Impact of Maternal Air Pollution on Offspring's Asthma Severity

Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can significantly increase the risk and severity of asthma in offspring, driven by epigenetic changes affecting lung and immune system development.

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Recent research presented at the ATS 2025 International Conference highlights the long-term effects of maternal air pollution exposure during pregnancy on the respiratory health of offspring. A study conducted on mice demonstrated that exposure to air pollution particulates by pregnant females led to offspring with heightened asthma symptoms in adulthood. These affected mice exhibited increased airway constriction when exposed to allergens, indicating more severe asthma. Furthermore, genetic analyses revealed that thousands of genes in the lungs had altered expression levels, alongside changes in DNA methylation patterns, an epigenetic marker that regulates gene activity.

This epigenetic 'memory effect' suggests that prenatal exposure to air pollution can have lasting impacts on lung function and immune response, even if the individual is not directly exposed later in life. The levels of pollution used in the study conformed to WHO guidelines for 'safe' air quality, raising questions about current standards and the need for potential reevaluation.

The researchers aim to extend this work to human populations to determine if similar epigenetic modifications occur and explore ways to reverse or mitigate these effects. This study emphasizes the importance of protecting pregnant women from air pollution to prevent intergenerational health issues, particularly related to respiratory diseases like asthma.

Overall, these findings deepen our understanding of how prenatal environmental factors influence long-term health outcomes, emphasizing the critical need for stricter air quality regulations and targeted interventions for maternal health.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-maternal-air-pollution-exposure-worsens.html