Valencia

In October 2003 the pilot study for the creation of the INMA cohort in Valencia was carried out. In February 2004 started the recruitment of the cohort that went on until June 2005. 855 women that belonged to the departments of health 6 (34 municipalities) and 7 (two quarters of Valencia) were recruited. They were selected by consecutive sampling of among all those of the area of study that went to the population sieving of the syndrome of Down that is carried out among the 10-13 weeks of gestation in the Hospital de la Fe, reference hospital of the area, and who complied with the inclusion criteria: (1) To be at least 16 years; (2) To be in the week 10-13 of gestation; (3) to have a unique pregnancy; (4) To have the intention of continuing the follow-up and delivering in the corresponding centres of reference; (5) Not to have any impediment for the communication and (6) Not to suffer any chronic disease prior to the pregnancy.

During the pregnancy the follow-up was carried out at weeks 12 and 32. In these follow-ups, biological samples were obtained (blood, nail and urine) and also data related to diet, jobs of the progenitors and exposure to pollutants.

The newborns were followed along the childhood. A visit was made when they were 1 year, in which the neurological development, the anthropometry, the respiratory health, the diet and the environmental exposures were measured and studied. Moreover, the levels of atmospheric pollutants were measured in the homes (in and outside) of half of the children; in order to make this, dosimeters were installed for 15 days at their homes. At 2 years, a telephonic interview was made, and at 4 years they were appointed to go to the Hospital de la Fe in order to evaluate their dietary habits, their growth and to be able to obtain biological samples (urine, hair and blood) to measure nutrients and exposure to environmental pollutants.

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