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Particle transfer across the placenta has been suggested but to date, no direct evidence in real-life, human context exists. Here we report the presence of black carbon (BC) particles as part of combustion-derived particulate matter in human placentae using white-light generation under femtosecond pulsed illumination. BC is identified in all screened placentae, with an average (SD) particle count of 0.95 × 10 4 (0.66 × 10 4 ) and 2.09 × 10 4 (0.9 × 10 4 ) particles per mm 3 for low and high exposed mothers, respectively. Furthermore, the placental BC load is positively associated with mothers’ residential BC exposure during pregnancy (0.63–2.42 µg per m 3 ). Our finding that BC particles accumulate on the fetal side of the placenta suggests that ambient particulates could be transported towards the fetus and represents a potential mechanism explaining the detrimental health effects of pollution from early life onwards. Exposure to air pollution during pregnancy has been associated with impaired birth outcomes. Here, Bové et al. report evidence of black carbon particle deposition on the fetal side of human placentae, including at early stages of pregnancy, suggesting air pollution could affect birth outcome through direct effects on the fetus.

Background Newborn telomere length sets telomere length for later life. At birth, telomere length is highly variable among newborns and the environmental factors during in utero life for this observation remain largely unidentified. Obesity during pregnancy might reflect an adverse nutritional status affecting pregnancy and offspring outcomes, but the association of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) with newborn telomere length, as a mechanism of maternal obesity, on the next generation has not been addressed. Methods Average relative telomere lengths were measured in cord blood ( n  = 743) and placental tissue ( n  = 702) samples using a quantitative real-time PCR method from newborns from the ENVIR ON AGE birth cohort in Belgium. By using univariate and multivariable adjusted linear regression models we addressed the associations between pre-pregnancy BMI and cord blood and placental telomere lengths. Results Maternal age was 29.1 years (range, 17–44) and mean (SD) pre-pregnancy BMI was 24.1 (4.1) kg/m 2 . Decline in newborn telomere length occurred in parallel with higher maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. Independent of maternal and paternal age at birth, maternal education, gestational age, newborn gender, ethnicity, birthweight, maternal smoking status, parity, cesarean section, and pregnancy complications, each kg/m 2 increase in pre-pregnancy BMI was associated with a −0.50 % (95 % CI, −0.83 to −0.17 %; P  = 0.003) shorter cord blood telomere length and a −0.66 % (95 % CI, −1.06 to −0.25 %; P  = 0.002) shorter placental telomere length. Conclusions Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with shorter newborn telomere lengths as reflected by cord blood and placental telomeres. These findings support the benefits of a pre-pregnancy healthy weight for promoting molecular longevity from early life onwards.

Background: The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) promotes, protects, and supports optimal breastfeeding through facility-based strategies. While prior studies have examined individual BFHI components in specific contexts, global evidence on its overall impact remains limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the BFHI’s effectiveness in improving early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding practices worldwide. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google for English-language studies. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cluster RCTs, and quasi-experimental designs assessing BFHI’s effect on breastfeeding outcomes. Random-effects meta-analysis models were used to estimate the pooled effects with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics and p-values. Study quality was appraised using the GRADE approach. Results: Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. The BFHI was associated with increased early initiation of breastfeeding (pooled RR 1.43; 95% CI: 1.12–1.81; I2 = 97.1%). Positive associations were also observed for exclusive breastfeeding at four months (RR 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08–1.29; I2 = 61.7%) and at six months (RR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.14–2.14; I2 = 82.8%). Substantial heterogeneity reflected variability in study design, BFHI implementation fidelity, and context. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the BFHI is effective in improving breastfeeding practices globally. However, study variability and partial implementation may limit the generalizability of results. High-quality RCTs assessing full BFHI implementation are needed to strengthen evidence and guide global maternal–child health policy.

