Australian Wildfires and Perinatal Health Risks

This report, available for download below, presents a study led by Michelle L. Bell at Yale University. Bell and colleagues evaluated the effects of exposure to fine particles in smoke from wildfires on perinatal outcomes in Australia.

Key takeaways:

• The investigators conducted a systematic review that showed suggestive evidence that wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy is associated with an elevated risk of reduced birth weight, low birth weight, preterm birth, some congenital anomalies, some obstetric outcomes, and child mortality.
• Through their modeling efforts, they developed improved estimates of smoke-related air pollution exposures for people living in major Australian cities.
• Their epidemiological analyses provided evidence that such exposures are associated with a higher risk of adverse birth outcomes in Australia. These results confirm previous findings and emphasize the importance of reducing wildfire smoke exposure for pregnant women and their infants.