Wildfire Smoke Poses Growing Danger to Unborn Babies, New Study Finds

A new study by University of Maryland researchers indicates that wildfire pollution is an increasing threat to prenatal health. The research, published on Friday, found that the proportion of microscopic air pollution (PM 2.5) from wildfires that unborn babies are exposed to more than doubled between 2003 and 2019. Previous studies have linked wildfire smoke to adverse pregnancy outcomes and various early-childhood health issues, as these particles are small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream.