Early-life Urban Environment, Nutrition, and Pubertal Timing in Southern Europe: An Exposome Analysis

The study examined the impact of urban environment and lifestyle during early childhood on pubertal timing in children from two European cohorts: Generation XXI from Portugal (5,263 children) and INMA from Spain (1,019 children). Researchers analyzed exposure to air pollution, traffic, building density, and access to green spaces across four periods: during pregnancy, at birth, at 1 year, and at 4-5 years of age. They found that children living in less favorable urban environments with higher building density, greater air pollution, and lower access to natural spaces showed earlier pubertal changes. Air pollution and traffic were most consistently associated with earlier puberty. Longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding was associated with slower pubertal development in girls. The findings emphasize the importance of improving urban environments and promoting breastfeeding for healthy child development.