Pollution may increase risk of miscarriage

Published on Thursday 22 October 2009 22:15

HIGH levels of pollution could increase the risk of miscarriage, new research suggests.

Experts who studied the effects of diesel exhaust particles found a link between exposure and failed pregnancies. While the study was carried out in Brazil, researchers believe the same effect could be seen in other cities worldwide.

The UK Government estimates that air pollution contributes to between 12,000 and 24,000 premature deaths in the country each year.

In January, the European Commission announced it was prosecuting the UK for breaking air pollution laws after it failed to sufficiently reduce levels of particles known as PM10s, which are mainly caused by industry and traffic.

More than 20 UK cities were found to have dangerous levels of the particles between 2005 and 2007.

The Government has now asked the commission for extra time to bring down levels of PM10s.

Yesterday, Dr Paulo Marcelo Perin, from the University of Sao Paulo, announced results looking at the effect of diesel exhaust particles, including PM10s, on embryos in mice.

He found diesel disrupted the development of cells, which can trigger a miscarriage, and the effect was apparent even at low levels of exposure.

Dr Perin said: "Our latest study found that air pollution significantly decreased the cell population (of embryos]. When you have a decrease in cell mass, you compromise embryo viability.

"Because diesel is a major component of air pollution, we can assume most of the effect is from diesel.

"We saw a significant increase in the miscarriage rates," Dr Perin added. "There was a 2.5-fold increase in pregnancy loss when exposed to high levels of pollution."

It is known that pollution levels are higher in winter months due to increased rain and fog, which brings pollutants down to ground level rather than staying higher up in the atmosphere.

Dr Perin said this was reflected in the fact women were more likely to miscarry in winter.

"Our recommendation is not to get pregnant when you have high rates of pollution," he said.

The study found miscarriage rates in Brazil were 20 per cent to 30 per cent in winter months compared with 10 to 15 per cent at other times of the year.

The latest study was presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) conference in Atlanta in the US.