title: Exposure to fine particle matter, nitrogen dioxide and benzene during pregnancy and cognitive and psychomotor developments in children at 15 months of age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prenatal exposure to air pollutants has recently been identified as a potential risk factor for neuropsychological impairment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene were associated with impaired development in infants during their second year of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Regression analyses, based on 438 mother-child pairs, were performed to estimate the association between mother exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy and neurodevelopment of the child. The average exposure to PM2.5, NO2 and benzene over the whole pregnancy was calculated for each woman. During the second year of life, infant neuropsychological development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Regression analyses were performed to estimate the association between exposure and outcomes, accounting for potential confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We estimated that a 1 μg/m(3) increase during pregnancy in the average levels of PM2.5 was associated with a -1.14 point decrease in motor score (90% CI: -1.75; -0.53) and that a 1 μg/m(3) increase of NO2 exposure was associated with a -0.29 point decrease in mental score (90% CI: -0.47; -0.11). Benzene did not show any significant association with development. Considering women living closer (≤ 100 m) to metal processing activities, we found that motor scores decreased by -3.20 (90% CI: -5.18; -1.21) for PM2.5 and -0.51 (-0.89; -0.13) for NO2, while mental score decreased by -2.71 (90% CI: -4.69; -0.74) for PM2.5, and -0.41 (9% CI: -0.76; -0.06) for NO2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that prenatal residential exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 adversely affects infant motor and cognitive developments. This negative effect could be higher in the proximity of metal processing plants.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Basque Country, Spain; BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain.
authors.forename: Aitana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lertxundi
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Informatics and Applications "G. Parenti", University of Florence, Italy; Biostatistics Unit, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute (ISPO), Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccini
authors.affiliation: BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain.
authors.forename: Nerea
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lertxundi
authors.affiliation: BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fano
authors.affiliation: BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain.
authors.forename: Aritz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aranbarri
authors.affiliation: BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain; Department of the Environment and Regional Planning, Government of the Basque Country, Vitoria, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain; Sub-Directorate for Public Health of Guipúzcoa, Department of Health, Government of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain.
authors.forename: Mikel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ayerdi
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory, Department of Health, Government of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.affiliation: BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain; Sub-Directorate for Public Health of Guipúzcoa, Department of Health, Government of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain.
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santa-Marina
authors.affiliation: BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain; Sub-Directorate for Public Health of Guipúzcoa, Department of Health, Government of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain.
authors.forename: Miren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorronsoro
authors.affiliation: BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain; Sub-Directorate for Public Health of Guipúzcoa, Department of Health, Government of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain; Biomedical Research Centre Network for Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain. Electronic address: mambien3-san@ej-gv.es.
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ibarluzea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001554:Benzene; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
keywords: Cognitive development; PM(2.5); Particle matter; Psychomotor development