A review on effect of air pollutants on fetal development and pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

Developing fetus is connected to the mother by placenta to receive oxygen and nutrients. Maternal exposure to ambient air pollution not only affects maternal health but also provides a pathway for many toxic pollutants to cross the placental barrier and interrupt biochemical milieu. There are numerous scientific studies available describing possible negative health impact of air pollutants on reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes and fetal development yet no toxic effect is available recently. Studying the pollutants exposure effect on fetal development is crucial for the underlying mechanism between prenatal exposure and pregnancy outcomes. Present review meticulously provides the compiled data of 40 most recent studies with possible action mechanism of air pollutants on pregnancy outcomes and fetal development to find a better solution to exterminate or reduce the problem.