Quando le donne in gravidanza respirano aria inquinata, le particelle sono in grado di raggiungere la placenta. Lo ha rivelato una ricerca presentata al Congresso Internazionale della Società Respiratoria Europea, che suggerisce un possibile meccanismo di come i feti vengano influenzati dall'inquinamento.
Studi precedenti avevano fatto emergere alcuni collegamenti tra esposizione e parto prematuro, basso peso alla nascita, problemi respiratori infantili. I ricercatori della Queen Mary University di Londra hanno esaminato le placente di cinque donne incinte che vivevano nella città britannica, non fumatrici.
Il team ha studiato un totale di 3'500 cellule macrofagiche placentari e le ha esaminate con un microscopio ad alta potenza, trovando minuscole particelle di carbonio, create dalla combustione di combustibili fossili.
"La maggior parte delle particelle fuligginose - spiegano i ricercatori - dovrebbe essere inghiottita dai macrofagi all'interno le vie aeree materne. I nostri risultati forniscono la prima prova che possono avere un impatto diretto sul feto".
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