The findings of the study presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) conference in Atlanta in the United States suggest that even slightest exposure to diesel particles could place the women at risk and could result in failure of pregnancies.
Dr. Paulo Marcelo Perin from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil, one of the co-researchers of the team which carried out the study, said, “Our recommendation would be to not get pregnant when you have high levels of pollution.”
“Even small amounts of pollution can cause pregnancy loss. Since diesel is a major part of particulates in pollution we can assume that most of the effect is from diesel,” he added.
Diesel exhaust particles linked to miscarriage risk
A team from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, conducted a lab experiment on fertilized eggs of mice.
They treated the fertilized eggs with diesel exhaust particles, including PM10s, mainly caused by industry and traffic and found that toxic particles reduced the production of cells in one part of the embryo—earliest stage of development of the fertilized eggs.
The researchers noted that the procedure did not stop the growth of embryo in the womb, but it certainly disrupted the development of cells which could trigger the chances of miscarriages.
Dr. Perin said, "Our latest study found that air pollution significantly decreased the cell population (of embryos). When you have a decrease in cell mass you compromise embryo viability.
"Because diesel is a major component of air pollution we can assume most of the effect is from diesel."
Previous studies also suggest that increased levels of pollution can lower the chances of a successful in-vitro fertilization (IVF) process in which female egg cells are fertilized by male sperms outside the womb.
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