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WASHINGTON: Small unseen particles ininhaled by pregnant womendamage thetheand delay its growth and development, according to a study unveiled Monday.Researchers from Rutgers University in the US found that early first trimester and late third trimester were critical windows during which pollutants most affect the mother's and foetus'systems."These findings suggest that pregnant women, womenchild-bearing years whobe pregnant and those undergoing fertility treatments should avoid areas known for highor stay inside on high-smog days to reduce their exposure," said Phoebe Stapleton, an assistant professor at Rutgers University."Pregnant women should also consider monitoring their indoorquality," Stapleton said in a statement.What a mother inhales affects her circulatory, which is constantly adapting to supply adequate blood flow to the foetus as it grows, according to the study published in the journalToxicology.Exposure to these pollutants can constrict blood vessels, restricting blood flow to the uterus and depriving the foetusoxygen and nutrients, which can result in delayed growth and development.It can also lead to common pregnancy complications, such as intrauterine growth restriction The study looked at how the circulatory systemspregnant rats and their foetuses were affected by a single exposure to nanosized titanium dioxide aerosols -- a surrogate for particles found in typical-- during their first, second and third trimesters.The results were compared to pregnant rats that were exposed only to high-efficiency filteredThe researchers found that exposures to pollutants early in gestation significantly impact a foetus' circulatory, specifically the main artery and the umbilical vein Later exposure had the most impact on foetal size since the restricted blood flow from the mother deprives the foetusnutrients in this final stage.In non-pregnant animals, even a single exposure to these nanoparticles has been linked to impaired functionthe arteries in the uterus.The study found that one exposure late in pregnancy can restrict maternal and foetal blood flow, which can continue to affect the child into adulthood.