Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media says Knesset approved bill to annex in West Bank in preliminary reading
Kremlin: As part of strategic nuclear force exercise, Cruiser Bryansk launched Sineva ballistic missile from Barents Sea.
Kremlin: Yars Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome at Kura test site in Kamchatka.
Kremlin: Strategic nuclear forces exercise took place under Putin's leadership.
Lebanese MP Imad Al-Hout, following his meeting with the Grand Mufti of the Republic: Lebanon is the last country to move toward peace and normalization [with "Israel"]
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyr reported in Israeli drone strike targeting motorcycle in Ain Qana.
Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Envelope.
Syria: Local sources report that General Security forces targeted the camp of French fighters from the 'al-Ghuraba division' in the Idlib countryside with mortar and tank shells.
Syria: Local sources report a general military mobilization of foreign fighters in Idlib following armed clashes in the “French Camp” in the Idlib countryside.
Syria: Local sources report that International Coalition forces carried out an airdrop operation on a house in the village of al-Kassar, eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

Air pollution particles detected in lungs, brains of fetuses: Study

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Oct 2022 11:12
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

University professors ask for more in-depth research to discover if even more harm takes place when the particles begin to disperse in the body afterward.

  • x
  • Particles from pollution are found in fetuses (YouTube)
    Particles from pollution are detected in fetuses (YouTube)

A groundbreaking find has researchers baffled and alarmed, after discovering that fetuses during pregnancy have toxic air pollution particles in the lungs, livers, and brains. 

In the most vulnerable stage of human development, the black carbon particles are passed on to the fetus after being inhaled by the mother and transmitted through the bloodstream and placenta that connects to the fetus. 

Published in the journal Lancet Planetary Health and conducted with mothers in Scotland and Belgium who identified as non-smoking in places with low air pollution, the research found air pollution particles even in umbilical cord blood and placentas, which, when compared with mothers living in high-level air pollution areas, the concentration of particles was higher. 

The 36 fetuses examined in the Scottish part were from normal pregnancies between seven and 20 weeks, and in Belgium, cord blood samples were taken after 60 healthy births. “The findings are especially concerning because this window of exposure is key to organ development,” the scientists said.

Related News

Macron tells US scientists to 'choose France' amid research crackdown

Swedish institute loses decades of research after sample fridge breaks

An increased rate of miscarriages impeded brain development, and premature births were known to be linked to polluted air inhalation, but this "very worrying" new study exhibits direct evidence of how that is taking place, with researchers adding that pollution could eventually lead to lifetime health effects. Emitted from fossil fuel combustion in vehicles, homes, and factories, the particles cause inflammation in the body due to the chemicals in them.

The research was discussed by Professor Paul Fowler, at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, who said, “We have shown for the first time that black carbon nanoparticles not only get into the first and second trimester placenta but then also find their way into the organs of the developing fetus."

Reiterating that the particles have the facilitated ability to enter the human brain, Fowler expressed worry that it would also be possible for the nanoparticles to interact and toy with the control systems of human fetal organs and cells directly. Fetuses in the womb are easily prone to receive whatever the mother consumes or breathes, and that is proven in one study made in 2017, whereby 850 babies showed signs of drug addiction because of their mother abusing legal or illegal substances such as cocaine, heroin, codeine, marijuana, and alcohol during pregnancy. 

An earlier discovery in 2018 may have aided in the breakthrough finding, in which Professor Jonathan Grigg at the Queen Mary University of London, alongside his colleagues, located polluted air particles in placentas. Grigg put his two cents in on the new study, expressing that “the new study is very good – they have shown convincingly that the particles then get into the fetuses. Seeing particles getting into the brain of fetuses raises the stakes because this potentially has lifelong consequences for the child,” adding that further research would still be required as it is not known yet what occurs when the particles release their chemicals in different parts of the body. 

Co-author of the research, Professor Tim Nawrot at Hasselt University in Belgium, said, “Air quality regulation should recognize this [air pollution] transfer during gestation and act to protect the most susceptible stages of human development.” He pointed fingers at governments for their responsibility to cut down air pollution, but still urged people to avoid busy roads when it is possible.

A 2019 comprehensive global review deduced that air pollution has intensive damage effects on human organs, as tiny particles have also been found in the blood-brain connection and billions of them have been located in the hearts of youths living in cities. More than 90% of the world’s population resides in areas where air pollution is above World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and because of that, millions of deaths are caused and continue to rise as climate change worsens as well. 

  • research
  • Air pollution
  • fetus
  • Pollution
  • Scotland
  • Belgium

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
A woman with her purchased groceries walks out from an underground market, in Beijing, Wednesday, August 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Global brands in China face pressure from rising local rivals

  • Economy
  • 17 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Nearly half of attacks in occupied al-Quds target Armenian Christians
Politics

Nearly half of attacks in occupied al-Quds target Armenian Christians

Greece rocked by EU farm subsidy scandal as dozens arrested
Economy

Greece rocked by EU farm subsidy scandal as dozens arrested

Netherlands holds talks with China after Beijing curbs Nexperia export.
Technology

Netherlands holds talks with China after Nexperia export's curb

Trump said to demand DOJ pay him $230 million for past cases: NYT
Politics

Trump said to demand DOJ pay him $230 mln for past cases: NYT

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS