Study: Pollution May Affect Babies' Genes
(NY, Health-AP, 2/16/05)

Dr. Frederica Perera of Columbia University, and team, monitored 60 non-smoking, pregnant residents of low-income NYC neighborhoods. The investigators assessed exposure to combustion-related emissions (mainly from vehicles) by having the women wear backpack air monitors during the third trimester of their pregnancies. Then, when the babies were born, the scientists measured genetic alterations and found about a 50 % rise in “the level of persistent genetic abnormalities” in infants with higher prenatal pollution exposure levels. These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to pollutants can alter chromosomes in utero, thereby increasing a baby’s risk of eventually developing cancer.

(Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention)