Student Spotlight – Maya Mahin

It has been well established that climate change has led to an increase in temperature extremes. There is also robust literature documenting the impact of exposure to extreme temperatures on health and reproductive systems, especially by low socioeconomic families. As a Stolwijk Fellow, Maya Mahin worked last summer with Yale School of Public Health Professor Dr. Xi Chen to examine the impact of in utero exposure to extreme temperatures on birth and later life outcomes.

This work focused specifically on the effect of exposure to extreme temperatures on the developing fetus. While fetuses exposed to extreme hot and cold temperatures are more likely to experience low birth weight and birth defects, these ill effects are particularly pronounced for children exposed to extreme cold temperatures in utero. Exposure to extreme hot temperatures is more likely to lead to fetal death than exposure to cold temperatures, meaning the fetuses that survive after exposure to a heat wave are generally stronger.

Using data from China’s national disease surveillance system and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including 922 monitoring stations from China, the research team Maya was a part of was able to match birth outcome measures to weather data. After establishing the link between exposure to extreme temperatures and poor fetal development, the research team began to explore the relationship between climate change, socioeconomic status and fetal growth — asking if fetuses that are classified as stunted during the first or second trimester are able to “catch up” or achieve normal fetal development by the third trimester or birth? The group found limited evidence of fetal mobility. So, if exposure to extreme temperatures or low socioeconomics lead an individual to become stunted earlier on, then it is extremely likely that they will remain stunted through the rest of the pregnancy and at birth.

Maya is a second year MPH candidate in the Department of Health Policy.