Air Pollution Can Lead to Small Babies

In the last post we looked at the current findings about air quality in the U.S. Timely info since information from a new study was just published this week relating that air pollution may lead to smaller babies. The piece, which is available online and is soon to be published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, notes that “Ambient air pollution, perhaps specifically traffic emissions during early and late pregnancy and/or factors associated with residence near a roadway during pregnancy, may affect fetal growth.”

Uh oh. Air pollution not cool. Small babies not ok. Yeah, it’s an issue. What exactly can you do to protect yourself and your unborn baby if you’re expecting? You can’t go live in a bubble, but you can for sure cut down on the pollution you expose yourself to both inside your home and out.

How to minimize the air pollution around you:

• Find out about your city’s air quality. If it sucks, move to a greener community or green the community you’re in.
• Live in a green home, which won’t release the same toxins as a non-green home.
• Spend less time in your car out driving and more time walking or on your bike.
• Support companies who use clean energy to function.
• Burn soy candles over wax.
• Grow plants indoors.
• Ditch the toxic cleaners. These have not only been shown to release icky toxins into the air, but studies note they’re especially bad for pregnant women. Try homemade non-toxic cleaners instead.
• Keep VOCs out of your home.
• Don’t smoke – especially not in confined spaces like inside your house.
• Make over your bedroom with organic, non-chemical bedding.

What else can you think of?

[image via stock.xchng]