Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Health Consequences of Prenatal Exposure to Adverse Environmental Factors in Infants and Children

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Children's Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 20431

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Oscar Garcia-Algar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

1. Neonatology Unit, ICGON, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic-Maternitat, 08016 Barcelona, Spain
2. Department of Paediatrics, University of Barcelona, 08016 Barcelona, Spain
3. BCNatal, 08016 Barcelona, Spain
4. Red SAMID, 28016 Madrid, Spain
Interests: consumption of drugs of abuse during pregnancy; prenatal exposure to substances of abuse; alcohol; FASD; neonatology; pediatrics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Vicente Andreu-Fernández

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
Interests: nutrition; pregnancy; epigenetic pattern; microbiota; probiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a new Special Issue entitled “Health Consequences of Prenatal Exposure to Adverse Environmental Factors in Infants and Children”. The aim is to publish high-quality scientific contributions (original research articles or comprehensive/systemiatic review papers) providing novel insights into the impact of the exposure during pregnancy to substances of abuse (e.g., alcohol) and environmental toxins on the physical and mental wellbeing of the fetus, the infant, and the child. Furthermore, analysis of these substances and compounds in maternal or fetal biological matrices for diagnositic purposes will be welcome.

We encourage the scientific community to make significant and innovative contributions to enhance our knowledge of the harmful effects of adverse environmental factors during development on children’s health. You are welcome to send a tentative title and a short abstract to our Editorial Office (ijerph@mdpi.com) for evaluation before submission. Selected full papers will be subject to a thorough and rigorous peer-review.

We look forward to receiving your excellent work.

Dr. Oscar Garcia-Algar
Dr. Vicente Andreu-Fernández
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

fetal alcohol syndrome
prenatal alcohol exposure
teratogens
toxicants
substances of abuse
neurodevelopmental disorders
placental impairment
biological matrices
children health

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 1104 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association of Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy with Neurophysiological and ADHD-Related Outcomes in School-Aged Children

by Karina Jansone, Anna Eichler, Peter A. Fasching, Johannes Kornhuber, Anna Kaiser, Sabina Millenet, Tobias Banaschewski, Frauke Nees and on behalf of the IMAC-Mind Consortium

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(6), 4716; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064716 - 07 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1985

Abstract

Data of a longitudinal cohort study were analyzed to investigate the association between prenatal tobacco exposure and electroencephalographical (EEG) power spectrum in healthy, school-aged children as well as its relationship with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related symptoms. Group comparisons (exposed, non-exposed) were performed to test whether prenatal tobacco exposure was associated with brain activity and ADHD symptoms, with adjustments made for covariates including child’s sex, child’s age, maternal age, maternal smoking habit before pregnancy, alcohol consumption during pregnancy, gestation age, and maternal psychopathology. Tobacco-exposed children showed higher brain activity in the delta and theta frequency bands. This effect was independent of the considered covariates. However, the effects on hyperactivity were found to significantly depend on maternal age and alcohol consumption during pregnancy, but not on the amount of exposure. In summary, smoking during pregnancy significantly affected the resting-state brain activity in children, independent of socio-demographic factors, indicating potential long-lasting effects on brain development. Its impact on ADHD-related behavior was shown to be influenced by socio-demographic confounding factors, such as maternal alcohol consumption and the age of the mother. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Consequences of Prenatal Exposure to Adverse Environmental Factors in Infants and Children)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Air Pollution and Birth Outcomes: Health Impact and Economic Value Assessment in Spain

by Marcelle Virginia Canto, Mònica Guxens, Anna García-Altés, Maria José López, Marc Marí-Dell’Olmo, Javier García-Pérez and Rebeca Ramis

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 2290; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032290 - 27 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1595

Abstract

Air pollution is considered an ongoing major public health and environmental issue around the globe, affecting the most vulnerable, such as pregnant women and fetuses. The aim of this study is to estimate the health impact and economic value on birth outcomes, such as low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), small for gestational age (SGA), attributable to a reduction of PM₁₀ levels in Spain. Reduction based on four scenarios was implemented: fulfillment of WHO guidelines and EU limits, and an attributable reduction of 15% and 50% in annual PM₁₀ levels. Retrospective study on 288,229 live-born singleton children born between 2009–2010, using data from Spain Birth Registry Statistics database, as well as mean PM₁₀ mass concentrations. Our finding showed that a decrease in annual exposure to PM₁₀ appears to be associated with a decrease in the annual cases of LBW, SGA and PTB, as well as a reduction in hospital cost attributed to been born with LBW. Improving pregnancy outcomes by reducing the number of LBW up to 5% per year, will result in an estimate associated monetary saving of 50,000 to 7,000,000 euros annually. This study agrees with previous literature and highlights the need to implement, and ensure compliance with, stricter policies that regulate the maximum exposure to outdoor PM permitted in Spain, contributing to decreased environmental health risk, especially negative birth outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Consequences of Prenatal Exposure to Adverse Environmental Factors in Infants and Children)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2217 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Relationship between Parental Education, Asthma and Rhinitis in Children Using Path Analysis

by Ilaria Rocco, Giovanna Cilluffo, Giuliana Ferrante, Fabio Cibella, Alessandro Marcon, Pierpaolo Marchetti, Paolo Ricci, Nadia Minicuci, Stefania La Grutta and Barbara Corso

