Unraveling the impact of prenatal air pollution for neonatal brain maturation
Por:
Pujol, J, Martinez-Vilavella, G, Gómez-Herrera, L, Rivas, I, Gómez-Roig, MD, Llurba, E, Blanco-Hinojo, L, Cirach, M, Persavento, C, Querol, X, Gascón, M, Foraster, M, Gispert, JD, Falcón, C, Deus, J, Dadvand, P, Sunyer, J
Publicada:
1 oct 2025
Ahead of Print:
1 sep 2025
Resumen:
Early brain development is highly sensitive to environmental influences. While prenatal exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) has been broadly associated with harmful effects, PM2.5 also contains trace elements such as iron, copper and zinc, which are essential for brain growth. This study examined both the overall impact of prenatal PM2.5 exposure and the specific role of these trace elements on neonatal myelinated white matter-a key marker of brain maturation. This population-based study included 93 neonates recruited from three major hospitals in Barcelona (2018-2021). PM2.5 exposure was estimated for the embryonic and late fetal periods using land-use regression models incorporating time-weighted maternal mobility data. MRI was performed at 29 days postnatally. Global myelinated white matter was manually segmented, and automated cortical myelination measures were obtained in 85 cases. Associations were examined using linear regression models with and without adjustment for potential confounders. Higher prenatal PM2.5 exposure was associated with lower myelinated white matter content. Trace elements showed a similar pattern, but their associations became nonsignificant after adjusting for overall PM2.5 exposure. The findings suggest that prenatal air pollution exposure may delay early myelination. Moreover, no specific associations were identified for iron, copper, or zinc. However, given the dynamic nature of white matter maturation, such delays may not necessarily be detrimental. This study underscores the impact of environmental factors on neonatal brain development and the importance of stringent air quality policies, while emphasizing the need for longitudinal research to assess long-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes.
Filiaciones:
Pujol, J:
Hosp Mar, Dept Radiol, MRI Res Unit, Barcelona, Spain
Martinez-Vilavella, G:
Hosp Mar, Dept Radiol, MRI Res Unit, Barcelona, Spain
Gómez-Herrera, L:
Barcelona Inst Global Hlth, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
CIBERESP, Spanish Consortium Res Epidemiol & Publ Hlth, Valencia, Spain
UB, Barcelona, Spain
Rivas, I:
Barcelona Inst Global Hlth, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
CIBERESP, Spanish Consortium Res Epidemiol & Publ Hlth, Valencia, Spain
UPF, Barcelona, Spain
CSIC, Inst Environm Assessment & Water Res IDAEA, Spanish Council Sci Res, Barcelona, Spain
Gómez-Roig, MD:
Univ Barcelona, Hosp St Joan de Deu & Hosp Clin, BCNatal, Fetal Med Res Ctr, Barcelona, Spain
Inst Salud Carlos III, Primary Care Intervent Prevent Maternal & Child Ch, RD21-0012-0003, Madrid, Spain
Inst Recera St Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
Llurba, E:
Hosp Santa Creu & Sant Pau, Dept Obstet & Gynaecol, Neuromuscular Dis Unit, IR St PAU,Women & Perinatal Hlth Res Grp, Barcelona, Spain
Inst Salud Carlos III, Spanish Network Maternal Neonatal Child & Dev Hlth, RD24 0013 0018, RICORS SAMID, Madrid, Spain
Blanco-Hinojo, L:
Hosp Mar, Dept Radiol, MRI Res Unit, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Inst Global Hlth, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
Cirach, M:
Barcelona Inst Global Hlth, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
CIBERESP, Spanish Consortium Res Epidemiol & Publ Hlth, Valencia, Spain
UPF, Barcelona, Spain
Persavento, C:
Barcelona Inst Global Hlth, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
CIBERESP, Spanish Consortium Res Epidemiol & Publ Hlth, Valencia, Spain
UPF, Barcelona, Spain
Querol, X:
CSIC, Inst Environm Assessment & Water Res IDAEA, Spanish Council Sci Res, Barcelona, Spain
Gascón, M:
Barcelona Inst Global Hlth, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
CIBERESP, Spanish Consortium Res Epidemiol & Publ Hlth, Valencia, Spain
UPF, Barcelona, Spain
Fundacio Inst Univ Recerca Atencio Primaria Salut, Unitat Suport Recerca Catalunya Cent, Manresa, Spain
Foraster, M:
Barcelona Inst Global Hlth, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
URL, Blanquerna Sch Hlth Sci, PHAGEX Res Grp, Barcelona, Spain
Gispert, JD:
Pasqual Maragall Fdn, BBRC, Barcelona, Spain
Falcón, C:
Pasqual Maragall Fdn, BBRC, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Consortium Res Bioengn, Biomat & Nanomed CIBER BBN, Barcelona, Spain
Deus, J:
Hosp Mar, Dept Radiol, MRI Res Unit, Barcelona, Spain
Autonomous Univ Barcelona, Dept Clin & Hlth Psychol, Barcelona, Spain
Dadvand, P:
Barcelona Inst Global Hlth, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
CIBERESP, Spanish Consortium Res Epidemiol & Publ Hlth, Valencia, Spain
UPF, Barcelona, Spain
Sunyer, J:
Barcelona Inst Global Hlth, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
CIBERESP, Spanish Consortium Res Epidemiol & Publ Hlth, Valencia, Spain
UPF, Barcelona, Spain
IMIM Hosp del Mar Med Res Inst, Barcelona, Spain
Green Submitted, Green Accepted, gold
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