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    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   
             o Health_&_Medicine   
                   # Pregnancy_and_Childbirth # Diseases_and_Conditions #   
                   Teen_Health # Gynecology   
             o Plants_&_Animals   
                   # Bird_Flu_Research # Virology # Veterinary_Medicine #   
                   Soil_Types   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Influenza_pandemic o Gastroenteritis o Fetus o Epidemiology   
             o Smog o Sunburn o Flu_vaccine o H5N1   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   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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