London - Pregnant women who are exposed to smog are more likely to suffer a stillbirth, a major review concludes.
There are around 3 600 stillbirths in the UK every year and although they have been linked to infections and lifestyle, their exact cause remains a mystery.
But Danish researchers who examined 13 studies have identified a strong link to car exhaust fumes and other pollution.
They are now calling for tighter curbs on exhausts and industrial waste emissions to reduce the risk to unborn babies, which is most heightened during the third trimester.
The team from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark found that even if the concentration of air pollutants increased by a small amount – 4 micrograms per cubic metre – the chances of stillbirth rose by four percent.
Writing in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the scientists wrote: “Pregnant women should be aware of the potential adverse effects of ambient air pollution, although the prevention against exposure to air pollutants generally requires more action by the Government than by the individual.”
Lead author Dr Marie Pedersen said: “Stillbirth is one of the most neglected tragedies in global health today, and the existing evidence summarised deserves additional investigation.”
Daily Mail