Exposure to fine respirable particles (PM2.5) during pregnancy, even at relatively low exposure levels, was found to be associated with an increased risk of low birth weight, premature birth and birth defects. This is according to a new study conducted at the initiative of the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Health and the Hebrew University in a joint announcement:
A new study, conducted by researchers from the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical Center and other institutions, funded and accompanied by the Ministry of Environmental Protection in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, found that exposure to fine respirable particles (PM2.5) during pregnancy, even at relatively low levels of exposure, was associated with an increased risk of childbirth Low weight, premature birth and birth defects.
In addition, no significant differences were found in the presence of low birth weight in the Haifa Bay area compared to the rest of Israel; Biological monitoring found exposure to heavy metals among pregnant women in the Haifa Bay area in concentrations similar to those found in other populations in the world.
Dr. Erna Metzner, Director of Science and Research at the Office of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Environmental Protection:
"There is great importance in promoting studies that examine the health effects of environmental pollutants, which form the basis for policy-making. The Ministry of Environmental Protection works to reduce environmental pollution in Israel in general and in the Haifa Bay in particular, and together with its partners in the government promotes the plans and mechanisms for the evacuation of the petrochemical industry complex in Haifa."
Dr. Isabella Karkis, Director of the Department of Environmental Epidemiology in the Public Health Division of the Ministry of Health:
"Environmental pollutants have an effect on public health. This study, which was approved by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and was carried out under the close supervision of professionals in the Ministry of Health, shows that exposure to air pollution in Israel also has an effect on the health of sensitive populations, including pregnant women, fetuses and newborns. The study Adds another important step for changing policy on the issue, which is necessary for maintaining public health in Israel and around the world."
Prof. Hagai Levin, lead researcher, full professor of epidemiology and public health at the Hebrew and Hadassah University:
"Our study provides new evidence from Israel for the severe damage of particulate air pollution to the developing fetus, even at relatively low levels of exposure. It is our duty to better protect the fetuses and babies and increase efforts to reduce air pollution from fires, transportation and industry, in the Haifa Bay area and throughout the country."
A new study supported and accompanied by the chief scientist of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, examined the connections between exposure to fine respirable particles (PM2.5) during pregnancy and birth outcomes, while making a comparison between the population in Haifa Bay and the rest of the country. In addition, biological monitoring for heavy metals was conducted for women at the beginning of pregnancy living in the Haifa Bay.
The research was conducted under the leadership of Prof. Hagai Levin from Hadassah Medical Center, in collaboration with Dr. Wissam Abu-Ahmed and Prof. Ronit Niral from the Hebrew University, Dr. Rachel Golan and Prof. Itai Kellogg from Ben Gurion University, Dr. Ronit Almog from Ramb Hospital Prof. Mia Negev and Prof. Anat Gasser-Edelsburg from the University of Haifa and researchers from Maccabi Health Services.
Data on mothers and about 400 newborns between 2004 and 2015 were obtained from Maccabi Health Services and the Ministry of Health. The estimates of exposure to particulate air pollution at the mother's place of residence were obtained from a model based on satellite data. This is about years before the national program that was implemented in Haifa Bay to reduce air pollution.
Low weight, premature birth and birth defects
The results of the study indicated that exposure to fine respirable particles (PM2.5) during pregnancy is significantly associated with negative birth outcomes including low birth weight, premature birth and birth defects. At the same time, no significant differences were found in the presence of low birth weight in the Haifa Bay area compared to the rest of the State of Israel.
In biological monitoring of urine samples it was found that the exposure to heavy metals among 48 pregnant women in the Haifa Bay area was similar to that found in other populations in the world.
This research was carried out as part of the calling voice on behalf of the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Environmental Protection for studies on the Haifa Bay. The position of the Ministry of Environmental Protection is that there is no place for a petrochemical industry in the heart of a population. Therefore, the ministry continues to promote together with its partners in the government the plans and mechanisms to stop the activity of this industry. In addition to promoting the evacuation of industry from Haifa Bay, the Ministry carries out enforcement and supervision actions which in the last decade have resulted in the reduction of emissions and a significant decrease in the concentrations of air pollutants in the environment in Haifa Bay, as reflected in the data of the level and the air monitoring stations. For example, the emissions of substances suspected or known to be carcinogenic from factories that report to the Caspian s in the Haifa area decreased in the years of the program, between the years 2012 and 2022 by 92%, the emission of other polluting substances decreased by 57% to 95%.
Expansion on the study:
The research led to several publications in the leading scientific literature. The concentrations of respirable particles in Israel far exceed the highest concentration recommended by the World Health Organization. The concentration is similar between the Haifa Bay area and other areas in Israel. Exposure to fine respirable particles was found to be associated with low birth weight at term, even after controlling for confounding variables. The associations changed with the period of exposure during pregnancy, the sex of the newborn, the order of birth and the body mass of the mother before birth.
Exposure to fine respirable particles has been found to be associated with preterm birth even at lower than average exposure levels. For mothers exposed to low temperature during pregnancy, the risk of preterm birth increased with increasing exposure, while among mothers exposed to high temperature during pregnancy the trend was the opposite. One of the explanations for this difference is that exposure to high temperatures and high particulate pollution is associated with pregnancy loss and stillbirth.
Examining the relationship between particulate pollution and birth defects demonstrated a higher increase in the risk of defects in the systems: blood (circulatory), breathing, digestion, genitals and body covering (skin, hair, etc.) when the average exposure during pregnancy was low (less than 21.5 mcg /mXNUMX) and a more moderate increase in the risk of defects for higher concentrations of the pollutant. This super-linear relationship demonstrates the great importance for health of reducing air pollution of the type of fine respirable particles even in the low concentration range.
The researchers recommend establishing an updated national database about environmental exposures and health outcomes for the purpose of monitoring and assisting with an informed policy regarding the impact of air pollution and climate change on public health in Israel. There is a need for further research on the effects of exposure to other pollutants in the air that were not examined in this work. Especially in these days of war accompanied by widespread fires in the north, the state of air pollution and its effect on the health of the population and especially on the health of the developing fetus must be monitored.
The research findings, which indicate a risk to the developing fetus even at a relatively low level of exposure, emphasize the need to reduce air pollution in the Haifa Bay area and in Israel as a whole.
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