Impact of Poor Air Quality and Excess Heat on Pregnancy Outcomes.

Climate change is worsening air pollution and increasing global temperatures, which is adversely affecting human health in many ways. Pregnant people appear to be at greater risk for complications related to exposure to excess heat and air pollution due to normal physiologic adaptations that occur in pregnancy. Social and structural determinants of health contribute to disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards among some populations which worsens existing inequities in perinatal outcomes. Nurses are uniquely positioned to educate patients about environmental health risks, promote adaptation strategies to reduce adverse outcomes, and lead advocacy efforts aimed at climate mitigation.