Toxic Cooking Fumes Linked to Pregnancy Complications

A significant correlation between deaths due to indoor household pollution and eclampsia (hypertension during pregnancy) rates has been identified.

An association between eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) and deaths caused by indoor household pollution has been explored. Eclampsia in severe cases can result in life-threatening seizures.

Indoor household pollution is more commonly seen in low- and middle-income countries because of cooking and heating with solid fuels, such as wood and charcoal, and has been proven to increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes, including placental hypoxia (when the fetus does not get enough oxygen).

Eclampsia - Causes - Symptoms - Treatment - FAQs
Eclampsia is convulsions during pregnancy that are not related to a pre-existing brain condition.

‘In-house cooking and household pollution may increase the risk of seizures. The less oxygen will get to the mother’s brain, and this may trigger a fit in women who already have pre-eclampsia.’

The researchers evaluated more than 2,690 cases of eclampsia in Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

King’s College London’s Professor Andrew Shennan, one of the lead authors on the paper published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, said the findings demonstrate how air pollution can impact vulnerable populations the most.

Household Pollution and the Incidence of Eclampsia

“We are lucky to have such a large dataset of women with eclampsia, as it only occurs in 1% of women with pre-eclampsia. This has allowed us to uncover this new finding.

“This could help explain observed inequalities in maternal healthcare in low- and middle-income countries.”

Pre-Eclampsia - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - FAQs
In pre eclampsia a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure and proteinuria during pregnancy.

In a previous study by King’s College London, scientists found that ninety-four percent of maternal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with 22% due to hypertensive (high blood pressure) disorders like eclampsia.

Professor Shennan added: “Knowing why women have these severe outcomes allows us to reduce the risk of eclampsia and work out how to save lives.

Blood Pressure Calculator
Blood pressure readings – what do the numbers mean? Use Medindia’s blood pressure calculator to check whether you blood pressure is at healthy level.

“We have large programmes of work in India, Sierra Leone, and Zambia where many women have complications related to high blood pressure. Our current research is aimed at identifying the women at risk but now we are looking at ways to reduce risk, including earlier delivery. This data will help us to give advice about avoiding risk at home.”

Researchers will next examine whether climate change increases the prevalence of pre-eclampsia or increases the morbidity from serious manifestations such as eclampsia.

Air Pollution Linked to Adverse Health Outcomes For Children
Particulate matter like PM2.5 are found to cause more breathing problems to the children along with long term health effects.

Source-Eurekalert