A 25% reduction in motorised traffic in the city of Barcelona would have significant health benefits. A study carried out by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, estimates that this reduction in the number of vehicles could lead to a 17.6% reduction in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels. This improvement in air quality would prevent almost 200 premature deaths per year, and if the electrification of the port is completed, the number of avoidable deaths would rise to 228 per year.

The study, published in the journal Health & Place, has been carried out in collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS), which has developed a technology that allows the modeling of traffic emissions and other sources throughout the city and the resulting pollution levels at the level of census tract, based on the evolution of a series of variables, including car activity, meteorology and urban geometry, among others.

Following the methodology used in health impact studies, the team established a baseline scenario set in 2019. From this, three hypothetical scenarios were established, each with different levels of traffic reduction but with one thing in common: the implementation of the 2018-2024 Urban Mobility Plan, which included measures such as the creation of superblocks and green corridors, the creation of a low-emission zone and tactical urban planning measures.

Same amount of traffic, but less polluting cars

For the first simulation, a conservative scenario was defined in which it was not possible to reduce the number of private vehicles in the city, but it was possible to remove the most polluting vehicles from circulation. In this case, the models estimated that there would be a 5.9% reduction in NO₂ levels. This reduction would prevent 67 premature deaths related to nitrogen dioxide each year. The benefits associated with this scenario would be evenly distributed across the city.

25% fewer private cars on the road

The second scenario simulated a 25% reduction in the number of private cars on the road, resulting in a 17.6% reduction in NO₂ concentrations and the prevention of 199 deaths per year. In this case, the reduction in mortality would be concentrated especially in the city centre, which is in fact the area with the highest pollution levels, as well as areas to the north-west.

The role of port electrification

The third scenario considered emissions from ports. It is estimated that maritime traffic contributes to around 7% of NO₂-related mortality in the city. The Port of Barcelona currently has a plan to electrify its docks to reduce emissions from ships while they are in port, which is expected to be completed in 2030. Therefore, the combined impact of a 25% reduction in private traffic and the electrification of the port was simulated, resulting in a 19.4% reduction in NO₂ levels and 228 preventable deaths per year. This combination of factors would be particularly beneficial in reducing mortality in the southern areas of the city, the ones closest to the coast.

The starting point for all the analyses was the city's mortality data supplied by the City Council and the NO₂ levels for all the scenarios estimated by the models according to the variables introduced. The relationship between NO₂ levels and the number of preventable deaths was obtained from previous studies.

Far from meeting European regulations

“Although the preventable mortality we estimate is significant, none of the scenarios proposed in our study would be able to comply with the new NO2 limits proposed by the European Union in its new air quality directive, which will come into force in 2030. This suggests that we must do more and do it more effectively in order to improve the air quality in our city,” says Ana Ramos, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study.

Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, director of ISGlobal's Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health programme, points out: “This study focuses on Barcelona, but it also sets an example for other cities to understand the impact that targeted policies can have on reducing air pollution.”

“The study focuses only on the impact of these measures on NO₂ levels, but it is hoped that they will also have a positive effect on the climate in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” says Marc Guevara, leader of the atmospheric emissions modelling team at the BSC.
 

Reference

Ana Ramos Velásquez, Marc Guevara, Jan Mateu Armengol, Daniel Rodríguez-Rey, Natalie Mueller, Marta Cirach, Sasha Khomenko, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Health impact assessment of urban and transport developments in Barcelona: A case study, Health & Place, Volume 91, 2025, 103406, ISSN 1353-8292, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103406.

Climate change is one of the greatest threats humanity faces today. Although science has provided evidence of the risks for three decades, so far the policy response to reduce these risks has been inadequate. In order to catalyse climate action in Europe to protect public health, the CATALYSE project was officially launched at a kick-off meeting on 10-11 October 2022 in Barcelona.

CATALYSE is a five-year project coordinated by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) funded by the European Commission through the Horizon Europe programme, with co-funding from UK Research and Innovation and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation. CATALYSE has a budget of 10.3 million euros and involves 21 partners from 12 European countries. 

The overarching goal of CATALYSE is to provide new knowledge, data, and tools on:

• the relationships between changes in environmental hazards caused by climate change, ecosystems, and human health; 
• the health co-benefits of climate action; 
• the role of health evidence in decision making;
• the societal implications of climate change for health systems.

This will be achieved through five specific objectives:

1. To develop an integrated indicator framework and repository to track the status of health-relevant outcomes of climate actions.
2. To quantify the health co-benefits and full social and environmental costs and benefits resulting from mitigation measures outside of the health sector.
3. To develop innovative surveillance and forecasting tools that facilitate effective response to environmental health hazards (e.g. heat stress, allergenic pollen) caused by climate change and the design, monitoring and evaluation of interventions to mitigate climate change.
4. To investigate how stakeholders engage with evidence regarding the health impacts of climate change, and to develop strategies and tools to facilitate engagement.
5. To provide evidence and training on the most effective strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation for health systems, with specific focus on vulnerable populations including those occupationally exposed to hazards induced by climate change.

CATALYSE is part of the European cluster on climate change and health, along with five other projects on climate change funded by the Horizon Europe programme.

Exposure to high ambient temperatures is associated with lower connectivity in three brain networks in preadolescents, suggesting that heat may impact brain function. This is the conclusion of a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by the ”la Caixa” Foundation, and IDIBELL, in collaboration with Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (ERASMUS MC) and the Networked Biomedical Research Center (CIBER): areas of Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), and Mental Health (CIBERSAM). The results have been published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 

The study involved 2,229 children aged 9 to 12 from the “Generation R” cohort in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Functional connectivity data from brain networks, i.e., how different regions of the brain communicate and collaborate, were assessed using resting-state magnetic resonance imaging, when the children were not performing any active tasks. Daily mean temperature estimates were obtained from the UrbClim urban climate model, developed by the Flemish Institute for Technological Research. Temperature values were calculated for the period from 2013 to 2015, assigning daily averages to each participant based on their home address.

