The study compared the research team led by Dr Adrian Barnett, senior Queensland University of Technology, based in QUT Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, embryos sizes of more than 15,000 ultrasound scans in Brisbane to levels of air pollution within 14 km of the city.
"The study found that exposure increased mothers' for the air pollution that fetuses were on average smaller in terms of abdominal circumference, head circumference and femur length," said Dr. Barnett.
According to Dr. Barnett, 10-year study examined fetuses between 13 and 26 weeks.
"To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind as it uses ultrasound measurement as a direct estimate of growth, rather than using birth weight as a measure of retarded growth. When analyzing scans of women at different distances to monitoring sites, we found that there was a negative relationship between pollutants such as sulfur dioxide in diesel emissions, measurement andultrasound. If pollution levels are high in fetal size decreased significantly, "says Dr. Barnett."
He said the size of the fetus during pregnancy is important because research has shown for healthier babies were higher in childhood and adulthood.
"Birth weight is an important indicator of later health, for example, more children have been shown to have higher IQs in childhood and lower risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood," he said.
Dr. Barnett said it was wise for pregnant women to try to reduce exposure to air pollutants, most of which is due to vehicles.
The study is published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives International.
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