Soot Inhalation : How It Affects Unborn Babies – Experts

Pregnant women have cause to worry over the ravaging black soot in the environment of Rivers State as a result of the activities of illegal oil refiners.
Experts in the field of science stated in recent reports that inhaled polluted air particles (also known as black soot)are moving from the lungs to placenta of pregnant women. According to them, this would definitely have a direct impact on the foetus. Scientists have also found out that the more pollution the mothers are exposed to, the more soot ended up in their placentas. Therefore, there is urgent need for stricter policies for cleaner air that would lower impacts of pollution in health.
The work presented by Dr. Norrice Liu, a paediatrician and clinical research fellow and Dr. Lisa Miyashita, a post doctoral researcher, both members of Professor Jonathan Grigg’s research group at Queen Mary University of London, UK was the first to provide direct evidence that particles can get into the part of the placenta that feeds the developing foetus. This could be the first step to explaining why high pollution was linked to increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weights.
The placenta is made up of the foetal placenta which is made from the tissue that forms the foetus and the maternal placenta which is made from tissue from the mother’s uterus. Oxygen and nutrients cross from the material placenta which is carried to the foetus through the umblical cord.
The scientists in this study looked at placenta from pre-term and full -term births. Using high-resolution ranging, they found soot particles on the feral side in each of the placenta studied. The researchers suggested that the particles travelled from the mother’s lungs to the placenta.
According to Prof. Jonathan Griggs, a leading expert in the effects of air pollution on children, from Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom however said, “there is very strong epidermiological evidence that maternal exposure to air pollution particles is associated with adverse outcomes such as miscarriage.
Also, in a co-published study, there was finding that the children of women who were exposed to higher levels of soot during the third trimester are more likely to have high blood pressure in childhood.
Noel Mueller, who is an Associate Professor of epidemiology at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health stated that, “the provided proof of principle that maternal exposure to air pollution during pregancy may be affecting not only the mother but also the foetus”.
Also, the World Health Organisation(WHO) stated that populations are exposed to levels of fine particulate matter air pollution that exceed the annual mean value of 10 microgram per cubic metre recommended in the World Health Organisation Air Quality guidelines.
“One in every nine deaths per year is linked to inhaling harmful levels of particles such as black carbon(soot). Almost 90 percent of air pollution related deaths happen in low and middle income countries which means, air pollution is an equality issue as well as a reproductive justice issue”.
Soot is a deep black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely od amorphous carbon produced by the incomplete burning of hydrocarbons which pose the greatest risks to human health. Soot can enter the body through inhalation, ingestion or through the skin and eyes.These toxic particles can cause breathing issues, including asthma,bronchitis, coronary heart disease and even cancer.
However, the Rivers State Government has taken the bull by the horn in an effort to end the black soot menace in th state. In a new year broadcast to the people of the state, the governor,Chief Nyesom Wike
announced measures aimed at ending the nefarious activities of illegal refining of petroleum products in the state.
Governor Wike directed the chairmen of local government councils to go after all the illegal crude oil refining sites and shut them down with immediate effect. He also directed all council chairmen and community leaders to locate, identify and report to his office all those behind illegal crude oil refining in their localities for prosecution.
In another development, the governor declared 19 illegal refineries kingpins wanted for operating illegal crude oil refining sites responsible for the soot pandemic in the state. He urged residents of the state to report those involved in illegal crude oil refineries and other damable activities to the task forces already set up at the state and local government levels for immediate action.
Governor Wike also ordered all the 23 local government chairmen to hire bulldozers and destroy every identified illegal crude oil refinery sites in Rivers State. He also asked the Commissioner of Police, Mr Eboka Friday to provide adequate security for the local government chairmen as they embark on the mass destruction of ilkegal refinery sites in the state.
The measures so far has led to the decrease in the pollution of the environment by black soot as residents hope that the momentum would be maintained.

By: Ibinabo Ogolo