Unravelling ultrafine particulate matter and micro nano plastic's mechanisms of impact on foetal health
| Title | Unravelling ultrafine particulate matter and micro nano plastic's mechanisms of impact on foetal health |
|---|---|
| Acronym | UPRISE |
| Website | http://www.uprise-horizon.eu |
| Start date | 2025-01-01 |
| End date | 2029-12-31 |
| Sponsor | European Commission |
| Institution | Fundación para la Investigación del Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe de la Comunidad Valenciana |
| Principal investigator | Alba Ruiz Gaitán
E-Mail: alba_ruiz@externos.iislafe.es Phone: +34 961246690 |
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Project Description
The UPRISE project addresses the urgent need to understand how air pollution—specifically ultrafine particles (UFPs) and micro-nanoplastics (MNPs)—negatively impacts fetal development, leading to an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes (ABOs), such as preterm birth (PTB). These conditions significantly elevate the likelihood of affected individuals developing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) later in life. Air pollution is a growing public health concern, yet the specific mechanisms by which emerging pollutants like UFPs and MNPs interfere with fetal development remain poorly understood. UPRISE aims to fill this critical knowledge gap by developing exposure databases and advanced assessment models that will enhance our understanding of the sources, concentrations, and dispersion of these pollutants in different environmental scenarios. Additionally, the project will conduct a clinical study involving pregnant participants exposed to varying levels of UFP and MNP pollution, enabling an in-depth analysis of potential biological pathways—such as transcriptomic, epigenetic, or mitochondrial mutation mechanisms—that may contribute to ABOs. To establish a scientifically robust causal link between pollutant exposure and ABOs, UPRISE will develop weight-of-evidence-based causal models, identifying key molecular events that trigger adverse outcomes. The project also places a strong emphasis on translating scientific findings into actionable policy recommendations. To this end, UPRISE will create user-friendly tools for data sharing and reporting, facilitating the integration of new evidence into the revision of European and national air quality standards. By quantifying the public health impact of prenatal exposure to air pollution and providing evidence-based guidelines for policymakers, UPRISE aims to contribute to reducing the burden of NCDs associated with preterm birth and other ABOs.