University of Maryland School of Public Health researchers are leading a $2.5 million National Institutes of Health grant to study how combined exposure to extreme heat and wildfire smoke impacts maternal health and pregnancy outcomes across the United States. According to principal investigator Dr. Jennifer Stowell, the research team aims to identify which pollutant combinations and gestational time periods present the greatest risk to pregnant individuals and their babies.
Did you know? Pregnancy naturally increases demands on the heart and respiratory system while reducing the body’s capacity to regulate heat, making pregnant individuals especially vulnerable to environmental hazards.
Tracking Millions of Birth Records Across Two Decades
To map out risk disparities across different regions, Dr. Jennifer Stowell and her colleagues are drawing on data from 6.5 million births spanning twenty years. The study measures exposures to extreme heat, fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke known as PM2.5, and other pollutants against serious pregnancy complications. These include hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus, which affect approximately 10% and 8% of U.S. pregnancies respectively, according to study data showing a disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.
Researchers will examine how simultaneous exposure to these environmental hazards affects the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. While extreme heat and regular air pollution are already linked to pregnancy complications, pregnancy loss, and postpartum mental health issues, the specific impacts of wildfire smoke on maternal health remain largely understudied.
Clinical Guidance and Early-Warning Systems for Vulnerable Regions
The findings from the NIH-funded study are designed to shape practical tools for healthcare providers and public health agencies. According to Dr. Jennifer Stowell, the data will provide crucial information for clinical guidance, improve medical services in under-resourced perinatal care regions such as rural areas, and build better early-warning systems tailored for high-risk groups, including low income and minority populations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific pregnancy complications are linked to wildfire smoke and extreme heat?
According to University of Maryland School of Public Health researchers, exposure to these hazards is linked to preterm birth, low birthweight, smaller average size during gestation, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes.
Why are pregnant individuals more vulnerable to extreme heat and smoke?
Pregnancy places heavy demands on the heart and respiratory system while reducing the body’s natural capacity to regulate heat, making combined environmental exposures particularly damaging.
Who is funding and leading the maternal health study?
The National Institutes of Health is funding the research with a $2.5 million grant, led by Dr. Jennifer Stowell, an environmental epidemiologist and assistant professor in the Department of Global, Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.
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