Los Angeles Air Pollution May Cause Pre-term Births, Preeclampsia

Submitted by Ben Upham

A new study has found a connection between traffic pollution in Southern California, and serious health problems, including premature birth, in pregnant women.

Risk of "very premature delivery," where delivery occurs before 30 weeks, increased 128% in neighborhoods with the highest levels of certain traffic-related chemicals, according to the study. Risk of preeclampsia, a major pregnancy complication, rose up to 42%.

Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, analyzed data from
81,186 births in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, then compared this data with levels of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter in different neighborhoods. Both chemicals are common components of automotive exhaust.

The study, commissioned by the National Institute of Environmental Health, is the first to look at a connection between preeclampsia and air toxics.