Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy increases risk for flu

Date:
April 19, 2023
Source:
Texas A&M University
Summary:
A new study shows that exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs) during
pregnancy enhances respiratory viral infection risk. According
to the researchers, it is imperative that pregnant women in urban
cities, where influenza and UFPs are more prevalent, are provided
vaccinations and preventive measures limiting UFP exposure to
protect maternal health.


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FULL STORY ========================================================================== During pregnancy, women are more susceptible to severe respiratory
infections from multiple viruses, including influenza A virus (IAV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).

Additionally, pregnant women are disproportionately affected by influenza, resulting in a more than 10-fold increase in hospitalization risk.


==========================================================================
A new study led by Dr. Natalie Johnson, associate professor in the Texas
A&M University School of Public Health's Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, shows that exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs)
during pregnancy enhances respiratory viral infection risk. The results
of the study were published recently in Particle and Fibre Toxicology.

"We know that air pollution affects the pulmonary immune system, making individuals more susceptible to viral infections," Johnson said. "We
also know pregnant women are already at increased risk for severe
flu. Surprisingly, studies have not interrogated the combined effects of pregnancy, air pollution and influenza. Our findings demonstrate the need
to further study these interactions in order to prevent short and perhaps long-term impacts on maternal health." In the study, Johnson and her co-authors point out that there are several physiological characteristics
that explain maternal susceptibility to viral infection. Among those
are increased cardiac output and decreased tidal volume -- the amount
of air that moves in or out of the lungs with each respiratory cycle --
as well as immunological changes such as selective modulation of immune
cell subsets to protect the developing fetus.

The research team also highlights that vaccination compliance during
pregnancy is generally below 50 percent, despite vaccination against
influenza being safe and effective, leading to increased risk for
developing respiratory infection.

As a result, air pollution, which is a worldwide environmental health
issue, is responsible for one in nine deaths with an annual premature
mortality of more than 7 million. A mixture of gases and tiny airborne particulate matter, which is categorized as UFPs, are critical to
recognize and identify, especially to protect vulnerable populations.

The research team says these findings support future clinical and
regulatory interventions for protecting pregnant women and controlling
UFPs. According to the researchers, it is imperative that pregnant
women in urban cities, where influenza and UFPs are more prevalent, are provided vaccinations and preventive measures limiting UFP exposure to
protect maternal health.

"Air pollution is a pervasive environmental health issue," Johnson said.

"Strategies to protect the most vulnerable, like pregnant women, are of
high priority to decrease adverse health effects." Additional authors
include Nicholas L. Drury, Texas A&M Department of Environmental
and Occupational Health and Texas A&M Department of Nutrition; Toriq
Mustapha, Texas A&M Department of Environmental and Occupational Health;
Ross A. Shore, Texas A&M Department of Environmental and Occupational
Health, Jiayun Zhao, Texas A&M Department of Chemistry; Gus A. Wright,
Texas A&M Department of Veterinary Pathobiology; Aline Rodrigues
Hoffmann, University of Florida Department of Comparative, Diagnostic,
and Population Medicine; Susanne U. Talcott, Texas A&M Department of
Nutrition; Annette Regan, University of San Francisco School of Nursing
and Health Professions; Robert M. Tighe, Duke University Department of Medicine; and Renyi Zhang, Texas A&M Department of Chemistry and Texas
A&M Department of Atmospheric Sciences.

* RELATED_TOPICS
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========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Texas_A&M_University. Original
written by Tim Schnettler.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Nicholas L. Drury, Toriq Mustapha, Ross A. Shore, Jiayun Zhao,
Gus A.

Wright, Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann, Susanne U. Talcott, Annette
Regan, Robert M. Tighe, Renyi Zhang, Natalie M. Johnson. Maternal
exposure to ultrafine particles enhances influenza infection
during pregnancy.

Particle and Fibre Toxicology, 2023; 20 (1) DOI: 10.1186/s12989-023-
00521-1 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230419201708.htm

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