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Nearly 1 in 10 premature births in California could be prevented by reducing particulate matter pollution
Air pollution can have many serious effects on health, starting from the very first stages of life. The California Environmental Health Tracking Program analyzed data to better understand the costs of premature birth due to preventable particulate matter pollution. 

New findings show high costs of premature birth
By reducing harmful air pollution in California, we estimate that 3,062 premature births could be prevented each year, saving $1.1 billion dollars annually.
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Premature birth is still a problem
A child's chance of surviving premature birth (birth before 37 weeks of gestation) has dramatically increased due to advances in medical care. Yet, premature birth is the leading cause of death and illness around the time of birth. In California the burden of premature birth is unfairly distributed, with black women 46% more likely to give birth prematurely compared to all other women.

Air pollution is linked to premature birth
Research has suggested that unequal exposure to pollution is one reason for racial disparities in premature birth, and that reductions in air pollution may greatly benefit impacted communities.  Reducing air pollution is an important strategy for preventing premature birth. 

For more information on air pollution's impact on premature birth, please visit www.cehtp.org/pretermbirthcosts.

 
The California Environmental Health Tracking Program is a program of the Public Health Institute and part of a national initiative coordinated by the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program.  
This publication was supported by the Cooperative Agreement Number NUE1EH001343, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.