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Air Pollution Harm To Unborn Babies May Be Global Health Catastrophe, Warn Doctors (theguardian.com)

Posted by msmash on from the need-of-the-hour dept.

Air pollution significantly increases the risk of low birth weight in babies, leading to lifelong damage to health, according to a large new study. From a report: The research was conducted in London, UK, but its implications for many millions of women in cities around the world with far worse air pollution are "something approaching a public health catastrophe," the doctors involved said. Globally, two billion children -- 90% of all children -- are exposed to air pollution above World Health Organization guidelines. A Unicef study also published on Wednesday found that 17 million babies suffer air six times more toxic than the guidelines. The team said that there are no reliable ways for women in cities to avoid chronic exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and called for urgent action from governments to cut pollution from vehicles and other sources.

3 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. No surprises... by cayenne8 · · Score: 0, Troll
    I'm guessing the majority of these mothers with this problem are in the two most populous, and coincidentally most polluted of countries....China and India?

    I think this is just Mother Nature helping clean the pool a bit, with indirect help.

    Too many people.....not a good place to make more.

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    1. Re:No surprises... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      I think this is just Mother Nature helping clean the pool a bit

      We'll see if you feel the same when it's your child that is born with defects.

      Just check it in utero, and if any thing is wrong, kill it, right libs???

  2. More FUD from the left by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    My faith in science is shattered at this point. Scientists these days are no more than political hacks, furthering their leftest agenda. Sad state of affairs. Science is over. There is no truth. The only truth is that manufactured by Liberals out of whole cloth. It's ironic that the folks who claim the higher ground of 'science' are nothing but Luddites who would have us return to caves.