Maternal exposure to particulate matter and preterm delivery

More and more research evidences indicate that the exposure to particulate matter during pregnancy can impact the development of the fetus,resulting in preterm birth,low birth weight,growth restriction,and potentially adverse cardiovascular and respiratory outcomes.However,the results were inconsistent and the biological mechanism was not clear.This review summarizes on harmful effects of several main particulate matter exposures on preterm birth and the sources of the exposures and provides references for controlling air pollution,reducing the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery,and exploring possible biological mechanism of the effects.