The decision by many pregnant women and new mothers to consider leaving Barcelona, or even actively relocate, due to environmental concerns is more than just a personal choice; it’s a stark indicator of a broader urban crisis. This exodus, driven by pollution, heatwaves, and precarious housing, signals a profound challenge to the liveability of major cities in the face of climate change. It forces us to ask: are our urban centers failing their most vulnerable citizens, and what does this mean for the future of city planning and public health?
Barcelona’s Environmental Exodus: A Deep Dive into Maternal Concerns
A comprehensive study, “Experiencing Pregnancy in Barcelona: Women and Pregnant Individuals Facing the Climate Emergency,” conducted by the AFIN Group at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), sheds critical light on this issue. The research, funded by the Barcelona City Council in collaboration with leading hospitals, reveals that environmental factors directly impact the well-being of pregnant women and families with children in the Catalan capital. These factors include chronic pollution, increasingly intense heatwaves, and substandard housing conditions.
“The women we surveyed told us that, although they make great efforts to avoid certain risks, the urban environment in Barcelona is organized in a way that is not always the most suitable for experiencing such important stages as pregnancy and raising children,” explains Carolina Remorini, anthropologist and coordinator of the project. Her statement underscores a fundamental disconnect between urban design and the needs of a significant demographic.
The Numbers Speak: A Desire for Change
The study’s findings are compelling:
- 15.3% of surveyed mothers have already relocated in search of healthier environments.
- 26.8% intend to move.
- 40.6% wish to move but are unable to due to economic constraints.
These figures highlight a pervasive desire among mothers to escape the city’s environmental pressures. Interviews conducted during the study further revealed a longing among participants to move away from the city center or to the outskirts, seeking quieter, greener, and less polluted surroundings. Their motivations are clear: a desire to reduce exposure to environmental and acoustic pollution, improve thermal comfort within their homes, and gain better access to nature and green spaces, which they perceive as insufficient in the city.
Dr. Lola Gómez Roig, head of obstetrics and gynecology at Hospital Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona, emphasizes the direct health consequences: “All these pollutants reach the placenta and the fetus, and can cause hypertensive states during pregnancy (preeclampsia) and effects on fetal growth, resulting in smaller babies. We are also seeing some changes in neurodevelopment from the ultrasounds we do on fetuses, depending on whether they live in more or less contaminated areas.”
Beyond Individual Responsibility: A Call for Systemic Change
The research, conducted by Carolina Remorini, Ana Cerezuela González, and Helena Montasell y Punsola from the UAB’s AFIN Group since 2024, involved 35 in-depth interviews and 313 surveys with pregnant women or recent mothers across Barcelona’s ten districts. It reveals that many women experience motherhood burdened by eco-anxiety, fear for their children’s future health, and a growing sense that responsibility is disproportionately placed on mothers, without adequate institutional support.
The study’s conclusions are a direct appeal for greater environmental justice and robust institutional support. It challenges the prevailing notion of what makes a city liveable and directly questions the possibility of building shared urban futures without addressing these critical issues. The researchers advocate for public policies in environmental health and childhood that tackle the problem structurally and collectively, rather than delegating all responsibility to families, particularly mothers.
The Health Imperative: Contaminants and Developmental Risks
Exposure to adverse environmental conditions linked to climate change, such as extreme temperatures and pollution, significantly increases the risk of gestational complications. For instance, elevated stress hormone levels during pregnancy can impact gene expression, potentially affecting fetal brain development. Similarly, high levels of pollution are linked to preeclampsia and impaired fetal growth.
The study also highlights the pervasive presence of endocrine disruptors in the environment-chemicals found in air, water, and everyday products-that mimic or interfere with natural human hormones. These disruptors are associated with menstrual disorders, fertility problems, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, premature births, and even fetal deaths. Furthermore, breast milk can contain residues of these contaminants, impacting newborns’ immune and digestive systems and potentially leading to allergies or neurological developmental issues.
Montserrat Fàbregas, head of pediatric and newborn nursing and a member of the Health & Care research group at Hospital del Mar, points to another alarming trend: “In the case of boys, we are seeing an exaggerated amount of sterility. It is increasing a lot, and there are many studies that show it is caused by contaminants.” This grim reality underscores the long-term, intergenerational consequences of environmental degradation.
Coping Strategies and the Need for Information
In response to these challenges, many mothers develop personal strategies to protect their health and their children’s, though these are often limited by economic means. Some, 27.2% of those surveyed, resort to temporary relocations, such as escapes to second homes or visits to relatives outside the city during the hottest months. Others adapt their daily routines, avoiding noisy streets or areas with heavy traffic, seeking out shaded routes, or reorganizing household tasks and consumption habits.
However, these individual efforts are insufficient. The study reveals a critical demand for clear, understandable, and useful information on environmental health from healthcare professionals and institutions. The current information landscape is often perceived as scarce, contradictory, or impractical. This highlights the urgent need for comprehensive environmental health policies and risk prevention strategies that move beyond individual behavioral changes and acknowledge existing social, economic, and territorial inequalities.
Recommendations for Mitigating Environmental Contaminants During Pregnancy:
Dr. Lola Gómez Roig offers practical advice for pregnant women:
- Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
- Use glass or ceramic containers, especially for heating food.
- Cook with ceramic, cast iron, or stainless steel pots and pans, free of non-stick coatings.
- Opt for natural or non-toxic cosmetics.
- Avoid seafood during pregnancy and eat small fish.
- Consume organic, seasonal, and local rice, fruits, and vegetables.
- Drink tap water whenever possible.
- Avoid traffic fumes during peak hours and seek out green spaces.
- Lower the volume of electronic devices and turn them off when not in use.
- Wash new clothes before wearing them.
- Protect yourself from the sun and use physical or mineral filters for babies over six months; ideally, keep infants out of direct sunlight.
- Ensure good ventilation at home and prioritize natural cleaning products like vinegar, baking soda, or lemon.
The challenges faced by pregnant women and new mothers in Barcelona are a microcosm of a global urban dilemma. As cities grapple with the escalating impacts of climate change, the well-being of their most vulnerable populations must become a central pillar of policy and planning. Without systemic change, the exodus from urban centers will continue, leaving behind a profound question about the true cost of unchecked development and environmental neglect.
Source: https://es.ara.cat/criaturas/huir-barcelona-quedas-embarazada_130_5600421.html
