Extreme heat raises pregnancy risks, study shows
A recent study from India reveals that working in extreme heat significantly increases the risk of stillbirth and miscarriage among pregnant women.
Tulip Mazumdar reports for BBC.
In short:
- The research involved 800 pregnant women in Tamil Nadu, highlighting a doubled risk for those in high-heat jobs.
- No global standard exists for safe heat levels for pregnant workers, underscoring a gap in occupational health guidelines.
- The study's findings are a call to action for global health advice tailored to pregnant women in increasingly hot climates.
Key quote:
"If the workers continue for prolonged periods in this level of heat, they are more prone to heat-related illnesses, and it's especially concerning for pregnant women."
— Rekha Shanmugam, former nurse and one of the SRIHER study's researchers
Why this matters:
Studies have shown that exposure to high temperatures during pregnancy can lead to a range of adverse outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. In addition, the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy, such as increased body temperature and altered blood flow, can make pregnant individuals more susceptible to heat stress. Be sure to read Kelley Dennings' op-ed about how climate change harms pregnant people and their babies.climate change harms pregnant people and their babies.
