Wildfires become leading source of air pollution for U.S. pregnancies

A study published in Frontiers in Environmental Health reveals that wildfires have become the leading source of unhealthy air pollution exposure for pregnant women in the United States. Researchers analyzed approximately 64.5 million pregnancies across 48 states between 2003 and 2019, focusing on exposure to PM2.5 particles.

While overall prenatal exposure to PM2.5 declined during this period, the contribution of wildfire smoke more than doubled, rising from roughly 3.7% to 8.2%. By 2019, wildfire smoke accounted for approximately 65% of “exceedance days,” which are days when PM2.5 levels exceeded 35 micrograms per cubic meter.

Wildfire smoke is linked to adverse birth outcomes. Senior study author Michel Boudreaux from the University of Maryland noted that while individuals can use air filtration or masking to reduce exposure, governments and communities must ensure access to clean air.