title: Child health and the environment: the INMA Spanish Study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Environmental Health Research Unit, Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica, C. Dr. Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain. nribas@imim.es
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ribas-Fitó
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramón
authors.forename: Ferran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballester
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grimalt
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marco
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olea
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Posada
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rebagliato
authors.forename: Adonina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tardón
authors.forename: Maties
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torrent
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sunyer
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D046468:Sexual Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants