title: Clean air matters: an overview of traffic-related air pollution and pregnancy.
abstract: The right to a healthy pregnancy and to giving birth in a safe environment is source of comprehensive research. Decent birth facilities, respect, and no discrimination are already recognized as fundamental rights, but an accurate look at the outdoor environment is required. Air pollution is a dangerous factor to pregnant women and newborns, many of whom highly exposed to traffic-related atmospheric pollutants in urban areas. Such exposure can lead to low birth weight and long-lasting effects, such as respiratory diseases and premature death. Thus, this commentary, based on the analysis of literature, presents the importance of the exposome concept and of epigenetics in identifying the role of the environment for better health conditions of pregnant women and newborns. In the final considerations, this study proposes the deepening of the subject and the mobilization in this regard, with a human rights-based approach to environmental health and to the increased awareness of pregnant women on the risks of air pollution and its effects on health.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Ambiental. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Anne Dorothée
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Slovic
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde, Ciclos de Vida e Sociedade. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Carmen Simone
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Saúde Ambiental. Faculdade de Saúde Pública. Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012307:Risk Factors; D001335:Vehicle Emissions
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions