Long term data on the interaction between the environment and children's health

We are world expert on monitoring health impact of air pollution, using the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort.

Environmental factors, such as air pollution and nutrition, can affect the fetal health during the prenatal period. The importance of the prenatal health is now known as the 'developmental origins of health and disease'. ENVIRONAGE (environmental influence on early ageing) investigates the underlying mechanisms of age-related disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases, dementia and diabetes. By studying newborns and children, we aim to find predictive markers of ageing, which are linked to environmental exposures. ENVIRONAGE is a longitudinal study that aims to investigate the influence of environmental exposures during pregnancy and early life on the health of children. Recruitment occurs at birth, the first follow-up occurs at the age of four to six years, and then at the pre-adolescent age.

Projects

• ENVIRONAGE - The ENVIRONAGE birth cohort study is designed to carry out prospective epidemiological follow-up as from the newborn stage, to obtain evidence on the interactions of environmental exposures with processes of ageing
• ATHLETE - ATHLETE (Advancing Tools for Human Early Lifecourse Exposome Research and Translation) is a European-funded project that aims to better understand and prevent health effects of numerous environmental hazards and their mixtures, starting from the earliest stages of life.