IMPACT ON MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH
Study of the effect of urban pollution on the production of stress and well-being hormones during pregnancy
The objective is to determine the effect of urban pollution in Barcelona on the levels of stress-related hormones in pregnant women and their relationship with maternal and child health.
Center: Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques
Increasing urban pollution—including noise, light, and air pollution—can affect the health of pregnant women and the neurodevelopment of their babies. This project explores how pollution in Barcelona may alter levels of stress- and well-being-related hormones in pregnant women, and how these alterations impact maternal and child health. The methodology includes measuring hormone levels (melatonin, serotonin, cortisol, kynurenine, and progesterone) in the fingernails of 500 pregnant women using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Statistical techniques will also be applied to correlate these hormone levels with pollution and health data. The results will help to understand the effects of urban pollution on hormonal health and maternal and child health, and assess how the reallocation of public spaces could help mitigate these effects.
