Wildfire Smoke Increases Prenatal Pollution, University of Maryland Study Finds

A study published in Frontiers in Environmental Health examined air‑pollution exposure for about 64.5 million pregnancies in the United States between 2003 and 2019. Researchers from the University of Maryland found that while overall pollution from cars and industry has fallen, the share of exposure to wildfire‑generated fine particulate matter (PM2.5) more than doubled, making wildfire smoke the primary pollutant affecting pregnant people. The analysis showed that roughly 65 % of days exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard were attributable to wildfire smoke, offsetting decades of air‑quality gains from the Clean Air Act.

Lead author Menglu Liang said the findings highlight how recent mega‑fires are eroding health improvements for mothers and infants, potentially contributing to outcomes such as low birth weight and preterm birth. Co‑author Michel Boudreaux added that preventing prenatal PM2.5 exposure could improve long‑term health and productivity of the affected children.