Higher ambient temperatures during the week preceding the MRI assessment were associated with lower functional connectivity within the medial parietal, salience, and hippocampal networks, which are essential for proper brain functioning. This implies that brain areas may work less synchronously, affecting processes such as attention, memory, and decision-making. The medial parietal network is related to introspection and self-perception; the salience network detects environmental stimuli and prioritizes what deserves our attention; and the hippocampal network is critical for memory and learning.

The research shows that the association between high temperatures and lower functional connectivity was strongest on the day before the brain scan and progressively decreased on subsequent days. In contrast, low average daily temperatures were not associated with functional connectivity.

“We hypothesise that dehydration could explain our findings, as children are particularly vulnerable to fluid loss when exposed to heat, which can affect the functional connectivity of brain networks,” says Laura Granés, researcher at IDIBELL and ISGlobal and the study's lead author.

“In the current climate emergency, public health policies aimed at protecting children and adolescents from high temperatures could help mitigate potential effects on brain function,” says Mònica Guxens, ICREA researcher at ISGlobal and senior author of the study.

Implications for mental health

Although brain function alterations have been suggested as a possible mechanism linking temperature and mental health, no study to date has examined the effects of ambient temperature on functional brain networks. In another recent study, the same research team found that exposure to cold and heat can affect psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression and attention problems. In addition, other studies have linked lower connectivity within the brain’s salience network to suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors in adolescents with depression, as well as to anxiety disorders.

“Given the role of the salience network in suicidal ideation, our findings raise a new hypothesis: high temperatures could decrease the functional connectivity of this network, indirectly contributing to a higher risk of suicide in individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions,” explains Carles Soriano-Mas, researcher at IDIBELL and the University of Barcelona and one of the study's authors. “While we do not propose that these connectivity changes, triggered by heat exposure, directly induce suicidal behaviors, they could act as a trigger in vulnerable individuals,” adds the researcher. 

Reference:

Granés L., Kusters M. S. W., Ballester J., Essers E., Petricola S., López-Vicente M., Iñiguez C., Tiemeier H., Muetzel R. L., Soriano-Mas C., Guxens M. Exposure to Ambient Temperature and Functional Connectivity of Brain Resting-State Networks in Preadolescents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2024.11.023

[This is a manifesto written by ISGlobal's Equity & Gender Commission on behalf of the entire institution, which was read out on Friday 7 March in front of the Barcelona offices at 132 Rosselló Street and the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park.] 

Today, 7 March, we gather on the eve of 8 March, International Women's Day. All women. Workers, mothers, migrants, adolescents, caregivers, girls, homemakers, sisters, grandmothers… all of them.

Today, on a day of unity but also of fight, advocacy, and sisterhood, we raise our voices to honour those who came before us—women who, with courage and determination, overcame constant barriers and challenges on the path toward equality. Thanks to them, we are here today. They fought for and defended rights that many of us now exercise, enjoy, and take for granted— rights that should be inherent and universal for all people, but are still not guaranteed to more than 4 billion women around the world.

In this context, it is essential to recognise the progress that the feminist movement has made thanks to its courage, strength and unrelenting determination over the last century. But there is still a long way to go. It is our turn to carry the torch - there are still rights to be won and battles to be fought.

On a day like today, we demand equal rights in all areas of life. Because the gap is still huge. In our field, only 32% of scientific positions are held by women; in clinical trials, female representation is just one woman for every four men; and since the creation of the Nobel Prize, women have received less than 7% of these awards.

Beyond the scientific field, women continue to face multiple forms of discrimination, violence, oppression, and silencing. The glass ceiling still limits the professional growth of many of us; lack of access to education continues to affect millions of girls worldwide, and the right to make decisions about our bodies and reproductive health is still denied in many countries.

At the same time, in other places, serious violations of our rights persist, and unacceptable regressions are taking place. The rise of far-right, populist, and reactionary ideologies in various countries is fueling rhetoric that undermines gender equality, minority rights, and progress on social justice. In the United States, federal diversity, equity and inclusion programmes have been dismantled, gender ideology has been eradicated, and access to reproductive health care has been restricted. Scientific articles on sexual health, gender-based violence, and other critical areas have been censored, scores of jobs have been eliminated, the use of gender-related terminology in official documents has been banned, and key executive orders on equity have been revoked.

In Argentina, there are ongoing efforts to dismantle gender policies and remove femicide from the Penal Code. In Afghanistan, the sound of women's voices has been banned. In Iraq, child marriage has been legalized in 2025. Worldwide, more than 2 million girls under the age of five are subjected to female genital mutilation every year, and armed conflicts continue to use physical, psychological and sexual violence against women as a weapon of war. We do not forget the women of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Haiti, Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Myanmar, Iran, or Yemen. And these are just some examples.

Gender-based violence remains a silent pandemic that crosses borders and takes many forms. From systemic discrimination and oppression to femicide, all these forms of violence are part of a structure that continues to punish women simply for being women. In Spain, twenty years after the approval of the first law to protect women from gender-based violence and to track femicides, 1,296 women have been murdered. Worldwide, 1 in 3 women has experienced or will experience some form of gender-based violence in her lifetime, and every 10 minutes a woman or girl is intentionally killed.

Today we reflect on the need to continue to resist and work for all women whose efforts and resilience have been and continue to be fundamental in building more equitable, diverse, prosperous and non-discriminatory communities.

At ISGlobal, we reaffirm our commitment to equality, gender equity, and the fight against all forms of discrimination and violence against women. We actively support the demands and transformative agenda of the feminist movement, and promote initiatives that foster: gender equality within our institution; equitable representation; the elimination of disparities; the visibility of women's work in science and society; the integration of a gender perspective in research, education, and health; and progress towards the full recognition, exercise, and enjoyment of the rights of all women worldwide.

In our time, we can't take anything for granted, and we won't take a step back.

Today and every day is 8 March.

