Project R-12891

TRANSLOCATION OF AIR POLLUTION PARTICLES: EFFECTS ON PLACENTARY FUNCTION AND PRE- AND POST-NATAL DEVELOPMENT. (Research)

There has been a growing concern regarding the effects of air pollution on children's health. Recent studies have shown that high levels of air pollution exposure at school are associated to slower development of some cognitive abilities. It has also recently been shown that black carbon particles (a component of PM2.5) can be deposited in placental tissue. However, the effects of fetal exposure to these particles are still poorly understood. The proposed PhD thesis will focus on the study of the possible effects of prenatal exposure to air polluting particles on fetal and neurocognitive development, as well as the role of placental function as an intermediate mechanism. It specifically aims: 1. To quantify the translocation of black carbon particles in placenta samples from the BiSC cohort 2. To study the effects of exposure to air pollution on placental function. 3. To study the effects of exposure to air pollution on fetal and early post-natal development. The presence of black carbon particles in placenta samples will be studied quantitatively, using an advanced microscopic technique developed by Tim nawrot's group. The same samples will be used to quantify mitochondrial DNA content. Fetal development and placental function will be estimated by data the follow-up ultrasounds, neurosonography, echocardiography, and Doppler ultrasound. Evaluation of postnatal psychomotor and neurocognitive development will be performed through the Bayley test at 6 and 18 months, and through a postnatal MRI in a subset of participants.

01 July 2022 - 30 June 2024