Air Pollution in Pregnancy Delays Baby’s First Words, Study Finds

Babies exposed to higher levels of air pollution during the first three months of pregnancy take longer to learn to speak, according to new research. A study from King's College London (KCL) found that exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine and ultra-fine particulate matter—tiny particles in the air that can be inhaled—during the first trimester delayed speech development in infants at 18 months. The study linked higher pollution levels to slower progress in learning to talk, compared to babies exposed to lower levels in the womb. Researchers focused on the early stages of pregnancy, suggesting that this period is critical for language development.