Association between telomere length and neuropsychological function at 4-5 years in children from the INMA project: a cross-sectional study.

Shortened telomere length (TL) has been associated with lower cognitive performance, different neurological diseases in adults, and certain neurodevelopmental disorders in children. However, the evidence about the association between TL and neuropsychological developmental outcomes in children from the general population is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between TL and neuropsychological function in children 4-5 years of age. We included 686 children from the INMA Project, a population-based birth cohort in Spain. Leucocyte TL was determined by quantitative PCR method, and neuropsychological outcomes were measured using the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (MCSA). Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate associations adjusted for potential confounding variables. Main findings showed that a longer TL was associated with a higher mean working memory score (ß = 4.55; 95% CI = 0.39, 8.71). In addition, longer TL was associated with a higher mean global quantitative score (ß = 3.85; 95% CI = -0.19, 7.89), although the association was marginally significant. To our knowledge, this is the first study that shows a positive association between TL and better neuropsychological outcomes in children. Although further research is required to confirm these results, this study supports the hypothesis that TL is essential in protecting and maintaining a child's health, including cognitive functions such as working memory.

Folic acid supplements during pregnancy and child psychomotor development after the first year of life.

IMPORTANCE: Folate intake during pregnancy has been associated with improved neuropsychological development in children, although the effects of high dosages of folic acid (FA) supplements are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between the use of high dosages of FA supplements during pregnancy and child neuropsychological development after the first year of life. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: The multicenter prospective mother-child cohort Infancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) Project recruited pregnant women from 4 areas of Spain (Asturias, Sabadell, Gipuzkoa, and Valencia) between November 2003 and January 2008. Pregnant women completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire on the usual dietary folate intake and FA supplements at 10 to 13 weeks and 28 to 32 weeks of gestation. The main analyses were based on a sample of 2213 children with complete information on neuropsychological development and FA supplement intake during pregnancy. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to explore the effects of FA supplements on child neuropsychological development. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Neuropsychological development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. We calculated mental scale and psychomotor scale scores. One SD below the mean established a delay in neurodevelopment (score <85). RESULTS: A high proportion of women (57.3%) did not reach the recommended dosages of FA supplements (400 µg/d), but 25.2% women took more than 1000 µg/d of FA supplements (3.5% consuming >5000 µg/d). In multivariate analysis, we observed that children whose mothers used FA supplement dosages higher than 5000 µg/d during pregnancy had a statistically significantly lower mean psychomotor scale score (difference, -4.35 points; 95% CI, -8.34 to -0.36) than children whose mothers used a recommended dosage of FA supplements (400-1000 µg/d). An increased risk of delayed psychomotor development (psychomotor scale score <85) was also evident among children whose mothers took FA supplement dosages higher than 5000 µg/d, although the association was not statistically significant (odds ratio = 1.59; 95% CI, 0.82-3.08). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: To our knowledge, this is the first time a detrimental effect of high dosages of FA supplements during pregnancy on psychomotor development after the first year of life has been shown. Further research from longitudinal studies is warranted to confirm these results.

Concentración de trihalometanos y de ácidos haloacéticos en el agua de consumo y estimación de su ingesta durante el embarazo en la cohorte INMA-Guipúzcoa (España) / Trihalomethane and haloacetic acid concentrations in drinking water and their estimated intake during pregnancy in the INMA cohort (Guipúzcoa, Spain)

ObjetivosDescribir la concentración de trihalometanos (THM) y ácidos haloacéticos (AHA) del agua de consumo, valorar su variación espacio-temporal y estimar las ingestas individuales en el embarazo.MétodosEn los años 2006–2008 se analizó el agua en 33 puntos representativos de las redes de abastecimiento de los 25 municipios del área de estudio. Los hábitos de consumo de agua se obtuvieron mediante cuestionario.ResultadosLa media (desviación estándar) fue de 16,9μg/l (7,9) para el total de THM y de 10,9μg/l (4,9) para la suma de las concentraciones de cinco: monocloroacético, dicloroacético, tricloroacético, monobromoacético y dibromoacético (AHA5). Las concentraciones fueron menores en las aguas de manantial, sólo cloradas, que en las de embalse, sometidas a tratamiento completo de potabilización: 8,8μg/l frente a 19,1μg/l (p<0,01) y 8,2μg/l frente a 11,7μg/l (p<0,01). Los valores aumentan significativamente con el número de depósitos de la red y con la recloración, y son mayores en verano y en otoño. La ingesta media del total de THM y de AHA5 es menor en las mujeres que se abastecen de agua de manantial. Hay diferencias en la ingesta según el embalse de abastecimiento.ConclusionesEl origen del agua, la estructura de la red de distribución y la estación del año condicionan la cantidad de productos derivados de la desinfección en el agua. Las ingestas medias varían según el origen del agua, y para todos los productos están muy por debajo de los valores establecidos por la OMS (AU)

ObjectivesTo report trihalomethane (THM) and haloacetic acid (HAA) concentrations in drinking water, assess variations in these concentrations depending on source and over time, and estimate individual intake during pregnancy.MethodsWater taken from 33 representative points of the water supply network of the 25 municipalities in the study area was analyzed from 2006–2008. Water drinking habits were recorded using a questionnaire.ResultsMean total THM concentrations were 16.9μg/L (standard deviation, 7.9), while the mean value for the sum of concentrations of five HAA (monochloroacetic, dichloroacetic, tricholoroacetic, monobromoacetic, and dicromoacetic acids) was 10.9μg/L (standard deviation, 4.9). Concentrations were lower in spring waters, which were only chlorinated, compared with dam waters, which were subject to a complete purification treatment: 8.8μg/L vs 19.1μg/L (p<0.01) and 8.2μg/L vs 11.7μg/L (p<0.01). Concentrations significantly increased with the number of deposits in the network and with their rechlorination and were higher in the summer and fall. Mean intakes of total THM and of the five HAA were lower in women supplied with spring water. Intakes differed depending on supply reservoir.ConclusionsDisinfection by-products in water are affected by water source, supply network structure, and annual season. The mean intake of these products varies depending on the source of drinking water. Mean intakes of all products were much lower than values recommended by the World Health Organization (AU)

Heavy metal levels (Pb, Cd, Cr and Hg) in the adult general population near an urban solid waste incinerator.

In 2005 an urban solid waste incinerator (SWI) was commissioned in Bilbao (Basque Country, Spain). Serum and urine samples were collected from 95 and 107 volunteers in 2006 and 2008 respectively, of which 62 were repeats from the same individuals. Blood lead levels (BPb) were determined, as were the concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and mercury (Hg) in urine (UCd, UCr and UHg). The town of Alonsotegi and a borough of Bilbao (Altamira, Rekalde) were considered to be close, less than 2 km from the plant, and correspond to an urban environment with high traffic density. The areas of reference were a borough of Bilbao (Santutxu-Zurbaran), 5 km from the plant, also in an urban area with high traffic density, and a small town with little industrial activity and low traffic density (Balmaseda) 20 km from the plant; neither of these is downwind from the site with respect to prevailing winds. There was a significant correlation for BPb, r=0.63 (p<0.001), between the two surveys. However, there was no linear correlation for the other three metals (UCd, UCr and UHg), between the two sampling periods (p>0.05). Multiple linear regression models did not show increases over time of the levels of BPb, UCd, UCr and UHg in the areas close to the SWI compared to those of areas located further away, after adjusting for confounding variables. These results reinforce the hypothesis that populations near modern plants for solid waste incineration do not manifest increased levels of heavy metals.

Air quality assessment in urban areas of Gipuzkoa (Spain)

Objetivo. El objetivo del estudio es evaluar la calidad del aire a la que esta expuesta una poblacion de 90.000 habitantes de Gipuzkoa que residen en un entorno periurbano, donde las actividades industriales (11 industrias siderometalurgicas) se entremezclan con zonas residenciales en la propia trama urbana. Métodos. Se cuantificaron las concentraciones de particulas de 2,5mm de diametro (PM2.5) y se analizaron los elementos traza asociados a PM2.5: cadmio (Cd), arsenico (As), manganeso (Mn), cobre (Cu), cromo (Cr), niquel (Ni), hierro (Fe), plomo (Pb), mercurio (Hg) y zinc (Zn) a lo largo de 2006 y 2007. Las muestras se recogieron a partir de 3 captadores de alto volumen DIGITEL Modelo DAH 80 en 7 puntos de muestreo. Se analiza la variabilidad anual asi como la variabilidad estacional de los diferentes contaminantes en cada valle. Asimismo, se recogieron muestras de PM10 y PM2.5 con equipos similares durante un mes y en el mismo sitio para analizar la composicion de los elementos traza en las diferentes fracciones PM10 y PM2.5. Por ultimo, los resultados fueron comparados con los de los equipos de la Red de Calidad del Aire del Gobierno Vasco ubicados en la misma area de estudio. Resultados. Las concentraciones de PM2.5 observadas (12.2¨C28.9¦Ìg/m3) fueron similares a las descritas en entornos urbanos de grandes ciudades europeas. Las concentraciones medias de elementos traza, en cambio, superaron con gran diferencia a las de las ciudades europeas. Las concentraciones de Mn encontradas en los tres valles indican la influencia de la industria siderometalurgica en la calidad del aire.ConclusionLos resultados de particulas y elementos traza encontrados en el area de estudio presentan valores similares o superiores a las areas metropolitanas, lo cual tiene implicaciones en la valoracion del riesgo en la salud de entornos apartados de los grandes nucleos de poblacion(AU)

Objectives. To evaluate the air quality to which a population of 90,000 inhabitants in the province of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain) is exposed. The population resides in a periurban environment, where industrial activity (11 iron and steel foundries) is scattered among residential areas.MethodsThroughout 2006 and 2007, levels of particulate matter less than 2.5mm in diameter (PM2.5) were quantified and levels of trace elements in PM2.5 fraction [cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and zinc (Zn)] were analyzed. The samples were gathered in seven sampling sites using three high-volume Digitel DAH 80 samplers. Annual and seasonal variability were evaluated for the various contaminants in each valley and PM10 and PM2.5 samples were also gathered at the same site for a month, with the goal of analyzing the composition of trace elements in each particle size. Finally, the results were compared with those obtained from the same study area by the Basque Government Air Quality Network equipment.ResultsThe observed PM2.5 concentrations (12.2¨C28.9¦Ìg/m3) were similar to those described in urban environments in large European cities, while mean trace element concentrations were significantly higher. The Mn levels observed in all three valleys indicated the influence of the steel and metal industries on air quality.ConclusionThe finding that levels of particulate matter and trace elements in the study area were similar to or higher than those found in metropolitan areas has implications for the evaluation of health risks in populations far from large population centers(AU)

Air quality assessment in urban areas of Gipuzkoa (Spain).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the air quality to which a population of 90,000 inhabitants in the province of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain) is exposed. The population resides in a periurban environment, where industrial activity (11 iron and steel foundries) is scattered among residential areas. METHODS: Throughout 2006 and 2007, levels of particulate matter less than 2.5mm in diameter (PM(2.5)) were quantified and levels of trace elements in PM(2.5) fraction [cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg) and zinc (Zn)] were analyzed. The samples were gathered in seven sampling sites using three high-volume Digitel DAH 80 samplers. Annual and seasonal variability were evaluated for the various contaminants in each valley and PM(10) and PM(2.5) samples were also gathered at the same site for a month, with the goal of analyzing the composition of trace elements in each particle size. Finally, the results were compared with those obtained from the same study area by the Basque Government Air Quality Network equipment. RESULTS: The observed PM(2.5) concentrations (12.2-28.9 microg/m(3)) were similar to those described in urban environments in large European cities, while mean trace element concentrations were significantly higher. The Mn levels observed in all three valleys indicated the influence of the steel and metal industries on air quality. CONCLUSION: The finding that levels of particulate matter and trace elements in the study area were similar to or higher than those found in metropolitan areas has implications for the evaluation of health risks in populations far from large population centers.