Exposure to ambient aerosols during various lifetime windows may influence maternal blood biomarkers. This study investigates the impact of ambient aerosol exposure during distinct temporal windows (trimester-specific, gestational, and multi-year) on maternal liver biomarkers at delivery in highly polluted regions. Conducted in 2023–2024, the study enrolled 116 pregnant women from Khuzestan Province, Southwest Iran, a region with significant air pollution. Maternal blood samples were collected at birth and analyzed for liver enzymes (ALT: 5- 55 u/L, AST: 9- 51 u/L, ALP: 145- 702 u/L, GGT: 6.7- 99.5 u/L). The MODIS Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) layers were averaged to create trimester-specific (, , ), gestational (), and 2- and 5-year pre-delivery (, ) aerosol exposure windows for each participant. Employing a multi-modeling approach using a Generalized Additive Model (0.179 < R2 < 0.693), our analysis revealed that biomarkers are more sensitive to AOD levels during mid and late pregnancy compared to those reflecting longer-term exposure. Both urban and regional air quality significantly influenced oxidative stress markers in maternal blood. These findings highlight the liver as susceptible organs to particulate matter-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in highly polluted regions, emphasizing the need for stricter air quality regulations to protect maternal health.
Shajravi et al. (2025) studied this question.