Maternal and Fetal Exposure to Air Pollution

Dear Colleagues,

Air pollution is an increasingly pressing global concern, with its effects extending beyond respiratory and cardiovascular diseases to impact some of the most vulnerable populations—pregnant individuals and developing fetuses. The rise in industrial activities, vehicular emissions, and urban expansion has contributed to worsening air quality, leading to greater human exposure to harmful pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). These pollutants can penetrate deep into the respiratory system, cross the placental barrier, and disrupt crucial biological processes during fetal development.

Emerging research has linked maternal exposure to air pollution with an increased risk of complications, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. In addition to these immediate risks, there is growing concern about the long-term effects of prenatal exposure, including altered immune system development, metabolic programming changes, and epigenetic modifications that may predispose individuals to chronic diseases later in life. As air pollution levels continue to rise in many regions, particularly in urban and industrialized areas, addressing their impact on maternal and fetal health has become a critical public health priority. Understanding these connections is essential for informing policies, interventions, and strategies to protect future generations from the adverse effects of environmental pollution.

This Special Issue seeks to advance our understanding of how maternal exposure to air pollution influences fetal health, pregnancy complications, and long-term disease risk. We invite original research articles, systematic reviews, and case studies addressing topics such as the following:

• The biological mechanisms underlying air-pollution-related pregnancy complications.
• The impact of air pollutants on placental function, fetal immune development, and metabolic health.
• Epidemiological studies linking maternal air pollution exposure to adverse birth outcomes.
• Interventions and policies to mitigate air pollution exposure during pregnancy.
• Novel methodologies for assessing utero exposure to environmental pollutants.
• The role of climate change in shaping air-pollution-related maternal and child health risks.

We welcome interdisciplinary contributions from environmental health scientists, epidemiologists, public health experts, clinicians, and policymakers. Papers that combine scientific research with practical public health applications are especially encouraged.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Dr. Juan Aguilera
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Air is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.