Exposing babies to air pollution may increase risk ...
From 24A
Those with the highest exposure to PM10 had 85% more of the microorganism Dialister, which is associated with inflammation.
AT HIGHER RISK
In a previous study, Alderete found that pregnant Latino women exposed to higher levels of air pollution during pregnancy have babies who grow unusually fast in the first month after birth, putting them at risk for obesity and related diseases later in life. Infants are particularly vulnerable to the health hazards of air pollution because they breathe faster and their gut microbiome is just taking shape. “This makes early life a critical window where exposure to air pollution may have disproportionately deleterious health effects,” they write. Racial minorities and low-income communities, who tend to work, live and attend school in regions closer to busy highways or factories, are at even greater risk. One 2018 Environmental Protection Agency study found that communities of color are exposed to as much as 1.5 times more airborne pollutants than their white counterparts. “Our findings highlight the importance of addressing the impact of pollution on disadvantaged communities and point to additional steps all families can take to protect their health,” said Alderete, who hopes her research will influence policymakers to move schools and affordable housing projects away from pollution sources. The authors caution that more research is needed to determine whether changes in the gut in infancy have lasting impacts, and just what those are. More studies are underway. Meantime, Alderete advises everyone to take these steps to reduce their exposure to both indoor and outdoor pollutants: Avoid walking outdoors in high-traffic zones Consider a low-cost airfiltration system, particularly for rooms children spend a lot of time in. If you are cooking, open the windows
And for new moms, breastfeed for as long as possible “Breast milk is a fantastic way to develop a healthy microbiome and may help offset some of the adverse effects from environmental exposures,” Alderete said.