AN ANALYSIS OF AMBIENT AIR POLLUTION AND PREGNANCY OUTCOMES: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

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Background to the study

Brunekreef and Holgate (2002), Künzli et al. (2000), and Pope et al. (2002) all have considerable evidence that ambient air pollution has an impact on human health. The majority of research has focused on how air pollution affects adult mortality and respiratory illness (Dockery et al. 1993; Schwartz and Marcus 1990). Some age groups, however, appear to be more vulnerable than others. It has been demonstrated, for example, that the effects are greater in the elderly than in the general adult population (Saldiva et al. 1995). The opposite end of the age range is likewise more sensitive to air pollution than the general population, according to studies on childhood health concerns such as respiratory symptoms or hospital admissions for asthma (Dockery and Pope 1994; Heinrich et al. 1999; Schwartz et al. 1994). In addition to these "conventional" end objectives in children, new research suggests that air pollution is linked to an increased risk of negative pregnancy outcomes (Glinianaia et al. 2004; Maisonet et al. 2004).

The study of birth outcomes is an important area of environmental epidemiology that is only getting started. Birth outcomes are significant in and of themselves because they are crucial markers of newborn and infant health. Furthermore, low birth weight (LBW), intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and impaired growth in the first years of life have been linked to increased mortality and morbidity in childhood, as well as an increased risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes in adulthood (Barker 1995; Osmond and Baker 2000).

It is becoming increasingly clear that there is a crucial time of development during which the timing of exposure and the rate of dosage absorption are more significant for biologic effects than the overall dose (Axelrod et al. 2001). Because of their exposure pattern and physiological immaturity, fetuses are thought to be particularly vulnerable to a number of toxicants (Perera et al. 1999; Srám 1999). Because of increased rates of cell proliferation or fluctuating metabolic capabili- ties, their growing organ systems may be more exposed to environmental toxicants during important windows (sensitive times of development) (Calabrese 1986). As a result, prenatal exposure to pollution can have negative reproductive consequences, comparable to the link between mother active and passive smoking and poor reproductive results (Misra and Nguyen 1999; Salihu et al. 2004). This study also looks at the precise mechanisms that might explain the association between ambient air pollution and poor reproductive outcomes.

The goal of this review is to look at the research that links poor birth outcomes to pollution in the environment. Birth outcomes were split into five categories for this review: a) fetal and infant mortality, b) LBW, c) premature (preterm) births, d) IUGR, and e) birth malformations. We'll look at the evidence for each of them separately in this post. We assess the three critical issues in interpreting epidemiologic studies (random error, selection or measurement bias, and confounding) for each of the outcomes, and issues related to all reviewed outcomes (e.g., publication bias or biologic plausibility) are considered together at the conclusion of the article. We seek to reach reasonable conclusions about the relationships between air pollution and birth outcomes by weighing the data.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

It is claimed that health is riches, and that the planet would be empty without it. If we want to be healthy, we need to live in a healthy atmosphere. Although good health is supported by nutrition, physical activity, and other factors, it is difficult to achieve if environmental issues such as air pollution are not addressed (Binková 2003). Environmental pollution caused by emissions from industrial, commercial, home, and transportation operations has a significant impact on human health. Carbon ic oxide, for example, is known to deplete the ozone layer and, as a result, induce extreme heat in humans (Bobak, 2000).

However, air pollution caused by human activity in Uyo is a source of human illness. This is because carbon monoxide, when released into the air or breathed, may easily interact with hemoglobin, posing a health risk. When breathed in high quantities over long periods of time, it (carbon monoxide) can induce dizziness, headache, nausea, weariness, and possibly brain damage. In reality, the increasing prevalence of health problems and issues in society may be traced to environmental health hazards, particularly air pollution, to a great extent (Bobak, 2000).

Furthermore, fuel gases induce pre-cancerous conditions such as blindness, stomach discomfort, itching, and even cancer. As a result of the aforementioned issues, the purpose of this study is to explore the impact of ongoing ambient air pollution on pregnancy outcomes.

1.3 Objective of the study

The main objective of the study is to examine the effect of ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes. Specifically, the study aims to

1. examine the effect of Air pollution on child mortality
2. examine the effect of Air pollution on birth weight
3. examine the effect of Air pollution on premature births
4. examine the relationship between Air pollution and birth defects

1.4 Significance of the study

The study is crucial to the environmental degradation control, particularly air pollution. The researcher would make sure that the outcome emanating from the study go along way to helping solve environmental health problem in Nigeria.

Beside, students from urban and Regional Planning and other related discipline would see the work invaluable for further study. Again, the researcher would ensure that findings from the study broaden the scope of the field (Urban and Regional Planning).

1.5 Research question

 1. what is the effect of Air pollution on child mortality ?

2. what is the effect of Air pollution on birth weight ?

3. what is the effect of Air pollution on premature births ?

4. what is the relationship between Air pollution and birth defects ?

1.6    Scope Of The Study

Uyo is a capital of geographical entity called Akwa Ibom State. Because of its status, it has attracted attention from all sections of the state and swelled the city with various economic activities. Here we have services, commercial, industrial and transportation activities. These activities however, cause pollution.

As witnessed daily, services, transportation, religious and domestic activities promote air pollution because of intensive use of electrical sets. The fumes emanated from the usage of the electrical generating plant contained poisonous gases which are dangerous to health. Therefore, it is as a result of negative effects of fumes to the health of Uyo residence that this research investigates the pregnancy outcomes (implication) of the air pollution. The study would only be focused to health related problems associated with air pollution in Nigeria, with Uyo being the case study.

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