Serious effects of pollution on reproductive health
Environmental experts have warned climate change is the biggest threat to global health in the 21st century.
Environmental Medicine Professor, Peter Orris earlier today addressed delegates at the Public Health Association of South Africa Conference in Durban.
He says air pollutants have long been found to contribute to diseases such as lung cancer, asthma and respiratory infections, but new research is showing increased dire effects in reproductive health.
Orris says children are being born 'pre-polluted'.
''What they're discovering, as you might suspect in these situations, is that Ozone and the air pollution during pregnancy can cause lower birth weight in offspring.
''Infant mortality is shown to increase related to coal consumption. Now this is an interesting effect because this is a population toxicity,'' he said.
(File photo)