The tiny pollutants emitted by fossil fuel combustion and wildfires may be raising the risk of adverse birth outcomes, a study has found.

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) can cause higher inflammation levels in pregnant people, potentially causing negative impacts to their children, according to the study, published Friday in Science.

Previous research had already identified associations between exposure to PM 2.5 and maternal and child health issues, including preeclampsia, low birth weight and developmental delays in early childhood. But this latest study, conducted by a Harvard University-led research team in California, is the first to explore the relationship between these pollutants and maternal and fetal health on a single-cell level.

"This study represents a substantial step forward........

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