A cutting-edge molecular approach provides a detailed picture of the biological pathways associated with childhood obesity and metabolic dysfunction, and identifies environmental risk factors during early life. The study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by “la Caixa” Foundation, can help to develop strategies to prevent childhood obesity and its long-term health effects.

Childhood obesity is a major public health concern: 1 in 10 children are living with obesity across Europe, which puts them at high risk of metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease later in life. Despite its prevalence, the biological mechanisms behind obesity-related health problems remain poorly understood, and not all children with obesity develop metabolic issues.

To address this gap, researchers used an advanced “multi-layered omics” approach to examine gene expression, proteins, and metabolites in blood samples from over 800 European children, together with detailed information about their health and prenatal environment. “Prenatal life is particularly important because environmental exposures during this critical developmental period can have pronounced effects later in life,” says Martine Vrijheid, ISGlobal researcher and senior author of the study.

The study is part of the Human Early Life Exposome (HELIX) project, which follows cohorts of children from Northern Europe (Bradford, UK; and Poitiers, France) and Southern Europe (Sabadell, Spain; and Heraklion, Greece).

A high-risk cluster of children

By analysing five “omics” layers- DNA methylation, microRNAs, mRNA, proteins and metabolites- the researchers identified three distinct clusters among the children. One of these groups stood out because the children not only had higher body fat but also showed more signs of metabolic complications. This high-risk cluster showed a higher expression of inflammation markers, which indicate an overactive immune system.

“Many of these inflammatory molecules can lead to insulin resistance and trigger a chronic inflammatory loop,” explains first author Nikos Stratakis. “By focusing on clusters derived from multi-omics profiles, our approach provides a better understanding of the biological pathways involved in metabolic health, beyond traditional clinical markers,” he adds.

Early-life environmental risk factors

The researchers also looked at environmental factors during pregnancy and found that the mother’s weight before pregnancy strongly influenced whether her child fell into the high-risk group. Interestingly, the environmental exposures linked to the high-risk cluster differed depending on the region. In Northern and Western Europe, maternal exposure to the industrial chemical perfluorooctanoate (used in non-stick coatings) was a significant risk factor. In Southern / Mediterranean Europe, maternal exposure to mercury, likely from higher fish consumption, was identified as a risk factor.

“These findings help us identify modifiable risk factors that could be targeted early in life,” says Vrijheid. “They also underscore the need to tailor prevention guidelines to diverse country contexts,” she adds.

Reference

Stratakis, N., Anguita-Ruiz, A., Fabbri, L. et al. Multi-omics architecture of childhood obesity and metabolic dysfunction uncovers biological pathways and prenatal determinants. Nat Commun 16, 654 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56013-7

When we think of deadly animals, we tend to think of sharks or snakes. But the deadliest animal in the world, in terms of how many people it kills every year, is by far the mosquito. Although estimates vary, some sources believe that mosquitoes are responsible for up to 1 million human deaths per year, whereas snakes kill an estimated 100,000 and sharks a mere 10 (humans by the way are second behind the mosquito, causing 400,000 deaths every year).

True, this tiny insect does not do the job on its own. What makes it so dangerous is its capacity to transmit viruses or other parasites that cause devastating diseases. Every year, malaria alone, transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, kills 600,000 people (mainly children) and incapacitates another 200 million for days. Other mosquito-borne diseases include dengue, which causes 100 to 400 million cases per year worldwide, yellow fever, which has a high mortality rate, or Japanese encephalitis, which causes more than 10,000 deaths per year, mostly in Asia. Not to forget Zika virus, with its recently described devastating and long-term neurological effects in babies born to infected mothers.

How many mosquito species are there? 

There are more than 2,500 species of mosquito, and they are found in every region of the world except Antartica. In fact, mosquitoes are very good at adapting to new environments and to any intervention we use against them. For example, Aedes aegypti (vector of yellow fever, zika, dengue among others) has adapted incredibly well to urban environments: it feeds only on humans and can lay eggs in a wide range of outdoors and indoors containers. Many mosquito species, including Anopheles, have evolved resistance against a variety of widely used insecticides and have changed their feeding habits (they now feed outside and earlier) so as to avoid bed nets and insecticide-sprayed homes. In recent years, ‘Anopheles stephensi,’ historically known as the Asian malaria vector, is rapidly spreading in Africa and posing great challenges to elimination efforts in the region. This invasive species transmits both Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria and thrives in both rural and urban settings.

Approaches to fight mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are difficult creatures to deal with. They are constantly evolving and learning to evade the tools we use to fight them. In this ongoing battle against the relentless bloodsuckers, research at ISGlobal is providing hope for more effective mosquito control strategies.

ISGlobal has a long history of working on malaria research and currently hosts several groups including the ‘Malaria Immunology Group’, the ‘Malaria Epigenetics Lab’, the ‘Nanomalaria Group’, the ‘Plasmodium Glycobiology Lab’, ‘Plasmodium vivax and Exposome Research Group’, ‘Malaria Physiopathology and Genomics Group.’

Researchers also exploring new vector control strategies that can complement existing tools and help us overcome the worrying developments around insecticide resistance and residual transmission of malaria.

Mosquitoes are attracted to some people more than others

Ever felt like mosquitoes have a special preference for your blood? That could indeed be the case! Mosquitoes are often attracted to certain individuals more than others due to factors like body temperature and amount of carbon dioxide in exhaled breath. Pregnant women, in particular, seem to be a favourite target for mosquitoes, leading to numerous cases of severe dengue and malaria in pregnancy. To tackle the latter challenge that threatens the lives of both pregnant women and their children, researchers at ISGlobal are studying novel chemoprevention tools and exploring the best ways to improve the coverage of tools that prevent malaria in pregnancy.

Climate change and mosquitoes

Experts warn that earlier forecasts about the effects of climate change on mosquito populations are now manifesting as reality. Since 2000, dengue cases have skyrocketed, with an eight-fold increase. We can now see it rapidly expanding in Europe, the United States, and in new parts of Africa. 

Climate change marked by significant changes in temperatures, drought and precipitation patterns can impact malaria control and elimination in complex ways. Though there needs to be further research on the direct impacts of climate change on malaria transmission, we are already witnessing the indirect impacts of extreme weather events like floods on malaria programs. 

In early 2023, Cyclone Freddy, an exceptionally long-lived and destructive cyclone hit Mozambique twice, destroying infrastructure and leaving 198 people dead. Members of the ISGlobal-led BOHEMIA project, who were conducting a large malaria trial in the country were witness to the immediate impacts of this natural disaster on people’s health, evidenced by the peak in cholera and malaria cases following the cyclone.

In this context of converging biological, socio-political and environmental threats, it is more important than ever to support endemic countries increase surveillance for mosquito-borne diseases and ensure that the R&D pipeline for new tools to fight these diseases is well-replenished.

More information

• Usual Suspects: 001 Anopheles mosquito
• Usual Suspects: 002 Aedes mosquito
• Usual Suspects: 006 Culex mosquito
• Deadliest animals worldwide by annual number of human deaths as of 2022*

23% of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 between 2021 and 2023 developed long-COVID, and in more than half of them the symptoms persisted for two years. These are the main conclusions of a study conducted by ISGlobal, a centre supported by the ”la Caixa” Foundation, and in collaboration with the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), as part of the European END-VOC project. The risk of developing long-COVID depends on several factors, according to the results published in BMC Medicine.

After overcoming an initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, some people develop long-COVID. It manifests itself with symptoms that persist for at least three months, including respiratory, neurological, digestive or general symptoms, such as fatigue and exhaustion. Most studies of long-COVID have been conducted in a clinical context, which may not fully capture its impact on the general population.

“A population-based cohort study allowed us to better estimate the magnitude of long-COVID and identify risk and protective factors,” explains Manolis Kogevinas, ISGlobal researcher and lead author of the study. The study followed 2,764 adults from the COVICAT cohort, a population-based study designed to characterize the health impact of the pandemic on the population of Catalonia. Participants completed three questionnaires — in 2020, 2021 and 2023 — and provided blood samples and medical records.

Risk and prevention factors

“Being a woman, having experienced a severe COVID-19 infection and having a pre-existing chronic disease such as asthma are clear risk factors,” says Marianna Karachaliou, co-author of the study and researcher at ISGlobal. “In addition, we observed that people with obesity and high levels of IgG antibodies prior to vaccination were more likely to develop long-COVID,” she adds. The latter factor may reflect hyperactivation of the immune system after the initial infection, which in some cases may contribute to the persistence of long-term symptoms.

The analysis also identified protective factors that could reduce the risk of developing the condition. These include vaccination before infection and a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular physical activity and adequate sleep. In addition, the risk was lower in people who were infected after the Omicron variant became dominant. This could be explained by the tendency for infections to be milder or by greater general immunity to COVID-19.

Three subtypes of long-COVID

Based on the symptoms reported by the participants and their medical records, the researchers identified three clinical subtypes of long-COVID. They were classified according to whether the symptoms were neurological and musculoskeletal, respiratory, or severe and involved multiple organs. In addition, the researchers found that 56% of people with long-COVID were still experiencing symptoms two years later.

“Our results show that a significant percentage of the population has long-COVID, which in some cases affects their quality of life,” says Judith Garcia-Aymerich, ISGlobal researcher and last author of the study. “Establishing collaborations with other countries will be key to understanding whether these findings can be extrapolated to other populations,” she concludes.

"On the fifth anniversary of COVID-19, significant progress has been made in understanding the disease. However, as this study shows, the pandemic’s impact on mental health, work, and quality of life remains profound. While this research is a step forward, much remains to be done to fully understand this invisible illness," says Rafael de Cid, scientific director of GCAT at IGTP. "The COVICAT cohort has been instrumental in advancing research, and we need to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of volunteers and the Blood and Tissue Bank team, particularly during the challenging times of 2020", he adds.

About COVICAT

The COVICAT cohort is a GCAT nested cohort designed to characterize the health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the population in Catalonia, Spain. Baseline data comes from the GCAT|Genomes for Life population-based cohort at the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP).

Reference

Kogevinas, M., Karachaliou, M., Espinosa, A., Iraola-Guzmán, S., Castaño-Vinyals, G., Delgado-Ortiz, L., Farré, X., Blay, N., Pearce, N., Bosch de Basea, M., Alonso Nogués, E., Dobaño, C., Moncunill, G., de Cid, R., & Garcia-Aymerich, J. (March 2025). Risk, Determinants and Persistence of long-COVID in a Population-Based Cohort Study in Catalonia. BMC Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-03974-7

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV10 provides indirect protection to children who are too young to be vaccinated, according to a study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the ”la Caixa” Foundation, in collaboration with the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), Mozambique. The findings, published in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, come from the pneumonia and demographic surveillance systems carried out by the CISM at the Manhiça District Hospital in Southern Mozambique.

Pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) is a leading cause of meningitis, sepsis, and childhood pneumonia, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Since 2000, the vaccine against this bacterium has been included in global routine immunization programmes. In April 2013, Mozambique introduced PCV10, which protects against ten pneumococcal serotypes. This reduced cases of invasive pneumococcal disease and severe pneumonia in children under five years old, but the effects on those too young to be vaccinated — children under 10 weeks of age — had not been studied.

“We studied the burden of invasive pneumococcal disease and severe clinical pneumonia in young children in Southern Mozambique before and after the introduction of the PCV10 vaccine,” explains Sérgio Massora, first author of the study and a researcher at the CISM. “To do this, we included in the study all babies under ten weeks old who were diagnosed with one of these diseases at the Manhiça District Hospital between 2003 and 2018,” he adds. The diagnosis of invasive pneumococcal disease is confirmed by the identification of pneumococcus in blood or cerebrospinal fluid using molecular tests (PCR) or cultures. Severe clinical pneumonia, however, is diagnosed clinically based on signs such as respiratory distress, among others.

