Wildfires, smoke and stress lead to reduced birth weight and more premature births

Exposure to wildfires during pregnancy has negative effects on infant health, according to a study recently published by the Centre for Demographic Studies (CED) at the UAB in the journal Perspectives Demogràfiques. Based on 3.4 million births in Spain between 2008 and 2021, the research identifies two mechanisms: stress and air pollution caused by fine particulate matter (PM2.5) carried by smoke. One effect is a 10% increase in the likelihood of low birth weight. Another effect is an increase in preterm births.

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