Background Ambient fine particulate matter (PM < 2.5 μm, PM 2.5 ) is gaining increasing attention as an environmental risk factor for health. The kidneys are considered a particularly vulnerable target to the toxic effects that PM 2.5 exerts. Alteration of kidney function may lead to a disrupted homeostasis, affecting disparate tissues in the body. This review intends to summarize all relevant knowledge published between January 2000 and December 2021 on the effects of ambient PM 2.5 and the adverse effects on kidney function in adults (≥ 18 years). Results and Discussion Studies published in peer-reviewed journals, written in English, regarding the effects of PM 2.5 on kidney function and the development and/or exacerbation of kidney disease(s) were included. Of the 587 nonduplicate studies evaluated, 40 were included, comprising of studies on healthy or diagnosed with pre-existing disease (sub)populations. Most of the studies were cohort studies (n = 27), followed by 10 cross-sectional, 1 ecological and 2 time-series studies. One longitudinal study was considered intermediate risk of bias, the other included studies were considered low risk of bias. A large portion of the studies (n = 36) showed that PM 2.5 exposure worsened kidney outcome(s) investigated; however, some studies show contradictory results. Measurement of the estimated glomerular filtration rate, for instance, was found to be positively associated (n = 8) as well as negatively associated (n = 4) with PM 2.5 . Limitations and Conclusion The main limitations of the included studies include residual confounding (e.g., smoking) and lack of individual exposure levels. The majority of included studies focused on specific subpopulations, which may limit generalizability. Evidence of the detrimental effects that ambient PM 2.5 may exert on kidney function is emerging. However, further investigations are required to determine how and to what extent air pollution, specifically PM 2.5 , exerts adverse effects on the kidney and alters its function. Registration The systematic review protocol was submitted and published by the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42020175615 ).

IntroductionMetabolomics may identify biological pathways predisposing children to the risk of overweight and obesity. In this study, we have investigated the cord blood metabolic signatures of rapid growth in infancy and overweight in early childhood in four European birth cohorts.MethodsUntargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomic profiles were measured in cord blood from 399 newborns from four European cohorts (ENVIRONAGE, Rhea, INMA and Piccolipiu). Rapid growth in the first year of life and overweight in childhood was defined with reference to WHO growth charts. Metabolome-wide association scans for rapid growth and overweight on over 4500 metabolic features were performed using multiple adjusted logistic mixed-effect models and controlling the false discovery rate (FDR) at 5%. In addition, we performed a look-up analysis of 43 pre-annotated metabolites, previously associated with birthweight or rapid growth.ResultsIn the Metabolome-Wide Association Study analysis, we identified three and eight metabolites associated with rapid growth and overweight, respectively, after FDR correction. Higher levels of cholestenone, a cholesterol derivative produced by microbial catabolism, were predictive of rapid growth (p = 1.6 × 10−3). Lower levels of the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) valine (p = 8.6 × 10−6) were predictive of overweight in childhood. The area under the receiver operator curve for multivariate prediction models including these metabolites and traditional risk factors was 0.77 for rapid growth and 0.82 for overweight, compared with 0.69 and 0.69, respectively, for models using traditional risk factors alone. Among the 43 pre-annotated metabolites, seven and five metabolites were nominally associated (P < 0.05) with rapid growth and overweight, respectively. The BCAA leucine, remained associated (1.6 × 10−3) with overweight after FDR correction.ConclusionThe metabolites identified here may assist in the identification of children at risk of developing obesity and improve understanding of mechanisms involved in postnatal growth. Cholestenone and BCAAs are suggestive of a role of the gut microbiome and nutrient signalling respectively in child growth trajectories.

To fully comprehend host-microorganism interactions, it is crucial to understand the composition and diversity of the microbiome, as well as the factors that shape these characteristics. We investigated microbiome variation using the freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea , an invertebrate model in regeneration biology and (eco-)toxicology, by exposing the organisms to various controlled conditions. The microbiome composition exhibited high variability, with most of the bacteria belonging to the Betaproteobacteria. Among the diverse microbial communities, a few genera, such as Curvibacter , were consistently present, but exhibited significant alterations in response to changing conditions. The relative abundance of Curvibacter fluctuated during the regeneration process, initially increasing before returning to a composition similar to the beginning situation. After applying external stress, the relative abundance of Curvibacter and other genera decreased. Variation over time, between different origin laboratories and between individuals, showed that additional, yet to-be-identified, factors of variation are present. Taking all results together, our study provides a solid basis for future research focusing on bacterial functionality in planarians and other invertebrates.