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14551; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114551 - 06 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1437

Abstract

Parental socioeconomic position (SEP) is a known determinant of a child’s health. We aimed to investigate whether a low parental education, as proxy of SEP, has a direct effect on physician-diagnosed asthma, current asthma and current allergic rhinitis in children, or whether associations are mediated by exposure to other personal or environmental risk factors. This study was a secondary data analysis of two cross-sectional studies conducted in Italy in 2006. Data from 2687 adolescents (10–14 years) were analyzed by a path analysis model using generalized structural equation modelling. Significant direct effects were found between parental education and family characteristics (number of children (coefficient = 0.6229, p < 0.001) and crowding index (1.1263, p < 0.001)) as well as with exposure to passive smoke: during pregnancy (maternal: 0.4697, p < 0.001; paternal: 0.4854, p < 0.001), during the first two years of children’s life (0.5897, p < 0.001) and currently (0.6998, p < 0.001). An indirect effect of parental education was found on physician-diagnosed asthma in children mediated by maternal smoking during pregnancy (0.2350, p < 0.05) and on current allergic rhinitis mediated by early environmental tobacco smoke (0.2002; p < 0.05). These results suggest the importance of promotion of ad-hoc health policies for promoting smoking cessation, especially during pregnancy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Consequences of Prenatal Exposure to Adverse Environmental Factors in Infants and Children)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exposure to Traffic Density during Pregnancy and Birth Weight in a National Cohort, 2000–2017

by Marcelle Virginia Canto, Mònica Guxens and Rebeca Ramis

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8611; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19148611 - 15 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1520

Abstract

The variation on birth weight is associated with several outcomes early on in life and low birth weight (LBW) increases the risk of morbidity and mortality. Some environmental exposures during pregnancy, such as particulate matters and other traffic-related pollutants can have a significant effect on pregnant women and fetuses. The aim of this study is to estimate the effect of exposure to traffic density during pregnancy over birth weight in Spain, from 2000–2017. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study using the information from Spain Birth Registry Statistics database. The traffic density was measured using the Annual average daily traffic. Multivariate linear regression models using birth weight and traffic density were performed, as well as a logistic regression model to estimated Odds ratios for LBW and GAM models to evaluate the non-linear effect. Our findings showed that increases in traffic density were associated with reduction of birth weight and increases of LBW risk. Moreover, exposure to high and very-high traffic-density during pregnancy were associated with reduction of birth weight and increase on LBW risk comparing with exposure to low number of cars trespassing the neighborhoods. The results of this study agree with previous literature and highlights the need of effective policies for reducing traffic density in residential neighborhoods of cities and towns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Consequences of Prenatal Exposure to Adverse Environmental Factors in Infants and Children)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 366 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developmental Disorder Probability Scores at 6–18 Years Old in Relation to In-Utero/Peripartum Antiretroviral Drug Exposure among Ugandan Children

by Jorem Emmillian Awadu, Alla Sikorskii, Sarah Zalwango, Audrey Coventry, Bruno Giordani and Amara E. Ezeamama

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3725; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19063725 - 21 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1876

