Air Pollution Exposure During Pregnancy Can Disrupt Foetal Development

Climate change, which triggers heatwaves, is increasingly worsening air quality in various regions. This condition not only impacts public health in general, but also poses a serious threat to vulnerable groups, especially pregnant women, foetuses, and newborns. Paediatric specialist and member of the Indonesian Paediatric Society’s (IDAI) Environmental Health and Climate Change Task Force, Dr Riyadi, stated that prenatal exposure to air pollution can disrupt foetal development in the womb. According to him, air pollutants such as fine particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10 can penetrate the placental barrier. “This condition opens the way for harmful substances to enter the foetal environment and trigger various complex biological disorders during pregnancy,” Dr Riyadi said during a webinar held by the Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI) on Tuesday. In terms of biological mechanisms, Dr Riyadi said the exposure also causes oxidative stress and inflammation in the bodies of the mother and foetus. This condition is marked by an increase in inflammation-triggering compounds that can disrupt placental development and foetal growth. According to Dr Riyadi, disruption to the placenta can further lead to impaired organogenesis, immune system function, and lung maturation processes in the foetus. In other words, pollution exposure not only affects physical growth but also the development of vital organ functions from the earliest phase of life. From a clinical perspective, various studies show the serious impact of this condition. Prenatal air pollution exposure is linked to an increased risk of prematurity, low birth weight, restricted foetal growth, and neonatal death. “Other studies have also found that exposure to PM10 and ozone during the first trimester of pregnancy is reported to reduce infant birth weight. Meanwhile, exposure to sulphur dioxide in the second trimester can increase TNF-a levels in the mother and lead to a reduction in foetal weight,” said Dr Riyadi. Furthermore, other pollutants such as heavy metals, black carbon, and nitrogen dioxide also contribute to foetal metabolic disorders. Dr Riyadi also highlighted epigenetic changes, including microRNA disruption, which can affect a child’s long-term development. The impact does not stop during pregnancy but also increases the risk of metabolic disorders and early infections. The combination of increased PM2.5 and temperature due to climate change is said to increase foetal blood pressure and cortisol levels in pregnant women. This condition is then linked to an increased risk of preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy.