Pollution ups odds of premature birth by 30 per cent

Traffic-related pollution in cities ups the odds of premature birth by 30 per cent among pregnant women.

A study of 1,00,000 births found that the "toxic" chemicals emitted by urban traffic damages the health of yet-to-be-born babies and their mothers.

Said Beate Ritz from the University of California who led the study: "Air pollution is known to be associated with low birth weight and premature birth," the journal Environmental Health reports.

"Our results show that traffic-related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are of special concern as pollutants, and that PAH sources besides traffic contributed to premature birth.

"The increase in premature birth risk due to ammonium nitrate particles suggests secondary pollutants are also negatively impacting the health of unborn babies," according to the Telegraph.

The study found that exposure to "critical pollutants" such as PAH, linked to car exhausts, led to a 30 percent increased risk of giving birth prematurely.

Chemicals produced by diesel fumes were associated with a 10 per cent higher risk of premature birth, while ammonium nitrate fine particles were linked to a 21 per cent increase.