Science TechnologyTuesday, 2 June 2026·The Hindu
AIIMS Delhi study maps how PM pollution crosses placenta and affects foetal growth
An ICMR-funded AIIMS Delhi study in EMBO Molecular Medicine explains the molecular pathway by which urban particulate matter crosses the placenta and harms foetal growth.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In 2026, AIIMS Delhi researchers, in an ICMR-funded study published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, mapped how urban particulate matter crosses the placenta and disrupts foetal growth.
Key specifics
- The study was funded by the ICMR and published in EMBO Molecular Medicine.
- Researchers at AIIMS Delhi traced a step-by-step biological pathway, not just a correlation.
- Urban air pollution was shown to cross the placental barrier and trigger inflammation.
- The pollution effect was linked to silencing a key foetal growth protein.
- The report says the harm may extend into late childhood, making prenatal pollution a long-term health issue.
Exam lens
Science & technology current affairs, AIIMS Delhi, ICMR, placental barrier, particulate matter, foetal growth protein — TNPSC may ask which institute published the study and what biological mechanism was identified.