Rafia Shabbir1, Fehmeeda Bibi1 and Faiza Rao1,2
1Department of Zoology, University of Education Lahore, Multan campus.
2Center to Advance Level Research and Development, Multan.
Corresponding author: fehmeada.bibi@ue.edu.pk
Pregnant females are highly susceptible to smog component PM10 compared to general population. This study demonstrates the association between PM10 acute exposure and risk of Prelabor Rupture of Membrane (PROM) during 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The PROM is leakage of amniotic fluid before the uterine contractions. It has been observed to elevate the risk of maternal chorioamnionitis, infectious endometritis, and neonatal sepsis and hypertension, cardiac disease and type 2 diabetes complications in infants.
The relevant studies were analyzed comprising 109647 women from population based retrospective cohort study and time-series analysis in China, Spain, US and Israel. Risk of PROM gradually increased with the elevation of PM10 exposure. PROM study was grouped into PROM (TPROM) on 37 gestational week and preterm PROM (PPROM) before 37 gestational weeks to explore acute effect of ambient pollutant PM 10. From overall affected women 6247 cases were recorded of PPROM. Results of PM10 was significant in 3rd trimester as compared to the other periods of pregnancy. Despite these association particular mechanism between PM10 and PROM is still unclear. Further large studies are required to spot clear and potential mechanism.
Keywords:PROM, Particulate matter PM10, 3rd trimester, smog component, women health.