An international study confirmed that climate change is increasing preterm births in 13 countries. The research analyzed more than 36 million births recorded between 1979 and 2019 and concluded that high temperatures raise the risk of babies being born too early.
According to the scientists, who published in the journal Environment International, on days of moderate heat the risk of preterm birth increases by 2.8%, while during extreme temperatures it rises to 3.8%.
The experts explained that high temperatures can cause dehydration, inflammation, and uterine contractions in pregnant women. They also warned that heat waves will continue to increase due to climate change, which could worsen this public health problem in the future.
The countries analyzed were: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Estonia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Paraguay, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.