Document Type : Research article
Authors
1 Environmental Science and Engineering Department, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Environmental Department, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran
3 Department of the Environment, College of Basic Sciences, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran
Abstract
Background & Purpose: Air pollution from particulate matter (PM) negatively impacts maternal and fetal health, particularly in pregnant women. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of PM on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in pregnant women residing in Ahvaz.
Materials and Methods: PM data were derived from the aerosol optical depth (AOD) product of the MODIS satellite, covering five years (April 1, 2019–March 21, 2024). Using biochemical assays, TSH levels were measured in 78 pregnant women during their third trimester. The relationship between TSH levels and PM levels specific to each mother’s residence was analyzed using geographically weighted regression (GWR).
Results: The mean TSH level was 6.57 mIU/L (range: 0.3–39.3 mIU/L), exceeding the normal range for pregnant women. AOD values over the five years ranged from 0.28 to 0.39, with levels above 0.30 at the mothers’ residences, indicating high PM pollution. The GWR model revealed that approximately 61% of the variation in TSH levels was attributable to the five-year average PM concentration.
Conclusion: High PM concentrations in parts of Ahvaz pose significant risks to maternal health during pregnancy. Air quality monitoring and specialized care are essential to protect pregnant women in this region.
Open Access Policy: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywords
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