Wildfire smoke is now the primary pollutant affecting pregnancy, study shows

A 16-year study (2003–2019) found wildfire smoke has become the primary pollutant affecting pregnancy outcomes, offsetting declines in pollution from cars and industry. The research linked increased wildfire smoke to risks like low birth weight and preterm births, with 65% of days exceeding air quality standards attributed to wildfires. The study analyzed 64.5 million pregnancies across 2,800 U.S. counties, noting significant pollution increases even in regions not typically associated with wildfires.