Preterm births tied to smog may be costing U.S. $4 billion every year

Studies in the past have linked air pollution to preterm births, but a new analysis published in Environmental Health Perspectives on March 29 is the first to assign a price tag to the issue, estimating that the cost to the U.S. may be as much as $4 billion every year. The researchers analyzed birth records and air quality data and found an association between air pollution and 16,000 babies who were born prematurely.

The costs are estimated at $760 million for hospitalizations and long-term medication use, plus nearly $3.6 billion in lost wages and productivity due to the mental and physical deficits related to the early births. Lead study author Dr. Leonardo Trasande, who is a New York University School of Medicine environmental health researcher, said, “Air pollution-associated preterm birth contributes direct medical costs in the first few years of life due to associated conditions, such as in the newborn intensive care unit, as well as lost economic productivity due to developmental disabilities and lost cognitive potential.”

Premature infants also have difficulty digesting food and breathing in the weeks immediately after birth. They may also experience long-term problems such as impaired hearing, vision and cognitive skills. They may also develop social and behavioral problems.

The researchers came to the conclusion that about 3 percent of U.S. preterm births are attributable to air pollution. This is based on data from the Institute of Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Environmental Protection Agency. They looked at federal databases for preterm birth rates and air quality over one year, and also used past research to calculate average risk for preterm births at various levels of pollution.

Preterm births related to air pollution were found to be higher in urban counties, particularly in the Eastern U.S. and Southern California. The study was conducted in Ohio, which the study discovered was the center of the U.S. region with the most premature births that could be linked to air pollution.

It is thought that air pollution contributes to a buildup of toxic chemicals in the blood that causes stress to the immune system that in turn weakens the placenta and shortens the amount of time that the baby is able to exist in the womb.

The study was unable to prove that pollution causes preterm births. The analysis also lacked data regarding individual exposure to air pollution that might influence the impact of toxins on pregnancy. However, the conclusions point strongly to the association between smog and pregnancy complications.

Most pregnant women are unable to just pack up and move away from pollution. According to Dr. Edward McCabe, March of Dimes’ chief medical officer, “Studies like this can put us in a stronger position to advocate for cleaner air.” He said that the solution is to reduce the sources of pollution.

Trasande says that many factors influence the risk of preterm birth, and air pollution is only a “modest” contributor. However, across the entire U.S, population, that risk adds up and becomes a significant public health issue. The U.S. rate of preterm births is significantly higher than in other developed countries, according to the study.