Pregnancy, Planes & Pollution with Dr. Beate Ritz

Dr. Beate Ritz, MD, PhD became interested in air pollution and its effects on pregnancy when she was pregnant herself. She has a wide-ranging career, but over the last several decades has helped us understand more about the impacts of every day transportation-related air pollution on pregnant women and their children. Listen and learn! As always, for links to the studies, please be sure to visit the website. Professor Ritz also contributed to this video for a summary of pollution effects on newborns.

What can you do?

1- Be considerate about flying. Save money and air quality! Can you schedule that business meeting over video conferencing? Can you take a local vacation? Save up your flights for the truly important trips, like those to visit family or particularly extraordinary or important experiences.

2- Ask your community and local airport to be thoughtful about the total burden of air pollution being brought in. Consider actions like zero or low emissions airport shuttles and transportation, increased public transportation service to the airport, etc, to offset the burden of jet fuel in the area while we hope for future, cleaner air travel.

3- Donate to those working for healthier air and to keep a public health lens on the transportation sector. Consider a donation to the Air Health Our Health fundraiser for the ALA- link here!

4- Spread the word about health air by being a billboard! Check out the Air Health Our Health shop for options.

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