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Child health and the environment: the INMA Spanish Study
Author(s) -
RibasFitó Núria,
Ramón Rosa,
Ballester Ferran,
Grimalt Joan,
Marco Alfredo,
Olea Nicolás,
Posada Manuel,
Rebagliato Marisa,
Tardón Adonina,
Torrent Maties,
Sunyer Jordi
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
paediatric and perinatal epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3016
pISSN - 0269-5022
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3016.2006.00745.x
Subject(s) - medicine , environmental health , pregnancy , child development , population , cohort , reproductive health , prenatal development , cohort study , fetus , pediatrics , psychiatry , genetics , pathology , biology
Summary The INMA (INfancia y Medio Ambiente [Environment and Childhood]) is a population‐based cohort study in different Spanish cities, that focuses on prenatal environmental exposures and growth, development and health from early fetal life until childhood. The study focuses on five primary areas of research: (1) growth and physical development; (2) behavioural and cognitive development; (3) asthma and allergies; (4) sexual and reproductive development; and (5) environmental exposure pathways. The general aims of the project are: (1) to describe the degree of individual prenatal exposure to environmental pollutants, and the internal dose of chemicals during pregnancy, at birth and during childhood in Spain; (2) to evaluate the impact of the exposure to different contaminants on fetal and infant growth, health and development; (3) to evaluate the role of diet on fetal and infant growth, health and development; and (4) to evaluate the interaction between persistent pollutants, nutrients and genetic determinants on fetal and infant growth, health and development. Extensive assessments will be carried out on 3100 pregnant women and children. Data will be collected by physical examinations, questionnaires, interviews, ultrasound and biological samples. Pregnant women are being assessed at 12, 20 and 32 weeks of gestation to collect information about environmental exposures and fetal growth. The children will be followed until the age of 4 years.