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Pollution of large cities affects the embryonic development of the fetus
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Scientists from the University of Granada argue that children born to mothers living in large cities have a higher birth weight than those born from mothers living in rural areas.
According to the researchers, this is due to a higher exposure to xenoestrogens - a type of environmental pollutants that act as hormones. This is the first study conducted in Spain, which established a link between the level of xenoestrogens in the placenta of pregnant women and the weight of children at birth.
In this study, the researchers examined two groups of pregnant women. The first group consisted of women living in Madrid, and the second - from women living in Granada. Scientists have discovered biological, demographic and socioeconomic differences between two groups of women, which were determined by the level of xenoestrogens in the placenta.
A group of expectant mothers living in Madrid had a medium-high income level, and most of them (89%) worked in management or education. Pregnant women in the second group lived in rural areas in the province of Granada, had a low educational level (53.4% had no education or received only primary education), and a large percentage of them were engaged exclusively in household affairs (38.3%).
Scientists have studied all parameters of environmental impact, as well as the correlation between anthropometric, socio-demographic factors, health status, lifestyle, working conditions and the level of xenoestrogens. Researchers from the University of Granada found that the estrogenic effect of placental tissue is directly related to certain characteristics of parents, births and newborns. The group with a higher estrogenic effect of placental tissue in the alpha fraction was women with a lower body mass index, living in Madrid. In addition, this group gave birth to babies with a lot of weight. These results showed that xenoestrogens directly affect fetal embryonic development.
Combined effect of biomarkers
The author of the study Remedios Prada argues that most studies on the effects of environmental pollutants are aimed at quantifying the presence of chemicals in the human body: "However, at present there are more than 100,000 new synthesized chemicals that can be detected in the human body interacting between and are capable of causing combined, synergistic or even antagonistic effects.Therefore, the concentrations of substances that are considered insignificant parameters according to the toxicological-inflammatory, can interact and have a significant cumulative effect. In this study, we have come to the environment by the combined effect of biomarkers. "
Currently, health authorities from different countries are trying to create systems for monitoring environmental pollutants. Such systems have already been established in the US - the National Public Health and Food Expertise, and in Spain - the Environment and Children's Project (INMA).
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