Pollution Exposure in Pregnancy May Hinder Early Brain Development

Slower brain maturation in newborns has been associated with air pollution exposure during pregnancy, according to findings published in Environment International (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Unraveling the impact of prenatal air pollution for neonatal brain maturation

Go to source). This is the first time brain development within the initial month of life has been assessed in this context, arising from a joint effort by researchers at Hospital del Mar, the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, promoted by the “la Caixa” Foundation, and the CIBER area of Epidemiology and Public Health.

Myelination, an essential aspect of brain development, involves coating neuronal connections with myelin to enhance communication efficiency. Newborns whose mothers experienced elevated exposure to fine particulate matter during pregnancy were found to have slower myelination at this very early stage.

Both delayed and overly rapid brain maturation can potentially harm child development. Whether this early change results in long-term developmental challenges remains unclear.

Ultra-Fine Pollution Particles Contain Both Harmful and Vital Elements

The pollutants studied include ultra-fine particles, about thirty times thinner than a human hair, containing toxic organic compounds from combustion, as well as essential elements like iron, copper, and zinc that are necessary for brain development. Due to this mix, more research is needed to determine how each component specifically impacts newborn brain development.

Gerard Martínez-Vilavella, of the Radiology Department at Hospital del Mar and the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, emphasizes that “our study shows that the myelination process, a progressive indicator of brain maturation occurs at a slower rate in newborns most exposed to PM2.5 during pregnancy.”

Brain Imaging Performed in First Month After Birth

To conduct this investigation, pregnant women receiving prenatal care at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu were monitored for air pollution exposure throughout their pregnancies. Following delivery, 132 newborns underwent magnetic resonance imaging within the first month of life to evaluate brain maturation through observed myelination levels.

The results show a clear relationship between increased maternal exposure to PM2.5 and decreased myelination in newborn brains. According to Martínez-Vilavella, “Air pollution, specifically PM2.5, is associated with alterations in the myelination process, a fundamental mechanism of brain maturation.

Therefore, it is essential to continue controlling pollution levels and to study how this slowdown may affect the later brain development of children.” No single pollutant was identified as the main contributor; rather, the effect appears to arise from the combined components of PM2.5.

Exploring the Placenta’s Role in Protecting Fetal Brain Growth

Jesús Pujol, head of the Radiology Department at Hospital del Mar, highlights the complexity of early brain changes, noting that both slowed and accelerated brain maturation can be detrimental. He states, “However, it remains to be determined whether the observed effect is necessarily detrimental. This study opens an exciting new field of research aimed at determining the optimal speed of brain maturation during pregnancy and understanding how the mother and placenta may act as effective filters to protect and optimize this process.”

Jordi Sunyer from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health also emphasizes the public health implications, pointing out that “the findings in these newborns, born in Barcelona after the first phase of the low-emission zone, warn us that we cannot slacken our efforts to clean up city air. Further steps are needed to meet the new air quality standards.”

To sum up, the findings reveal a clear connection between exposure to fine airborne particles during pregnancy and slower brain development in newborns. Although the long-term effects are still unknown, the evidence points to the need for cleaner air and stronger protection for pregnant women to support healthy brain development in their babies.

Reference:

1. Unraveling the impact of prenatal air pollution for neonatal brain maturation - (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412025005525?via%3Dihub)

Source-Medindia