DAWN Daybreak reported on research suggesting that wildfire smoke may affect developing babies during pregnancy as well as the lungs and heart.
The item described a study of more than 3,000 pregnancies in California. It stated that exposure to wildfire-related PM2.5 during the first eight weeks of pregnancy was associated with higher odds of certain birth defects, including spina bifida, heart defects, and cleft lip.
The newsletter connected the research to wildfire smoke exposure in Colorado and emphasized patient education about checking air quality, taking extra precautions during pregnancy, and reducing smoke exposure.
Credit and reference
Written by Jiapsi Duran.
PubMed record 41986615 (opens in a new window).
Source
This item appeared in DAWN Daybreak on August 11, 2026. The original source email is preserved in the project files.