Benefits extend beyond vaccinated individuals

The research team found that, five years after the introduction of PCV10 into Mozambique's immunization program, cases of invasive pneumococcal disease and severe clinical pneumonia in unvaccinated infants fell by 87% and 62%, respectively. There was also a reduction in mortality related to these infections, with deaths from invasive pneumococcal disease falling from 47 to 0 per 100,000 infants at risk.

This means that children who have not yet reached the minimum age for vaccination can benefit from herd immunity. “Our results suggest that childhood vaccination protects not only vaccinated children, but also newborns in their first weeks of life, by reducing the circulation of the bacterium in the community,” explains Azucena Bardají, medical doctor and senior researcher at ISGlobal and lead author of the study.

An ongoing challenge

It is important to consider that other factors — such as the decline in HIV-related childhood infections and socioeconomic improvements in the country — may have contributed to the reduction in pneumonia incidence. The researchers emphasise the need of continuing to evaluate the long-term impact of the vaccine: “It is imperative to ensure that PCV vaccination programmes continue to defeat preventable deaths among infants in countries with limited resources,” concludes Bardají.

Reference

Massora S, Mucavele H, Carvalho MDG, Mandomando I, Chaúque A, Moiane B, Tembe N, Omer SB, Bassat Q, Verani JR, Menéndez C, Quintó L, Sigaúque B, Bardají A. Effect of the Ten-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on Invasive Pneumococcal Disease and Pneumonia in Infants Younger Than Ten Weeks of Age in Southern Mozambique: A Population-based Prospective Surveillance Study. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Feb 1;44(2S):S75-S79. doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000004638. Epub 2025 Feb 14. PMID: 39951078.

Rapid tests could be used to diagnose Chagas disease in resource-limited areas, according to a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by ”la Caixa” Foundation. The results of this research, published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, show that the prevalence of Chagas in an indigenous community in Paraguay is six times higher than in the country's capital.

Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is a serious public health problem in the Americas. Between six and seven million people suffer from the disease, which is mainly transmitted by insect vectors. Under-diagnosis is one of the main obstacles in the fight against the parasite, reflected in the fact that less than 1% of those affected receive treatment. Chagas is primarily diagnosed by serological techniques—the detection of antibodies to T. cruzi in the blood—during the chronic phase of the disease. To improve diagnostic access, Paraguayan health authorities proposed a new algorithm for resource-limited settings: a combination of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) followed by conventional serological tests, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

"In July 2023, we conducted a two-week screening campaign in the endemic community of Casanillo (an indigenous community in the Paraguayan Chaco), involving 999 people," explains Sofía Ardiles Ruesjas, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study. "We were able to verify the effectiveness of the combination of RDTs and serological tests compared to the standard method recommended by PAHO and WHO, which relies solely on conventional serological tests," she adds.

The potential of rapid tests

Although they have good sensitivity and specificity, conventional serological tests require specialised personnel and equipment, which are often in short supply in endemic regions. Even when these resources are available, access to health centres can be a challenge for local people.

The use of rapid diagnostic tests offers a new approach: they are easy to use, require only a minimal sample volume (blood from a finger prick), do not require special equipment, and ensure rapid delivery of results. The algorithm validated in the study suggests using RDTs for an initial screening of at-risk individuals in endemic areas, thereby reducing the need for serological testing to confirm positive results.

“Each participant underwent a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and those with a positive result were confirmed using two different serological techniques (recombinant ELISA and lysate ELISA),” explains the ISGlobal researcher.

Variability in the prevalence of Chagas among communities

The study results of the study showed a seroprevalence (percentage of people with antibodies against T. cruzi) of 12.6% in the community of Casanillo, a figure significantly higher than the 2.1% estimated from blood banks in Asunción. This highlights the health inequalities between urban and rural areas.

The algorithm using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) showed high agreement with the standard algorithm, with a sensitivity of 94.6% and a specificity of 98.6%. These results are crucial for public health initiatives, as they validate the combined use of RDTs and conventional serology, an algorithm proposed by Paraguayan health authorities for resource-limited settings.

“The results obtained are particularly relevant in the context of a global re-evaluation of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease,” says Irene Losada, coordinator of the Chagas Initiative at ISGlobal and senior author of the study. “The adoption of RDT-based algorithms adapted to each region could improve access to diagnosis for thousands of people in remote areas,” she concludes.

Reference

Ardiles-Ruesjas, S., Lesmo, V., González-Romero, V., Cubilla, Z., Chena, L., Huber, C., Rivas, M. J., Saldaña, P., Carrascosa, A., Méndez, S., Sanz, S., Becker, S. L., Alonso-Padilla, J., & Losada, I. (2025). Prevalence and diagnostic accuracy of different diagnostic tests for Chagas disease in an indigenous community of the Paraguayan Chaco. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 19(2), e0012861. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012861

The European Commission-funded e-QuoL project kicked off with the aim of using e-health tools to promote equality in quality of life for children, adolescents and young adults cancer survivors in Europe. The kick-off meeting organised by GCS Hôpitaux Universitaires Grand Ouest (HUGO), the coordinator of the project, was held from January 24th to January 26th in Angers, France, with the participation of all the partners including ISGlobal who is leading the Work Package (WP7) on communication.

Cancer affects 35,000 children, adolescents and young adults in Europe each year. Currently 80% of them survive at least 5 years but the intensive oncological treatments leave these survivors with late-health effects and reduced quality of life.

“The project will identify children, adolescents and young adults survivors (CAYACS) unmet needs and those of their families, and adapt accessible and affordable tools to address these needs”, says Charlotte Demoor-Goldschmidt, principal investigator of the project based at HUGO. “Ultimately, e-QuoL will improve their quality of life by enabling them to actively engage in their care and better self-manage their health and well-being”, she adds.

e-QuoL: 32 partners, 16 countries

The e-QuoL project brings together 32 partners from 16 European countries (France, Hungary, Norway, Italy, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Croatia, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, UK, Slovenia, Romania, Belgium, The Netherlands and Switzerland). It’s a PanEuropean project supported by the PanCare and Harmonic consortia.

“There are several challenges providing follow-up care for CAYACS,” says Demoor-Goldschmidt. “It is resource-demanding in an overburdened healthcare system; psychosocial and supportive care needs are often unmet, and access is unequal between European countries,” she adds. As she pointed out during the first day of the meeting, the overall goal of the project is to “use e-health tools to promote equality in quality of life for CAYACS and their families”.

E-QuoL will adapt specifically for young survivors, an existing interoperable personalized e-health tool focusing on supportive care and quality of life that can be used alone or as an add-on module to existing tools such as digital survivorship care plans already used in several European countries for preventive medicine based on personalized screening recommendations. Through participatory research, involving CAYACS, families, associations, networks, health institutes, social sciences and humanities researchers and industrial partners with different backgrounds, it will identify the unmet needs of CAYACS and their families. The developed e-health tools will be accessible and affordable to address these needs on a person-centered approach providing medical follow-up, guidance on preventive behaviours (e.g. physical activity nutrition) and psychological and social support (e.g. education, employment).

During the three-day meeting and the general assembly, the researchers discussed how they plan to carry out the different tasks described in the project. The project has received a funding of 5.9 million euros from the Horizon Europe programme.

e-QuoL project:

• GCS HUGO, France
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire d'Angers. France
• Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest, France
• Magyar Gyermekonkologiai Halozat -Magyar GYE, Hungary
• Universitetet I Oslo, Norway
• Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint Étienne - CHUSE, France
• Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Italy
• Resilience, France
• Oslo Universitetssykehus HF, Norway
• Aarhus Universitetshospital, Denmark
• Aarhus Universitet, Denmark
• Varsinais-Suomen Sairaanhoitopiirin Kuntayhtym, Finland
• HUS-YHTYMA, Finland
• ISGlobal, Spain
• Klinicki Bolnicki Centar Rijeka, Croatia
• Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer Léon Bérard, France
• Cineca Consorzio Interuniversitario, Italy
• Universitaetsklinikum Essen, Germany
• Javna zdravstvena ustanova Univerzitetski klinicki centar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• The Royal Marsden National Health Service Trust, UK
• Onkoloski Institut Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Epiconcept, France
• Asociatia Little People Romania, Romania
• Clinique Universitaire Saint-Luc ASBL, Belgium
• Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, France
• Universitaestsmedizin der Johannes Guterberg-UN, Germany
• Pancare, The Netherlands
• Universitat Luzern, Switzerland
• Institut Gustave Roussy, France
• Érintettek Egyesület, Hungary
• Association Les Aguerris, France
• Fundatia Youth Cancer Europe, Romania

The project e-Quol, number 101136549, is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Horizon Europe, granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

A study led by researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, has used a novel approach to unravel the influence of the loss of Arctic sea ice on the planet's climate, isolating it from other factors related to climate change.

The study, published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, shows that on decadal timescales, the loss of Arctic ice favours the climate of the south-west of the United States - and California in particular - becoming drier on average, especially in winter. This phenomenon would also affect the climate of Spain and Portugal, favouring conditions of higher humidity in winter, although in this case the observed effect is weaker.

'There is much scientific disagreement about the remote effects of Arctic sea ice loss. So far, many studies have focused on the long-term effects, on a scale of centuries. Others have investigated the response to sea ice loss with modelling setups that artificially impose heat to melt the sea ice, potentially affecting the simulated response. Some studies have been changing Antarctic and Arctic sea ice cover at the same time, making it difficult to discern their individual contributions. In our study, we have developed a methodology to assess the impact of Arctic ice loss without adding any heat fluxes, and we focused on the impacts developing within a few decades,' explains Ivana Cvijanovic, ISGlobal researcher and lead author of the study.

To reach these conclusions, the team used three models of varying complexity. In each of them, they ran two sets of simulations, one with the historical amount of sea ice in the Arctic and one with substantially decreased sea ice cover.

The disappearance of sea ice changes the surface albedo, i.e. the reflectivity of the Arctic Ocean, but also removes the insulation between the atmosphere and the ocean surface and affects salinity profiles. These local changes in turn drive a variety of atmospheric and oceanic teleconnections that can propagate far from the Arctic.

'It should be made clear that the conclusion is not necessarily that it will rain less in California and more in the Western Mediterranean in the coming years. In addition to the ice cover loss in the Arctic, there are many other factors responding to greenhouse gas emissions and affecting the climate (atmospheric and oceanic feedbacks and circulation changes, Antarctic sea ice loss, vegetation feedbacks, etc.). In any case, understanding the influence of this phenomenon separately will help us to refine global predictions,' says Desislava Petrova, ISGlobal researcher and last author of the study.

Despite all the different influences in our planet's climate system, it is interesting to note that the anomalies in the atmospheric circulation patterns of the last few decades show some striking similarities to the patterns simulated in our study - especially events such as the Californian drought of 2012-2016,' observes Ivana Cvijanovic.

Reference

Ivana Cvijanovic, Amelie Simon, Xavier Levine, Rachel White, Pablo Ortega, Markus Donat, Donald D. Lucas, John C. H. Chiang, Anne Seidenglanz, Dragana Bojovic, Arthur Ramos Amaral, Vladimir Lapin, Francisco Doblas-Reyes, Desislava Petrova, Arctic sea-ice loss drives a strong regional atmospheric response over the North Pacific and North Atlantic on decadal scales, Communications Earth Environment, 2025.

Greening every third street in the city of Barcelona could potentially prevent up to 178 premature deaths each year. In addition, in months when heat waves occur, urban trees and gardens would help prevent another five temperature-related deaths. These are the main conclusions of a health impact study carried out by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the ’la Caixa’ Foundation, and published in the journal Environment International.

