Varied Air Pollutants and Their Associations with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Iran

As a developing nation, Iran faces growing environmental and health challenges due to air pollution. Several pollutants, particularly carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM), often exceed recommended limits, especially in major cities like Tehran. Given increasing evidence linking air pollution to adverse pregnancy outcomes, we conducted a systematic review of Iranian studies assessing this relationship. Databases were searched up to ۲۰۲۵ using relevant keywords. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Eight reported significant associations between exposure to air pollutants and adverse outcomes. Five studies from Tehran found links between CO and PM۲.۵ exposure and low birth weight (LBW), stillbirth, and, in some cases, no association with preeclampsia. Two studies from Isfahan linked PM۱۰, NO۲, SO۲, CO, and O۳ with preterm birth and lower placental weight and PW/BW ratio. One study from Ahvaz found associations between PM۱۰ and SO۲ with LBW and between NO۲, NO, CO, and PM۲.۵ with preterm labor. In Sabzevar, exposure to PM۱-۱۰ was linked to higher maternal fasting glucose. A nationwide GIS study associated high NO۲ levels with infertility in several provinces. The aim of this study is to inform stronger environmental policies that safeguard maternal and fetal health in Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

air pollution ، pregnancy outcome ، infertility ، Iran