Wildfire smoke now bigger prenatal threat than human sources of air pollution

Wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy now exceeds exposure from regulated human sources of air pollution, according to research on prenatal air quality. Federal regulations over recent decades reduced pregnant women's exposure to emissions from vehicles, factories, and power plants. Wildfire smoke, which is not subject to the same regulatory controls, has increased in frequency and intensity across regions with major fire activity, offsetting previous improvements in regulated air quality.

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