Methodology

It is well known that green spaces are associated with a number of benefits for physical and mental health and well-being, including a decrease in premature mortality. In addition, urban trees and vegetation provide areas of shade and help combat the effects of urban heat islands. For this reason, a team from ISGlobal set out to estimate the effects that the comprehensive implementation of the Green Corridors plan would have on the mortality of Barcelona's adult population in relation to two variables: the percentage of the urban surface area dedicated to green spaces and the ambient temperature. In its theoretical formulation, the Green Corridors plan envisioned that every third street in the city would become a green corridor.

The team took 2019 as a reference year prior to a hypothetical implementation of the plan. Subsequently, they obtained the mortality data for that year and for the city of Barcelona from two sources: the Statistical Institute of Catalonia (IDESCAT) and the National Statistics Institute (INE). The percentage of green space in the city was obtained from specific maps from the European Environment Agency (EEA). According to the forecasts described in the Green Corridors project itself, they estimated that the intervention would lead to an increase of 7% or 15% in the green surface area of each street or intersection, depending on their width.

Finally, to estimate the number of preventable deaths as a result of the planned increases in green space, they used previous scientific studies that quantified this relationship.

3.64% increase in green space

The results show that the creation of green corridors throughout the city would mean a 3.64% increase in the area devoted to green spaces, going from the 7.3% that there was in 2019 to 10.9%. This increase would have the potential to prevent 178 premature deaths a year, or what is the same: 13 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

‘Barcelona is a compact city with a challenge when it comes to green spaces: it has a small area allocated for this purpose and, moreover, what little it has is poorly distributed, as it is mainly located on the outskirts,’ explains Tamara Iungman, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study. ‘Although the increase in green spaces that we estimate is modest in percentage terms, as it does not reach 4% and the city would still be far from the 25% recommended, its impact in terms of health is significant. This is because the Green Corridors plan provided for an equitable distribution of these spaces throughout the city,’ she adds.

Five heat-related deaths would be avoided

At the same time, the team carried out a second health impact study, related to heat-related mortality. With the help of various models, they estimated that the expected increase in the area devoted to green spaces could result in a reduction in the average temperature of 0.05 ºC, reaching a reduction of 0.42 ºC in some parts of the city.

Once these figures had been obtained and using the relationship between temperature exposure and mortality established in previous scientific studies, they estimated that in a hypothetical Barcelona with green corridors, five deaths per month could be avoided in high temperature situations such as those recorded in the summer month of 2015, which was taken as a reference. This is equivalent to one death every six days.

‘Although the impact of the Green Corridors on temperatures would not be negligible, it is clear that complementary measures would be needed specifically aimed at combating the heat and adapting to it. This is especially relevant in a context of climate change and an ageing population that is becoming more vulnerable to the effects of high temperatures,’ warns Tamara Iungman.

Deaths preventable with the Metropolitan Urban Master Plan (PDUM)

Given that the Green Corridors plan was postponed, the team decided to analyse an alternative: the Metropolitan Urban Master Plan (PDUM) of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), which has among its objectives to increase the area allocated to green spaces by the year 2030. Following the same methodology as in the previous steps, it was calculated that the increase in green spaces foreseen in this plan could prevent 53 premature deaths per year in the city of Barcelona, that is, 4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

In terms of temperature, the PDUM would achieve an average reduction of 0.03 ºC, although with a maximum reduction of 0.77 ºC in a specific area of the city. This temperature decrease would prevent 3 deaths per month in temperature situations such as the one used as a reference.

‘In our analysis we observed that the PDUM would obtain more limited health benefits than the green corridors. This can be explained by the fact that the interventions contemplated in the PDUM are more localised and are not distributed equitably throughout the city, so that only the people who live closest to those points could benefit from them,’ says Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, director of the Climate, Air Pollution, Nature and Urban Health programme at ISGlobal.

‘It should be borne in mind that in this study we have only considered the direct relationship between green spaces and mortality. Any urban planning intervention that proposes to increase the area allocated to green spaces would not only be expected to reduce the burden of disease, but also to provide additional benefits associated with a reduction in air and noise pollution and an increase in levels of physical activity,’ adds Nieuwenhuijsen.

Currently, ISGlobal's scientific team is conducting a study with the same methodology to assess the impact on mortality of the Green Roofs project, an initiative of the current City Council that proposes the greening of roofs.

Reference

Tamara Iungman, Sergi Ventura Caballé, Ricard Segura-Barrero, Marta Cirach, Natalie Mueller, Carolyn Daher, Gara Villalba, Evelise Pereira Barboza, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen. Co-benefits of nature-based solutions: A health impact assessment of the Barcelona Green Corridor (Eixos Verds) plan, Environment International, Volume 196, 2025, 109313, ISSN 0160-4120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109313 .

The AMR EDUCare project, funded by EU4Health and hosted by the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) in which ISGlobal’s Antimicrobial Resistance Initiative participates, has launched educational modules to combat antimicrobial resistance. These modules will be available in an online format —with limited places and pre-registration—, are free of charge and will take place in March, April, and/or May of this year.

“The AMR EDUCare courses are designed to provide new knowledge and practical strategies to more than 4,000 healthcare professionals across the European Union,” explains Jordi Vila, Director of ISGlobal's Antimicrobial Resistance Initiative. “The training is aimed at nursing, pharmacy, medicical, and medical management teams,” he adds.

Three Key Areas of Training

The first module of the course focuses on the optimization of antimicrobial prescription, ensuring that healthcare professionals apply best practices for more effective and responsible use. 

The training programme also addresses the reduction and management of antimicrobial waste, a key aspect in minimizing environmental impact and preventing the emergence of resistance.

The third module, coordinated and led by Jordi Vila, Elisabet Guiral, and Marina Tarrús, will train healthcare professionals in communication techniques to educate patients on the responsible use of antibiotics and to change their behaviour to prevent the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

“To develop the module, we conducted workshops with the participation of both the general public (aged 17 to 95) and professionals from medicine, nursing, and pharmacy,” explains Marina Tarrús, Co-Coordinator at ISGlobal’s Antimicrobial Resistance Initiative and Scientific Outreach Specialist. “This participatory dynamic helped us identify barriers and facilitators in professional-patient communication,” she adds.

