NIH Study Explores Pollution and Birth Outcomes in Pregnant Women Living in Redlined Neighborhoods

The Air We Breathe Matters: Uncovering How Pollution in Redlined Neighborhoods Endangers Pregnancy Outcomes and Highlighting the Need for Justice and Healthier Communities

Pregnant women in redlined neighborhoods face increased pollution exposure, raising concerns about their health and birth outcomes. (Image from Pixabay)

Published on:

27 Oct 2024, 9:14 pm

Residence in redlined census tracts during pregnancy was associated with higher exposure to PM2.5 and lower birth weight in a recent study funded by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.

Redlining is the historical practice of designating certain neighborhoods, often where minority groups lived, as risky investments for lenders. Additionally, living in ungraded census tracts was linked to elevated PM2.5 exposure, lower birth weight, and increased odds of low birth weight.

Living in ungraded census tracts was linked to elevated PM2.5 exposure, lower birth weight, and increased odds of low birth weight. (Representational image from Wikimedia Commons)Carine BRANGEAT

These findings underscore the complex nature of structural racism, suggesting that factors beyond redlining may contribute to ongoing inequalities in health outcomes. Further research is needed to explore these dynamics and their implications for maternal and infant health.

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pregnancy

pollution

racial discrimination

low birth weight