Rationale and objective Inhaled black carbon (BC) has been previously shown to reach and accumulate in the kidneys. As kidneys filter toxicants, they may be susceptible to adverse effects caused by BC accumulation. We studied gene expressions and pathways related to BC particle load in kidney biopsy tissue. Study design Gene expression was measured in 29 kidney biopsies performed at one or two years post-transplantation using Affymetrix microarray. We performed a transcriptome-wide association analysis using linear regression analyses, adjusting for individual characteristics to investigate alterations in gene expression in association with kidney BC. Finally, we performed overrepresentation analyses (ConsensusPathDB) to identify enriched pathways and gene ontology sets. Results The geometric mean (5th, 95th percentile) of BC particle levels was 5.4 × 10 3 (1.5 × 10 3 , 4.1 × 10 4 ) number of BC particles per mm³ kidney tissue. The BC particle load associated with gene expression in overrepresenting pathways related to ciliopathies, macrophage-derived proteins involved in anti-inflammatory response, DNA damage response, TP53 regulation, and necrosis. We identified BC associated genes involved in GO terms ciliogenesis and ciliary structure, including genes involved in the ciliary plasm and axoneme. Furthermore, we found significantly BC-associated genes involved in RNA-related processes, including e.g., genes in the integrator complex. Conclusions Here, we identified genes and pathways associated with real-life kidney BC particle load, indicating alterations in gene expression involved in assembly and maintenance of primary cilia, the anti-inflammatory properties of the innate immune system, and DNA damage-related pathways. These findings highlight the need for public health measures to reduce exposure and protect kidney health in at-risk populations.

Background: Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) are pervasive environmental contaminants that accumulate in various tissues, including the placenta. Experimental and clinical studies suggest potential cytotoxic, oxidative, and inflammatory effects that may lead to placental dysfunction and adverse obstetric outcomes. However, high-quality evidence on the clinical relevance of MNPs exposure during pregnancy remains scarce, underscoring the need for systematic evaluation of their impact on maternal and fetal health. Methods: The databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, CENTRAL, Embase, MDPI and Google Scholar were searched for studies published up to September 2025 investigating the relationship between MNPs and obstetric outcomes. Results: Twelve studies were included in this review, with half employing an observational design in human subjects and the other half using experimental studies in murine models. Although the available evidence is limited, there are studies reporting the association between MNPs exposure and premature birth, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, and miscarriage. The most prevalent polymer detected was polyethylene, and the most commonly used MNPs detection techniques were Raman microspectroscopy, digital microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared, and Pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Conclusions: This systematic review summarizes current limited insights on the potential effects of MNPs on obstetric outcomes, highlighting possible associations with low gestational age, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, and miscarriage. Findings do not allow causal inference due to heterogeneity in study design, exposure assessment, contamination control, and analytical methodologies.

Background Cognitive performances of schoolchildren have been adversely associated with both recent and chronic exposure to ambient air pollution at the residence. In addition, growing evidence indicates that exposure to green space is associated with a wide range of health benefits. Therefore, we aimed to investigate if surrounding green space at the residence improves cognitive performance of primary schoolchildren while taking into account air pollution exposure. Methods Cognitive performance tests were administered repeatedly to a total of 307 primary schoolchildren aged 9-12y, living in Flanders, Belgium (2012–2014). These tests covered three cognitive domains: attention (Stroop and Continuous Performance Tests), short-term memory (Digit Span Forward and Backward Tests), and visual information processing speed (Digit-Symbol and Pattern Comparison Tests). Green space exposure was estimated within several radii around their current residence (50 m to 2000 m), using a aerial photo-derived high-resolution (1 m 2 ) land cover map. Furthermore, air pollution exposure to PM 2.5 and NO 2 during the year before examination was modelled for the child’s residence using a spatial–temporal interpolation method. Results An improvement of the children’s attention was found with more residential green space exposure independent of traffic-related air pollution. For an interquartile range increment (21%) of green space within 100 m of the residence, a significantly lower mean reaction time was observed independent of NO 2 for both the sustained-selective (-9.74 ms, 95% CI: -16.6 to -2.9 ms, p  = 0.006) and the selective attention outcomes (-65.90 ms, 95% CI: -117.0 to -14.8 ms, p  = 0.01). Moreover, green space exposure within a large radius (2000 m) around the residence was significantly associated with a better performance in short-term memory (Digit-Span Forward Test) and a higher visual information processing speed (Pattern Comparison Test), taking into account traffic-related exposure. However, all associations were attenuated after taking into account long-term residential PM 2.5 exposure. Conclusions Our panel study showed that exposure to residential surrounding green space was associated with better cognitive performances at 9–12 years of age, taking into account traffic-related air pollution exposure. These findings support the necessity to build attractive green spaces in the residential environment to promote healthy cognitive development in children.