Babies exposed to air pollution during pregnancy take longer to learn to speak, research finds

"Exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine and ultra-fine particulate matter during the first trimester of pregnancy delayed speech development at 18 months. For premature babies, the impact was worse: as well as delayed development of their ability to speak, they were also found to have impaired motor skills."

"Air pollution is not just an environmental issue, it's a matter of justice and equality from the very start of life. In cities like London, it is overwhelmingly working-class communities and communities from marginalized communities who are forced to live near busy roads and toxic air."

"The implications are global. Across the world, almost the entire global population breathes air containing levels of pollutants that exceed World Health Organization guideline limits. The global health body says air pollution is now the world's largest single environmental health risk."

Research indicates that babies exposed to higher levels of air pollution, specifically nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter during the first trimester, experience delayed speech development by 18 months. Premature infants face even greater challenges, including impaired motor skills. The study highlights systemic inequalities, as marginalized communities often live near polluted areas. Air pollution is a global health crisis, with the World Health Organization identifying it as the largest environmental health risk, disproportionately affecting low-income populations and those in the global south.

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