BiSC: the first study to analyze the association between air pollution and fetal brain development during pregnancy
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BiSC: the first study to analyze the association between air pollution and fetal brain development during pregnancy

Outstanding, Results

BiSC: the first study to analyze the association between air pollution and fetal brain development during pregnancy

The study led by BiSC and published in The Lancet Planetary Health, analyzed data collected between 2018 and 2021 from 754 pairs of mothers and fetuses participating in the project. As you know, BiSC aims to understand the relationship between air pollution in child health and brain development and is considered one of the most comprehensive conducted in this field.

During the third trimester of pregnancy, participants underwent transvaginal neurosonography, a specialized ultrasound that allows the analysis of fetal brain shape and structures. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO_₂), particulate matter (PM_2.5), and black carbon was estimated with hybrid models that combine data from real measurements with advanced statistical methods. The research considered three “microenvironments”: the participants’ homes, workplaces, and commuting routes. Data on activity patterns were collected via a geolocation app installed on the participants’ mobile phones.

The research team observed that […]

Raquel Barneda2025-06-19T08:41:43+00:0019/06/2025|Outstanding, Results|

Estimating Outdoor and Indoor Temperature Exposure for the BiSC Participants

Extreme heat events pose a significant public health risk and are expected to become more frequent and severe as climate change accelerates. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat, which can have harmful effects on both maternal health and fetal development. To better understand these risks in the BiSC, we estimated outdoor and indoor temperature exposure for our participants throughout pregnancy to assess their impact on health outcomes in the future.

To estimate outdoor temperature, we used a Random Forest model that integrates data from multiple sources, including the outdoor temperature data from meteorological stations, hourly skin* and 2m temperature**, total precipitation, wind components, the height of the land, and greenspace data. [ref] This approach allowed us to generate an accurate temperature estimate map (R² = 0.98) at a fine spatial (250m) and daily temporal resolution. During the study period, […]

Raquel Barneda2025-02-26T12:51:36+00:0024/02/2025|Outstanding, Science|

The documentary Breathe, mom as a candidate for the Gaudí Awards!
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The documentary Breathe, mom as a candidate for the Gaudí Awards!

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The documentary Breathe, mom as a candidate for the Gaudí Awards!

Last year we shared with you the premiere of a documentary directed by Meri Collazos Solà entitled Breathe, mom, an audiovisual creation made with the aim of being a contribution to raising awareness of the need and the right everyone has to breathe clean and healthy air.

This documentary film, which had the participation of the BiSC project, has been selected as a candidate for Best Documentary Film at the 17 Gaudí Awards! You will soon be able to see it in Barcelona’s cinemas and throughout the Catalan territory, with the premiere on November 15, 2024 at Cinema Maldà in Barcelona. In fact, to date it has already participated in several international festivals such as DocsBarcelona, the Suncine International Film Festival of the Environment (where it won the Sol d’Or for best Spanish […]

Raquel Barneda2024-11-11T15:22:27+00:0011/11/2024|Others, Outstanding|

Travel and physical activity during pregnancy
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Travel and physical activity during pregnancy

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Travel and physical activity during pregnancy

Staying active during pregnancy is important for both the mother and baby. Previous research suggest that for mothers, it can help lower the chances of developing gestational diabetes and gaining too much weight, while for babies, it can reduce the risk of early birth and being born too large. Walking and biking are important ways to stay active in pregnancy. Other studies show that spending time in cars, for example during long commutes, can lead to stress for pregnant women. This means that the design of cities might affect pregnancy outcomes, since some areas are better for walking and biking while others require driving. However, more research is needed to better understand this link.

A new study from Barcelona and San Sebastián shows that visiting parks and nature areas can help pregnant women meet recommended activity levels, especially in early pregnancy (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.

Raquel Barneda2024-10-14T07:35:51+00:0014/10/2024|Outstanding, Science|