New evidence shows that although asthma caused by in utero smoke exposure may be reversible, smoking during pregnancy may cause more harm than previously realized.
A recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health set out to determine if there is any association between exposure to particulate matter air pollution during pregnancy and the odds that her child will develop any form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Their findings were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives which is published by the National Institute of Health Sciences. The authors show that expectant mothers’ exposure to air pollution has a greater association with occurrences of autism, especially if it occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy.