A study published by the University of Washington reveals that exposure to wildfire smoke significantly increases the risk of preterm birth, particularly in the western United States. The research, conducted by a team of 42 authors nationwide, analyzed over 20,000 births from 2006 to 2020. It found a strong correlation between exposure to fine-particle pollution from wildfire smoke and higher odds of preterm delivery.
Preterm birth, defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, is a leading cause of infant illness and death. It affects about 10% of pregnancies in the U.S., and identifying environmental risk factors like wildfire smoke is vital for protecting vulnerable populations. Dr. Catherine Karr, a pediatrician at UW Medicine and co-author of the study, emphasized the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires and their potential impact on maternal and infant health.
“Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense, and our findings suggest that smoke exposure during pregnancy may have real consequences for maternal and infant health,” she said. The study highlighted that for every small increase in average wildfire-related PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy, the risk of preterm birth rose by about 7%.
