Pregnant women in redlined neighborhoods face increased pollution exposure, raising concerns about their health and birth outcomes. (Image from Pixabay) 
Medicine

NIH Study Explores Pollution and Birth Outcomes in Pregnant Women Living in Redlined Neighborhoods

The Air We Breathe Matters: Uncovering How Pollution in Redlined Neighborhoods Endangers Pregnancy Outcomes and Highlighting the Need for Justice and Healthier Communities

MBT Desk
Residence in redlined census tracts during pregnancy was associated with higher exposure to PM2.5 and lower birth weight in a recent study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

Redlining is the historical practice of designating certain neighborhoods, often where minority groups lived, as risky investments for lenders. Additionally, living in ungraded census tracts was linked to elevated PM2.5 exposure, lower birth weight, and increased odds of low birth weight.

Living in ungraded census tracts was linked to elevated PM2.5 exposure, lower birth weight, and increased odds of low birth weight. (Representational image from Wikimedia Commons)

These findings underscore the complex nature of structural racism, suggesting that factors beyond redlining may contribute to ongoing inequalities in health outcomes. Further research is needed to explore these dynamics and their implications for maternal and infant health.

Newswise/SP

Also read:FDA Will Examine Private Doctors More Closely on Schedule-K Medication Abuse

Also Read

Eat Kiwifruit for Constipation, New Guidelines Say, but Ditch the High-Fiber Diet

Testosterone Levels Decline With Age, Not Menopause, Despite What You’ve Heard

Inside the Kidney Transplant Scams: The Gurgaon Case That Unmasked India’s Largest Organ-Trafficking Racket

Maharashtra Doctor Dies by Suicide After Naming Police Officer in Rape Allegation

Regular Cleaning Linked to Lung Damage Similar to Long-Term Smoking, Study Finds