Papel de las exposiciones ambientales pre- y postnatal en la salud del adolescentes-seguimiento de la Cohorte de Ribera del del Ebro

Duration

2010-2012

Coordinator

Martine Vrijheid

Funded by

Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Adolescence is an important stage of life, although it has not been extensively researched, in the assessment of the effects of exposure to different adverse environmental factors. There are still important unresolved questions regarding the continuation of the early effects of different chemical compounds into adolescence. Two newborn cohorts were initiated in 1997 in Spain, specifically in Menorca and the Ribera d’Ebre.

Exposure to organochlorinated compounds (HCB, DDT / DDE) and to methylmercury is especially elevated in these cohorts, which have been the first to study the effects of these contaminants on neurodevelopment, asthma and obesity in children. The main objective of this proposal is to carry out a follow-up of the Ribera d’Ebre 12-13 year old cohort in order to examine the effects of exposure to environmental risks during the first few years of life on adolescent health, as well as to establish a baseline for future follow-up and assessment of a cleansing intervention. The coordinated project will implement the same basic protocol in the cohorts of the Ribera d’Ebre and Menorca in order to obtain combined data analyses.



In the Ribera d’Ebre, an assessment of the neurodevelopment, obesity, sexual maturation, respiratory health, diet, physical activity and exposures to lifestyle risks of 100 members of the original cohort and all their classmates (a total of 160 children) will be conducted by means of physical explorations, computer-based tests and comprehensive questionnaires. Blood and urine samples will be obtained and subsequently analysed to determine levels of organochlorinated compounds, metals, cotinine, total and specific IgE, as well as metabolic syndrome markers.