Unraveling the impact of prenatal air pollution for neonatal brain maturation.
Por:
Pujol J, Martínez-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 and Sunyer J
Publicada:
1 oct 2025
Ahead of Print:
18 sep 2025
Resumen:
Early brain development is highly sensitive to environmental influences. While prenatal exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM(2.5)) has been broadly associated with harmful effects, PM(2.5) 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 PM(2.5) 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). PM(2.5) 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 PM(2.5) exposure was associated with lower myelinated white matter content. Trace elements showed a similar pattern, but their associations became nonsignificant after adjusting for overall PM(2.5) 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:
MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
Martínez-Vilavella G:
MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
Gómez-Herrera L:
Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
Rivas I:
Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
Gómez-Roig MD:
BCNatal, Fetal Medicine Research Center, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, and Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Primary Care Interventions to Prevent Maternal and Child Chronic Diseases of Perinatal and Developmental Origin Network (RICORS), RD21/0012/0003, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
Llurba E:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Women and Perinatal Health Research Group, Institut de Recerca (IR SANT PAU), Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Network in Maternal, Neonatal, Child and Developmental Health Research (RICORS-SAMID, RD24/0013/0001) Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
Blanco-Hinojo L:
MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
Cirach M:
Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
Persavento C:
Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
Querol X:
Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
Gascón M:
Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
Unitat de Suport a la Recerca de la Catalunya Central, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la Recerca a l'Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol), Manresa, Spain
Foraster M:
Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
PHAGEX Research Group, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Universitat Ramon Llull (URL), Barcelona, Spain
Gispert JD:
Barcelonaßeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
Falcón C:
Barcelonaßeta Brain Research Center (BBRC), Pasqual Maragall Foundation, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Consortium for Research on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine (CIBER-BBN), Spain
Deus J:
MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Dadvand P:
Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
Sunyer J:
Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
Green Submitted, Green Accepted, gold
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