Accumulation of Black Carbon Particles in Placenta, Cord Blood, and Childhood Urine in Association with the Intestinal Microbiome Diversity and Composition in Four- to Six-Year-Old Children in the ENVIRAGE Birth Cohort.

Background: The gut microbiome plays an essential role in human health. Despite the link between air pollution exposure and various diseases, its association with the gut microbiome during susceptible life periods remains scarce.

Objectives: In this study, we examined the association between black carbon particles quantified in prenatal and postnatal biological matrices and bacterial richness and diversity measures, and bacterial families.

Association of indoor dust microbiota with cognitive function and behavior in preschool-aged children.

Background: Childhood cognitive development depends on neuroimmune interactions. Immunomodulation by early-life microbial exposure may influence neuropsychological function. In this study, we investigate the association between residential indoor microbiota and cognition and behavior among preschoolers.

Indoor green can modify the indoor dust microbial communities.

Little is known about the potential role of indoor plants in shaping the indoor microbiota. Within the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort, we collected settled dust and performed 16S and ITS amplicon sequencing and qPCR measurements to characterize the indoor microbiota, including bacterial and fungal loads and Chao1 richness, Shannon, and Simpson diversity indices. For 155 households, we obtained information on the number of indoor plants.

Dynamics of skin microvascular blood flow in 4-6-year-old children in association with pre- and postnatal black carbon and particulate air pollution exposure.

Background: A growing body of evidence indicates that cardiovascular health in adulthood, particularly that of the microcirculation, could find its roots during prenatal development. In this study, we investigated the association between pre- and postnatal air pollution exposure on heat-induced skin hyperemia as a dynamic marker of the microvasculature.

Methods: In 139 children between the ages of 4 and 6 who are followed longitudinally within the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort, we measured skin perfusion by Laser Doppler probes using the Periflux6000.

Residential green space can shape the indoor microbial environment.

Background: The influence of outdoor green space on microbial communities indoors has scarcely been investigated. Here, we study the associations between nearby residential green space and residential indoor microbiota.

Methods: We collected settled dust from 176 living rooms of participants of the ENVIRONAGE birth cohort.

Monitoring indoor exposure to combustion-derived particles using plants.

Indoor plants can be used to monitor atmospheric particulates. Here, we report the label-free detection of combustion-derived particles (CDPs) on plants as a monitoring tool for indoor pollution. First, we measured the indoor CDP deposition on Atlantic ivy leaves (Hedera hibernica) using two-photon femtosecond microscopy.