Exposure to environmental pollutants can be especially damaging to fetuses as they develop in the womb, resulting in low birth weights, congenital disorders and even stillbirths. Pregnant people go through a development period, too, making them more vulnerable to the health effects of environmental stressors like air pollution, heavy metals, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), endocrine-disrupting chemicals, pesticides and others. Now, scientists are starting to study how being exposed to environmental stressors affects pregnant people’s short- and long-term health. They are in the middle of studies that investigate stressors’ effects on cardiovascular health post-pregnancy and rates of postpartum depression, both of which can impact long-term heart, metabolic and mental health. She hopes to maintain the cohort for many decades so that researchers can study health effects beyond a couple years post-pregnancy.

Source: The Guardian February 01, 2024 10:47 UTC