The "Silent Pandemic"

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become resistant to these drugs, making it more difficult to treat several infections.

It is a global health threat that has grown alarmingly in recent decades and is now known as the 'silent pandemic'. In 2019 alone, it was directly linked to 1.27 million deaths worldwide. In the European Union, 25,000 deaths per year are linked to infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Furthermore, it is estimated that by 2050, antimicrobial resistance will be responsible for approximately 10 million deaths, overtaking cancer as a leading cause of death, if no action is taken. Addressing this issue is crucial, as it could have a devastating impact on healthcare systems.

“The courses will be available in multiple languages to provide healthcare professionals worldwide with essential tools to combat antimicrobial resistance,” concludes Elisabet Guiral, Co-Coordinator of ISGlobal’s Antimicrobial Resistance Initiative.

From the effects of climate change to the rise of infectious diseases, global health research faces urgent challenges that require both scientific talent and fresh, innovative perspectives. In this context, thanks to its accreditation as a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence, ISGlobal, an institution supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation, is launching a new International PhD Fellowship Programme in Global Health, aimed at national and international candidates from different disciplines, such as biomedicine, epidemiology, environmental sciences and computational sciences.

A unique opportunity for emerging scientists

The programme offers 10 fully-funded PhD positions, providing up to four years of pre-doctoral contract in a leading research environment, interdisciplinary training and the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge projects in areas such as infectious diseases, environmental health and maternal and child health. In addition, the fellowship includes funding to support research stays at other international R&D institutions.

Applicants can choose from ten research topics covering a wide range of global health challenges, including the development of new biomarkers for infectious diseases, the maternal-foetal exposome, and the impact of climate change on occupational health, vulnerable populations and vector-borne diseases. Research will also include risk mitigation strategies, early warning systems and participatory research initiatives. A full list of projects is available in the call document.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of the PhD research proposals, each fellow will be jointly supervised by two Principal Investigators (a supervisor and a co-supervisor).

Eligibility and application procedure

Applicants must hold a first degree and a Master's degree in a related field, have an outstanding academic record, and demonstrate a strong commitment to a research career in global health. Fluency in English is essential and applicants must not have had a previous PhD contract of more than 12 months.

Applications must be submitted via the ISGlobal website by 1 March 2025, including a CV, motivation letter and academic transcripts. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, with final decisions expected by mid-May 2025.

Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence 2019-2030

Since 2019, ISGlobal has been the only global health centre accredited as a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence, which is a prestigious recognition awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the National Research Agency. This award highlights ISGlobal's scientific excellence, international social impact and ability to attract top talent.

When the accreditation was renewed in 2024, the evaluators particularly praised the Institute's innovative approach at the intersection of infectious and non-communicable diseases, climate and the environment. The four-year designation includes €4.5 million in funding for institutional strengthening and €1.16 million for the training of early-career researchers.

For further information

Severo Ochoa 2025 International Call for Doctoral Scholarships in Global Health

Children exposed to second-hand smoke at home are more likely to show certain changes in the epigenome, which can alter the way genes are expressed. These epigenetic changes could influence the development of diseases in the future. This is the main conclusion of a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation. The results, published in Environment International, highlight the need to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, especially in children's environments.

Our DNA acts as an instruction manual for the body. Without changing the contents of the "book" (i.e. the gene sequence), tobacco smoke can add "marks" to certain pages, affecting the way these instructions are read. One of these marks, DNA methylation, is one of the main epigenetic mechanisms, allowing gene expression to be turned on or off.

Second-hand smoke’s mark on the DNA

While the effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy have long been known to affect the epigenome, this research is among the first to show how second-hand smoke exposure during childhood may also have an effect.

The study included data from 2,695 children from eight European countries: Spain, France, Greece, Lithuania, Norway, the Netherlands, the UK and Sweden. The participants were aged 7-10 years and were volunteers from six cohorts of the Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics Consortium (PACE).

Using blood samples from participants, the team looked at the level of methylation at specific DNA sites along the genome and related it to the number of smokers in the household (0, 1, or 2 or more).

DNA methylation changes were identified in 11 regions (called CpGs) that were associated with exposure to second-hand smoke. Most of these regions had also been linked in previous studies to direct exposure to tobacco in active smokers or during pregnancy. In addition, six of them are associated with diseases for which smoking is a risk factor, such as asthma or cancer.

"Our study shows that second-hand smoke during childhood leaves its mark at the molecular level and can alter the expression of genes that influence disease susceptibility in adulthood", says Marta Cosin-Tomàs, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study.

A global problem with long-term consequences

Despite increasing regulation of smoking in public places, the household remains a major source of second-hand smoke exposure for children. In 2004, it was estimated that 40% of children worldwide were exposed to tobacco smoke. Childhood exposure to this pollutant not only increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, but can also affect neurological development and immune function.

"The results suggest that second-hand smoke in childhood leads to epigenetic changes similar to those observed with intrauterine exposure to tobacco or active smoking. This underlines the urgency of implementing comprehensive measures to reduce childhood exposure to tobacco smoke, both at home and indoors", says Mariona Bustamante, ISGlobal researcher and senior author of the study.

"It is not a question of appealing to the individual responsibility of families: exposure to tobacco is a public health problem and hides an issue of social inequality. Socio-economic and environmental factors, together with the influence of powerful commercial interests, make it difficult to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke in certain households," concludes Marta Cosin-Tomàs.

Reference

Cosin-Tomas, M., Hoang, T., Qi, C., Monasso, G. S., Langdon, R., Kebede Merid, S., Calas, L., de Prado-Bert, P., Richmond, R., Jaddoe, V. V., Duijts, L., Wright, J., Annesi-Maesano, I., Grazuleviciene, R., Karachaliou, M., Koppelman, G. H., Melén, E., Gruzieva, O., Vrijheid, M., ... Bustamante, M. (2025). Association of exposure to second-hand smoke during childhood with blood DNA methylation. Environment International, 195, 109204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.109204