UW News

Christine Loftus


November 3, 2025

UW-led study links wildfire smoke to increased odds of preterm birth

A thin haze of wildfire smoke covers downtown Seattle.

In mid-pregnancy, exposure to any smoke was associated with an elevated risk of preterm birth, with that risk peaking around the 21st week of gestation. In late pregnancy, elevated risk was most closely associated with exposure to high concentrations of wildfire PM2.5, above 10 micrograms per cubic meter.


April 2, 2025

Children exposed to higher ozone levels early in life are more likely to develop asthma

A pair of hands opens a gray inhaler.

Children exposed to higher levels of ozone in their first two years of life were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with asthma or wheezing at ages 4-6 — but researchers didn’t observe the increased risk of asthma at ages 8-9.  


July 19, 2019

Offspring of pregnant women exposed to high level of pollutants may have lower IQs

pregnant woman holding belly

A new study found that pregnant women exposed to higher levels of air pollutants had children with lower IQs, compared to the children of women exposed to lower levels.