Navjot Singh*

GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar-141104, India

*Corresponding Author: Navjot Singh, GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar-141104, India.

Received: December 01, 2025; Published: December 08, 2025

Abstract

Women represent a vulnerable population facing disproportionate health impacts from environmental exposures, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It is crucial to synthesize evidence on the health implications of environmental exposures—including climate change, air pollution, and heavy metal contamination—on women’s health outcomes. Using data from systematic reviews and observational studies conducted in South Asia and East Africa, the relationship between maternal exposure to environmental stressors and adverse pregnancy outcomes, reproductive health complications, cardiovascular disease, and neurotoxic effects were examined. Key findings indicate that pregnant women exposed to high temperatures experience increased risks of gestational hypertension, preterm birth, and reduced infant birth weight. Air pollution exposure, particularly to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), correlates with adverse birth outcomes and cardiovascular dysfunction in women. Heavy metal contamination, predominantly through dietary pathways, poses significant risks for maternal health, including gestational diabetes and placental insufficiency. This review emphasizes the urgent need for region-specific public health interventions, water and air quality monitoring systems, and environmental remediation strategies to protect vulnerable female populations. Enhanced research capacity in understudied regions and targeted maternal health programs are essential for reducing environmental health inequities affecting women globally.

Keywords: Women’s Health; Environmental Exposures; Climate Change; Air Pollution; Heavy Metals; Pregnancy Outcomes; Maternal Health

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Citation

Citation: Navjot Singh. “Environmental Exposures and Women’s Health: A Review of Climate Change, Air Pollution, and Heavy Metal Contamination". Acta Scientific Women's Health 8.1 (2026): 02-09.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Navjot Singh. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.