Abstract

(1) We examined the hypothesis that in utero/peripartum antiretroviral (IPA) exposure may affect the likelihood of developmental disorders—i.e., attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and functional impairment (FI). (2) Children and their primary caregivers were enrolled and followed for 12 months. The sample included 250 children perinatally HIV-infected (CPHIV), 250 children HIV-exposed and uninfected (CHEU) of women living with HIV, and 250 children HIV unexposed and uninfected (CHUU) at 6–18 years of age. CHEU’s IPA exposure -type was established via medical records and categorized as no IPA, single-dose nevirapine with/without zidovudine (SdNVP ± AZT), SdNVP + AZT + Lamivudine (3TC), or combination ART (cART). Developmental disorders were assessed at months 0, 6, and 12 per caregiver response to standardized questions from the third edition of Behavioral Assessment System for Children. Multivariable repeated measures linear regression models estimated standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) according to the IPA exposure type relative to CHUU with adjustment for the dyad’s sociodemographic and psychosocial factors. (3) Relative to the CHUU, outcomes were similar for CPHIV/CHEU with cART, SdNVP ± AZT, and no anti-retroviral drug exposure in the peripartum period. For CHEU relative to CHUU, SdNVP + AZT + 3TC exposure was associated with lower resiliency (SMD = −0.26, 95% CI: −0.49, −0.51), and elevated scores on ADHD (SMD = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.70), ASD (SMD = 0.40, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.61), and EBD (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.56) probability and functional impairment (SMD = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.61) index scores. With the exception of ADHD, the adverse association between SdNVP + AZT + 3TC and outcomes were replicated for CPHIV vs. CHUU. (4) The results provided reassuring evidence that cART exposure in the peripartum period is unlikely to be adversely associated with developmental disorder probability scores in late childhood and adolescent years. However, the peripartum SdNVP + AZT + 3TC exposure associated elevation in developmental disorder probability and functional limitation at 6–18 years of life is a concern. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Consequences of Prenatal Exposure to Adverse Environmental Factors in Infants and Children)

16 pages, 655 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toxic Elements in Traditional Kohl-Based Eye Cosmetics in Spanish and German Markets

by Elisabet Navarro-Tapia, Mariona Serra-Delgado, Lucía Fernández-López, Montserrat Meseguer-Gilabert, María Falcón, Giorgia Sebastiani, Sebastian Sailer, Oscar Garcia-Algar and Vicente Andreu-Fernández

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 6109; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116109 - 05 Jun 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4610

Abstract

Kohl is a traditional cosmetic widely used in Asia and Africa. In recent years, demand for kohl-based eyelids and lipsticks has increased in Europe, linked to migratory phenomena of populations from these continents. Although the European legislation prohibits the use of heavy metals in cosmetics due to the harmful effects to human health, particularly to pregnant women and children, these elements are still present in certain products. The European Union recommended levels are Pb < 20 ppm, As < 5 ppm, Cd < 5 ppm, Sb < 100 ppm, and Ni < 200 ppm. In Germany, levels are more restrictive: Pb < 2 ppm, As < 0.5 ppm, Cd < 0.1 ppm, Sb < 0.5 ppm, and Ni < 10 ppm. Here, we analyzed 12 kohl-based cosmetics in different presentations (powder, paste, and pencil) that were purchased in Spanish and German local shops. An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer was used to identify toxic elements and heavy metals. Levels of Pb ranged between 1.7 and 410,000 ppm in six of the study samples, four of which had levels above the recommended limit of at least two heavy metals. Arsenic (a carcinogenic element) values were within the range allowed by the EU in only 58% of the studied samples. Moreover, two products doubled this limit, reaching levels of 9.2 and 12.6 ppm. In one of the products, cadmium, related to toxic keratitis, was four times higher (20.7 ppm) than that allowed, while in two other products, these limits were doubled (11.8 and 12.7 ppm). Our results indicate the need to supervise the manufacture of kohl-based traditional products and the analysis of their composition prior distribution in European countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Consequences of Prenatal Exposure to Adverse Environmental Factors in Infants and Children)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 733 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) among Children Adopted from Eastern European Countries: Russia and Ukraine

by Joan Colom, Lidia Segura-García, Adriana Bastons-Compta, Marta Astals, Vicente Andreu-Fernandez, Natalia Barcons, Raquel Vidal, Ana I. Ibar, Vicky Fumadó, Nuria Gómez, Agnés Russiñol and Oscar Garcia-Algar

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1388; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041388 - 03 Feb 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6121

Abstract

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. Children adopted internationally from countries where alcohol consumption during pregnancy is very high are at greater risk for FASD. Lack of expertise in diagnosing FASD and mixed neurodevelopmental and behavioral signs due to abandonment complicate a timely diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of FASD in adopted children. Children between the ages of 8 and 24 adopted from Russia and Ukraine were evaluated for clinical and historical features of FASD. Of the 162 children evaluated, 81 (50%) met FASD diagnostic criteria. Thirty-three (20.4%) children had fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 28 (17.2%) had partial FAS, 2 (1.2%) had alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) and 18 (11.1%) had alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Of the 81 children in which fetal alcohol exposure could not be confirmed, many had manifestations that would have established a diagnosis of FASD if a history of maternal alcohol consumption was confirmed. In a population of children with a high risk of prenatal alcohol exposure (adoptees from Eastern European countries), at least 50% showed manifestations associated with FASD. The reported prevalence in this study is in line with the results obtained in a previous study as well as in orphanages of origin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Consequences of Prenatal Exposure to Adverse Environmental Factors in Infants and Children)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Health Consequences of Prenatal Exposure to Adverse Environmental Factors in Infants and Children

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (7 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI