail polish labeled “three-free” or “3-free.”5
Read labels and try to avoid products that list phthalate, fragrance, perfume, DEP, DBP, and DEHP the plastic labels 3,6, and 7.5
Use containers and water bottles made of glass, stainless steel, ceramic, and porcelain.5
Avoid microwaving plastic containers or products.5
Avoid cleaning plastic containers or products in the dishwasher.5

Pollution

There have been numerous studies that have determined that exposure to various pollutants throughout pregnancy can have a negative long-lasting effect on mother and baby. Unborn babies are particularly vulnerable and susceptible to environmental pollutants. In worst-case scenarios, pregnancies that encounter environmental pollution exposures can result in stillbirth, miscarriage, or maternal mortality.6

Tips to Avoid/ Prevent Health Issues Caused by Pollution

Pay attention to the air quality.
Check your area’s air quality index (AQI) at airnow.gov.7
Stay inside when the air quality is low.
Air contaminants can be absorbed through the skin and aggravate respiratory problems. Air purifiers should be considered to maintain great indoor air quality.7
Avoid smoke.
Refrain from smoking in the home and car and steer clear of places with and people who smoke.7
Get educated and stay active.
Learn more about the effects of air pollution and actively think about your personal contribution to air pollution.
Speak with a trusted healthcare provider if you have any concerns.7

Microplastics

Microplastic pollution (MP) is a growing health concern due to the probable negative health outcomes, especially related to the growing fetus. Microplastics are already found within various body systems including the placenta, liver, breast milk, and blood. MP enters the mother’s body through ingestion, skin contact, and inhalation. Once inside the mother’s body, it can be transferred to the baby from the placenta through the circulatory system. Since the research for MP is still being conducted, researchers have not yet made connections with MPs in food and negative health effects.8

Tips to Avoid/ Prevent Health Issues Caused by Microplastics

Although we all have MPs in our bodies, we can still minimize further exposure by: