1
|
Fussell JC, Jauniaux E, Smith RB, Burton GJ. Ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes: A review of underlying mechanisms. BJOG 2024; 131:538-550. [PMID: 38037459 PMCID: PMC7615717 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological data provide varying degrees of evidence for associations between prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants and adverse birth outcomes (suboptimal measures of fetal growth, preterm birth and stillbirth). To assess further certainty of effects, this review examines the experimental literature base to identify mechanisms by which air pollution (particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone) could cause adverse effects on the developing fetus. It likely that this environmental insult impacts multiple biological pathways important for sustaining a healthy pregnancy, depending upon the composition of the pollutant mixture and the exposure window owing to changes in physiologic maturity of the placenta, its circulations and the fetus as pregnancy ensues. The current body of evidence indicates that the placenta is a target tissue, impacted by a variety of critical processes including nitrosative/oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine disruption, epigenetic changes, as well as vascular dysregulation of the maternal-fetal unit. All of the above can disturb placental function and, as a consequence, could contribute to compromised fetal growth as well increasing the risk of stillbirth. Furthermore, given that there is often an increased inflammatory response associated with preterm labour, inflammation is a plausible mechanism mediating the effects of air pollution on premature delivery. In the light of increased urbanisation and an ever-changing climate, both of which increase ambient air pollution and negatively affect vulnerable populations such as pregnant individuals, it is hoped that the collective evidence may contribute to decisions taken to strengthen air quality policies, reductions in exposure to air pollution and subsequent improvements in the health of those not yet born.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia C. Fussell
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eric Jauniaux
- EGA Institute for Women's Health, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rachel B. Smith
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Mohn Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Graham J. Burton
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Requia WJ, Vicedo-Cabrera AM, Amini H, Schwartz JD. Short-term air pollution exposure and mortality in Brazil: Investigating the susceptible population groups. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 340:122797. [PMID: 37879554 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
This is the first study to examine the association between ambient air pollution (PM2.5, O3, and NO2) and mortality (in different population groups by sex and age) based on a nationwide death record across Brazil over a 15-year period (2003-2017). We used a time-series analytic approach with a distributed lag model. Our study population includes 2,872,084 records of deaths in Brazil between 2003 and 2017. Men accounted for a higher proportion of deaths, with 58% for all-cause mortality, 54% for respiratory mortality, and 52% for circulatory mortality. Most individuals were over 65 years of age. Our results suggest an association between air pollution and mortality in Brazil. The direction, statistical significance, and effect size of these associations varied considerably by type of air pollutant, region, and population group (sex and age group). In particular, the older population group (>65 years) was most affected. The national meta-analysis for the entire data set (without stratification by sex and age) showed that for every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 concentration, the risk of death from respiratory diseases increased by 2.93% (95%CI: 1.42; 4.43). For every 10 ppb increase in O3, there is a 2.21% (95%CI: 0.59; 3.83) increase in the risk of all-cause mortality for the group of all people between 46 and 65 years old, and a 3.53% (95%CI: 0.34; 6.72) increase in the risk of circulatory mortality for the group of women, all ages. For every 10 ppb increase in NO2, the risk of respiratory mortality increases by 17.56% (95%CI: 4.44; 30.64) and the risk of all-cause mortality by 5.63% (95%CI: 1.83; 9.44). The results of our study provide epidemiological evidence that air pollution is associated with a higher risk of cardiorespiratory mortality in Brazil. Given the lack of nationwide studies on air pollution in Brazil, our research is an important contribution to the local and international literature that can provide better support to policymakers to improve air quality and public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weeberb J Requia
- Center for Environment and Public Health Studies, School of Public Policy and Government, Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
| | - Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Oeschger Center for Climate Change Research, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Heresh Amini
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Joel D Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Subiza-Pérez M, García-Baquero G, Fernández-Somoano A, Guxens M, González L, Tardón A, Dadvand P, Estarlich M, de Castro M, McEachan RRC, Ibarluzea J, Lertxundi N. Residential green and blue spaces and working memory in children aged 6-12 years old. Results from the INMA cohort. Health Place 2023; 84:103136. [PMID: 37871446 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Availability of green and blue spaces in the area of residence has been related to various health outcomes during childhood, including neurodevelopment. Some studies have shown that children living in greener and/or bluer areas score better on cognitive tasks although the evidence is inconsistent. These protective effects are hypothesized to occur in part through reductions in air pollution exposure and odds of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study analysed the effects of residential green and blue spaces on working memory of children in the Spanish INfancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) birth cohort and the potential joint mediating role of air pollution and ADHD. The study samples were composed of 1738 six-to eight-year-olds (M = 7.53, SD = 0.68, 49% female) and 1449 ten-to twelve-year-olds (M = 11.18, SD = 0.69, 50% female) living in Asturias, Gipuzkoa, Sabadell or Valencia, Spain. Individual Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values in 100-, 300- and 500-m buffers and availability of green and blue spaces >5000 m2 in 300-m buffers were calculated using Geographic Information Systems software. Individual NO2 values for the home environment were estimated using ESCAPE's land use regression models. ADHD diagnosis was reported by participants' parents via a questionnaire. Working memory was measured with numbers and colours (in the younger group only) N-back tests (2- and 3-back d'). Mixed-effects models informed of the beneficial effects of NDVI in a 300-m buffer on numerical working memory in the younger sample although the results were not consistent for all d' scores considered and failed to detect significant effects through the candidate mediators. Availability of major blue spaces did not predict working memory performance. Provision of green spaces may play a role in children's working memory but further research is required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikel Subiza-Pérez
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methods, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avenida Tolosa 70, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain; Bradford Institute for Health Research, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, BD9 6RJ, Bradford, UK; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 280, Spain; Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014, Donostia- San Sebastián, Spain.
| | - Gonzalo García-Baquero
- Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014, Donostia- San Sebastián, Spain; Faculty of Biology, University of Salamanca, Avda Licenciado Méndez Nieto s/n, 37007, Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33001, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Ana Fernández-Somoano
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 280, Spain; Unidad de Epidemiología Molecular Del Cáncer, Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33001, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Mónica Guxens
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 280, Spain; ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Llucia González
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 280, Spain; University of Valencia, Avda Menéndez Pelayo, 19, 46010, Valencia, Spain; Joint Research Unit in Epidemiology, Environment and Health, FISABIO-University of Valencia-Universitat Jaume I, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Adonina Tardón
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 280, Spain; Unidad de Epidemiología Molecular Del Cáncer, Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), 33001, Oviedo, Spain.
| | - Payam Dadvand
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 280, Spain; ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marisa Estarlich
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 280, Spain; University of Valencia, Avda Menéndez Pelayo, 19, 46010, Valencia, Spain; Joint Research Unit in Epidemiology, Environment and Health, FISABIO-University of Valencia-Universitat Jaume I, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Montserrat de Castro
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 280, Spain; ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Rosemary R C McEachan
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, BD9 6RJ, Bradford, UK.
| | - Jesús Ibarluzea
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 280, Spain; Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014, Donostia- San Sebastián, Spain; Ministry of Health of the Basque Government, 20013, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain; Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avenida Tolosa 70, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
| | - Nerea Lertxundi
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology and Research Methods, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Avenida Tolosa 70, 20018, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, Madrid, 280, Spain; Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, Group of Environmental Epidemiology and Child Development, Paseo Doctor Begiristain s/n, 20014, Donostia- San Sebastián, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Thompson R, Smith RB, Karim YB, Shen C, Drummond K, Teng C, Toledano MB. Air pollution and human cognition: A systematic review and meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160234. [PMID: 36427724 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This systematic review summarises and evaluates the literature investigating associations between exposure to air pollution and general population cognition, which has important implications for health, social and economic inequalities, and human productivity. METHODS The engines MEDLINE, Embase Classic+Embase, APA PsycInfo, and SCOPUS were searched up to May 2022. Our inclusion criteria focus on the following pollutants: particulate matter, NOx, and ozone. The cognitive abilities of interest are: general/global cognition, executive function, attention, working memory, learning, memory, intelligence and IQ, reasoning, reaction times, and processing speed. The collective evidence was assessed using the NTP-OHAT framework and random-effects meta-analyses. RESULTS Eighty-six studies were identified, the results of which were generally supportive of associations between exposures and worsened cognition, but the literature was varied and sometimes contradictory. There was moderate certainty support for detrimental associations between PM2.5 and general cognition in adults 40+, and PM2.5, NOx, and PM10 and executive function (especially working memory) in children. There was moderate certainty evidence against associations between ozone and general cognition in adults age 40+, and NOx and reasoning/IQ in children. Some associations were also supported by meta-analysis (N = 14 studies, all in adults aged 40+). A 1 μg/m3 increase in NO2 was associated with reduced performance on general cognitive batteries (β = -0.02, p < 0.05) as was a 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 exposure (β = -0.02, p < 0.05). A 1μgm3 increase in PM2.5 was significantly associated with lower verbal fluency by -0.05 words (p = 0.01) and a decrease in executive function task performance of -0.02 points (p < 0.001). DISCUSSION Evidence was found in support of some exposure-outcome associations, however more good quality research is required, particularly with older teenagers and young adults (14-40 years), using multi-exposure modelling, incorporating mechanistic investigation, and in South America, Africa, South Asia and Australasia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon Thompson
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Rachel B Smith
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; Mohn Centre for Children's Health and Wellbeing, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Yasmin Bou Karim
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Chen Shen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Kayleigh Drummond
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Chloe Teng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Mireille B Toledano
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; Mohn Centre for Children's Health and Wellbeing, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Environmental Exposures and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Song J, Qu R, Sun B, Wang Y, Chen R, Kan H, An Z, Wu H, Li J, Jiang J, Zhang Y, Wu W. Acute effects of ambient nitrogen dioxide exposure on serum biomarkers of nervous system damage in healthy older adults. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 249:114423. [PMID: 36525948 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2)-induced adverse health effects have been studied, but documented evidence on neural systems is limited. This study aimed to determine the acute effect of NO2 exposure on nervous system damage biomarker levels in healthy older adults. Five rounds of follow-up among 34 healthy retired people were scheduled from December 2018 to April 2019 in Xinxiang, China. The real-time NO2 concentrations were measured using a fixed site monitor. Serum samples were acquired during each round to measure nervous system damage biomarker levels: brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurofilament light chain (NfL), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B). A linear mixed-effect model was incorporated to analyze the association between short-term NO2 exposure and serum concentrations of the above-mentioned biomarkers. Stratification analysis based on sex, educational attainment, glutathione S-transferase theta 1 gene (GSTT1) polymorphism, and physical activity intensity was conducted to explore their potential modification effect. The NO2 concentration ranged from 34.7 to 59.0 µg/m3 during the study period. Acute exposure to ambient NO2 was significantly associated with elevated serum levels of NfL, PGP9.5, and BDNF. In response to a 10 µg/m3 increase in NO2 concentration, NfL and PGP9.5 levels increased by 76 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 12-140 %) and 54 % (95 % CI: 1-107 %) on the lag0 day, respectively, while BDNF levels increased by 49 % (95 % CI: 2-96 %) at lag4 day. The estimated effect of NO2 on NSE levels in GSTT1-sufficient participants was significantly higher than that in GSTT1-null participants. Intriguingly, the estimation of NO2 on PGP9.5 levels in females was significantly higher than that in males. Most two-pollutant models showed robust results, except for O3, which might have had confounding effects on NO2-induced BDNF stimulation. In summary, acute exposure to NO2 was associated with increased levels of serum nervous system damage biomarker levels including NFL, PGP9.5, and BDNF. The present study provided insights into NO2 exposure-induced adverse neural effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Song
- Henan International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Effects and Intervention of Air Pollution, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Rongrong Qu
- Henan International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Effects and Intervention of Air Pollution, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Beibei Sun
- Henan International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Effects and Intervention of Air Pollution, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Yinbiao Wang
- Henan International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Effects and Intervention of Air Pollution, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Renjie Chen
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haidong Kan
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhen An
- Henan International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Effects and Intervention of Air Pollution, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Hui Wu
- Henan International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Effects and Intervention of Air Pollution, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Juan Li
- Henan International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Effects and Intervention of Air Pollution, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- Henan International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Effects and Intervention of Air Pollution, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Yange Zhang
- Henan International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Effects and Intervention of Air Pollution, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China
| | - Weidong Wu
- Henan International Collaborative Laboratory for Health Effects and Intervention of Air Pollution, School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan Province 453003, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shim JI, Byun G, Lee JT. Exposure to Particulate Matter as a Potential Risk Factor for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Korean Children and Adolescents (KNHANES 2008-2018). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13966. [PMID: 36360844 PMCID: PMC9656513 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Many epidemiological studies have suggested that air pollution adversely affects neurodevelopment in children; however, evidence is still lacking. This study aimed to determine the association between particulate matter (PM) exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Data were obtained from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2018. Outcomes were defined from parental reports of ever doctor-diagnosed ADHD, and ADHD cases were matched to non-cases with 1:10 age-sex matching. Individual exposure levels were assigned according to each study participant's administrative address during the year of diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). After age-sex matching at a 1:10 ratio, the final study participants comprised 1,120 children aged 6-19 years old. A unit increase in the PM10 concentration was significantly associated with ADHD (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.02-2.02 per 10 µg/m3). The association with ADHD was stronger at higher quartiles than in the lower quartiles of PM10 exposure; however, it was not statistically significant. Our results suggested that long-term PM10 exposure was associated with increased ADHD in children and adolescents. Children diagnosed with ADHD suffer from a variety of social activity and have a significant economic burden. Therefore, it is considered an important role to find out the effects of environmental risk factors, including air pollution, on children and adolescents. This may also help to increase the body of knowledge in this field and to stimulate further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Im Shim
- Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Division of Healthcare Technology Assessment Research, National Evidence-Based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, Seoul 04933, Korea
| | - Garam Byun
- Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Jong-Tae Lee
- Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bari MW, Saleem S, Bashir M, Ahmad B. Impact of ambient air pollution on outdoor employees’ performance: Mediating role of anxiety. Front Psychol 2022; 13:926534. [PMID: 36248467 PMCID: PMC9554460 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.926534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper aims to examine the direct and indirect impact of ambient air pollution (AAP) on employees’ performance. This study has used cross sectional survey design to collect the data from the outdoor employees of the pharmaceutical industry of Pakistan. The data were collected in time lags from 299. Partial least squares- structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was applied to analyze the data. The results show that AAP has a significant negative impact on the employees’ performance, and anxiety partially mediates the association between AAP and employees’ performance. This study reveals that AAP brings anxiety among outdoor employees, which in turn decreases their working performance. The implications, limitations, and future research directions are presented in the last section of this study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Shaham Saleem
- School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Mohsin Bashir
- Lyallpur Business School, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Bashir Ahmad
- Department of Public Administration, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- *Correspondence: Bashir Ahmad,
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Carver A, Molina MA, Claesen JLA, Klabbers G, Donaire D, Tham R, Cerin E, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Wheeler AJ. Vegetation and vehicle emissions around primary schools across urban Australia: associations with academic performance. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113256. [PMID: 35398084 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evolving evidence suggests that vegetation surrounding schools is beneficial to children's academic performance, however vehicle emissions are adversely related. Little is known about concurrent impacts of vegetation and vehicle emissions on academic performance. This study examined associations of vegetation and vehicle emissions near urban Australian primary schools with children's academic performance. METHODS Vegetation within schoolyards and Euclidean buffers (100, 300 and 1000 m) was assessed using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Weighted road density (WRD) was computed for each buffer as a vehicle emissions proxy. Cross-sectional associations and mediating pathways between vegetation and vehicle emissions and standardized average academic scores in Literacy (Reading, Writing, Language Conventions) and Mathematics for Grades 3 and 5 attending 3745 primary schools in urban areas (population ≥10,000) of Australia in 2018 were assessed using generalised linear models adjusted for school socio-educational status. RESULTS Significant positive associations were found between vegetation and Reading in Grades 3 and 5, Mathematics in Grade 3 (all buffers), Writing in Grade 3 (100 and 300 m), and Language Conventions in Grades 3 and 5 (most buffers). Increased vehicle emissions were negatively associated with Reading and Mathematics in Grades 3 and 5 (most buffers), and Language Conventions in Grade 3 (300 and 1000 m) and Grade 5 (100-1000 m). Within 300 m, vehicle emissions partially mediated associations between vegetation with Mathematics in Grade 3 (proportion mediated, 21%), Reading and Language Conventions in Grade 5 (15%, 37% respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our findings contribute to growing evidence that vegetation around primary schools is associated with higher achievement in Literacy and Mathematics, with partial mediation by vehicle emissions. Future studies should conduct on-site measurement of vehicle emissions and audit vegetation around schools to confirm findings and inform urban/school planners and school leaders on designing and modifying school environments to support learning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alison Carver
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Miguel Alvarado Molina
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Joep L A Claesen
- Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Gonnie Klabbers
- Department of Health Ethics and Society, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - David Donaire
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Division of Environmental Epidemiology (EEPI), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Rachel Tham
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ester Cerin
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Health Ethics and Society, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Amanda J Wheeler
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Maher BA, Gonet T, Karloukovski VV, Wang H, Bannan TJ. Protecting playgrounds: local-scale reduction of airborne particulate matter concentrations through particulate deposition on roadside ‘tredges’ (green infrastructure). Sci Rep 2022; 12:14236. [PMID: 35987916 PMCID: PMC9392798 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-18509-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to traffic-related particulate air pollution has been linked with excess risks for a range of cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological health outcomes; risks likely to be exacerbated in young children attending schools adjacent to highly-trafficked roads. One immediate way of reducing airborne PM concentrations at the local (i.e., near-road community) scale is installation of roadside vegetation as a means of passive pollution abatement. Roadside vegetation can decrease airborne PM concentrations, through PM deposition on leaves, but can also increase them, by impeding airflow and PM dispersion. Critical to optimizing PM removal is selection of species with high particle deposition velocity (Vd) values, currently under-parameterised in most modelling studies. Here, the measured amounts of leaf-deposited magnetic PM after roadside greening (‘tredge’) installation, and measured reductions in playground PM, particle number and black carbon concentrations demonstrate that air quality improvements by deposition can be achieved at the local, near-road, community/playground scale. PM deposition on the western red cedar tredge removed ~ 49% of BC, and ~ 46% and 26% of the traffic-sourced PM2.5 and PM1, respectively. These findings demonstrate that roadside vegetation can be designed, installed and maintained to achieve rapid, significant, cost-effective improvement of air quality by optimising PM deposition on plant leaves.
Collapse
|
10
|
Almeida SM, Faria T, Martins V, Canha N, Diapouli E, Eleftheriadis K, Manousakas MI. Source apportionment of children daily exposure to particulate matter. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 835:155349. [PMID: 35461945 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The present study aims to investigate the sources of particulate pollution in indoor and outdoor environments, with focus on determining their contribution to the exposure of children to airborne particulate matter (PM). To this end, parallel indoor and outdoor measurements were carried out for a selection of 40 homes and 5 schools between September 2017 and October 2018. PM2.5 and PM2.5-10 samples were collected during five days in each microenvironment (ME) and analysed by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), for the determination of elements, and by a thermal-optical technique, for the measurement of organic and elemental carbon. The source apportionment analysis of the PM composition data, by means of the receptor model SoFi (Source Finder) 8 Pro, resulted in the identification of nine sources: exhaust and non-exhaust emissions from traffic, secondary particles, heavy oil combustion, industry, sea salt, soil, city dust, and an indoor source characterized by high levels of organic carbon. Integrated daily exposure to PM2.5 was on average 21 μg/m3. The organic matter, resulting from cleaning, cooking, smoking and biological material, was the major source contributing by 31% to the PM2.5 exposure. The source city dust, which was highly influenced by the resuspension of dust in classrooms, was the second main source (26%), followed by traffic (24%). The major sources affecting the integrated exposure to PM10, which was on average 33 μg/m3, were the city dust (39%), indoor organics (24%) and traffic (16%). This study provides important information for the design of measures to reduce the exposure of children to PM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susana Marta Almeida
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela-LRS, Portugal.
| | - Tiago Faria
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela-LRS, Portugal
| | - Vânia Martins
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela-LRS, Portugal
| | - Nuno Canha
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Estrada Nacional 10, 2695-066 Bobadela-LRS, Portugal
| | - Evangelia Diapouli
- Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy & Safety, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Eleftheriadis
- Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy & Safety, National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Agia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pérez-Crespo L, Kusters MSW, López-Vicente M, Lubczyńska MJ, Foraster M, White T, Hoek G, Tiemeier H, Muetzel RL, Guxens M. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution and noise during pregnancy and childhood, and functional brain connectivity in preadolescents. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 164:107275. [PMID: 35580436 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The amount of people affected by traffic-related air pollution and noise is continuously increasing, but limited research has been conducted on the association between these environmental exposures and functional brain connectivity in children. OBJECTIVE This exploratory study aimed to analyze the associations between the exposure to traffic-related air pollution and noise during pregnancy and childhood, and functional brain connectivity amongst a wide-swath of brain areas in preadolescents from 9 to 12 years of age. METHODS We used data of 2,197 children from the Generation R Study. Land use regression models were applied to estimate nitrogen oxides and particulate matter levels at participant's homes for several time periods: pregnancy, birth to 3 years, 3 to 6 years, and 6 years of age to the age at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment. Existing noise maps were used to estimate road traffic noise exposure at participant's homes for the same time periods. Resting-state functional MRI was obtained at 9-12 years of age. Pair-wise correlation coefficients of the blood-oxygen-level-dependent signals between 380 brain areas were calculated. Linear regressions were run and corrected for multiple testing. RESULTS Preadolescents exposed to higher levels of NO2, NOx, and PM2.5 absorbance, from birth to 3 years, and from 3 to 6 years of age showed higher correlation coefficients among several brain regions (e.g. from 0.16 to 0.19 higher correlation coefficient related to PM2.5 absorbance exposure, depending on the brain connection). Overall, most identified associations were between brain regions of the task positive and task negative networks, and were mainly inter-network (20 of 26). Slightly more than half of the connections were intra-hemispheric (14 of 26), predominantly in the right hemisphere. Road traffic noise was not associated with functional brain connectivity. CONCLUSIONS This exploratory study found that exposure to traffic-related air pollution during the first years of life was related to higher functional brain connectivity predominantly in brain areas located in the task positive and task negative networks, in preadolescents from 9 to 12 years of age. These results could be an indicator of differential functional connectivity in children exposed to higher levels of air pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pérez-Crespo
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Michelle S W Kusters
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Mónica López-Vicente
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Małgorzata J Lubczyńska
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Foraster
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; PHAGEX Research Group, Blanquerna School of Health Science, Universitat Ramon Lull (URL), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Tonya White
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Gerard Hoek
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston, USA.
| | - Ryan L Muetzel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Mònica Guxens
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ni Y, Loftus CT, Szpiro AA, Young MT, Hazlehurst MF, Murphy LE, Tylavsky FA, Mason WA, LeWinn KZ, Sathyanarayana S, Barrett ES, Bush NR, Karr CJ. Associations of Pre- and Postnatal Air Pollution Exposures with Child Behavioral Problems and Cognitive Performance: A U.S. Multi-Cohort Study. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2022; 130:67008. [PMID: 35737514 PMCID: PMC9222764 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Population studies support the adverse associations of air pollution exposures with child behavioral functioning and cognitive performance, but few studies have used spatiotemporally resolved pollutant assessments. OBJECTIVES We investigated these associations using more refined exposure assessments in 1,967 mother-child dyads from three U.S. pregnancy cohorts in six cities in the ECHO-PATHWAYS Consortium. METHODS Pre- and postnatal nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM) ≤2.5μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) exposures were derived from an advanced spatiotemporal model. Child behavior was reported as Total Problems raw score using the Child Behavior Checklist at age 4-6 y. Child cognition was assessed using cohort-specific cognitive performance scales and quantified as the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ). We fitted multivariate linear regression models that were adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychological factors to estimate associations per 2-unit increase in pollutant in each exposure window and examined modification by child sex. Identified critical windows were further verified by distributed lag models (DLMs). RESULTS Mean NO2 and PM2.5 ranged from 8.4 to 9.0 ppb and 8.4 to 9.1 μg/m3, respectively, across pre- and postnatal windows. Average child Total Problems score and IQ were 22.7 [standard deviation (SD): 18.5] and 102.6 (SD: 15.3), respectively. Children with higher prenatal NO2 exposures were likely to have more behavioral problems [β: 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39, 2.08; per 2 ppb NO2], particularly NO2 in the first and second trimester. Each 2-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 at age 2-4 y was associated with a 3.59 unit (95% CI: 0.35, 6.84) higher Total Problems score and a 2.63 point (95% CI: -5.08, -0.17) lower IQ. The associations between PM2.5 and Total Problems score were generally stronger in girls. Most predefined windows identified were not confirmed by DLMs. DISCUSSION Our study extends earlier findings that have raised concerns about impaired behavioral functioning and cognitive performance in children exposed to NO2 and PM2.5 in utero and in early life. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10248.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ni
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Christine T. Loftus
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Adam A. Szpiro
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Michael T. Young
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Marnie F. Hazlehurst
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Laura E. Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Frances A. Tylavsky
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - W. Alex Mason
- Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kaja Z. LeWinn
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Emily S. Barrett
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Nicole R. Bush
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Catherine J. Karr
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
An F, Liu J, Lu W, Jareemit D. Comparison of exposure to traffic-related pollutants on different commuting routes to a primary school in Jinan, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:43319-43340. [PMID: 35091940 PMCID: PMC8799450 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18362-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Traffic-related pollutants seriously affect human health, and the commute time to and from school is the time when students are exposed greatest to traffic pollution sources. Field measurements were conducted with hand-held instruments while walking along two selected commuting routes in winter and spring. The measured data were then compared with background monitoring data, and the respiratory deposition dose (RDD) was calculated to assess the exposure risk. Particulate matter intake from 2018 to 2020 was calculated. In winter, the average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were higher in the afternoon than in the morning. The highest concentration was 2.94 times greater than the background value. The low-concentration distribution area of the low-traffic route that is off the main road (route B) was more significant than that of the high-traffic route that is near the main road (route A). Moreover, the RDD of route B was consistently lower than that of route A, while the average annual amount of PM2.5 inhalation on route B in 3 years was 16.3% lower than that on route A. Overall, route B is more suitable than route A for students to commute on foot. Based on the findings, a walking route located within a community is a good choice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farun An
- School of Thermal Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, #1000 Fengming Road, Jinan, 250101, China
| | - Jiying Liu
- School of Thermal Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, #1000 Fengming Road, Jinan, 250101, China.
- Shandong GRAD Group, Built Environment Design and Research Institute, Dezhou, 253000, China.
| | - Wanpeng Lu
- School of Thermal Engineering, Shandong Jianzhu University, #1000 Fengming Road, Jinan, 250101, China
| | - Daranee Jareemit
- Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Thammasat University (Rangsit Campus), Khlong Nueng, 12121, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Castagna A, Mascheroni E, Fustinoni S, Montirosso R. Air pollution and neurodevelopmental skills in preschool- and school-aged children: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 136:104623. [PMID: 35331818 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Early life exposure to air pollution has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Emerging evidence are highlighting a possible impact of air pollution on typically developing children. Thirty papers were included in this review to systematically evaluate the association between air pollutants exposure in prenatal and/or postnatal periods and specific neurodevelopmental skills (i.e. intellective functioning, memory and learning, attention and executive functions, verbal language, numeric ability and motor and/or sensorimotor functions) in preschool- and school-age children. Detrimental effects of air pollutants on children's neurodevelopmental skills were observed, although they do not show clinically relevant performance deficits. The most affected domains were global intellective functioning and attention/executive functions. The pollutants that seem to represent the greatest risk are PM2.5, NO₂ and PAHs. Prenatal exposure is primarily associated with child neurodevelopment at pre-school and school ages. Early exposure to air pollutants is related to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in the general population of children. Further research is needed to support stronger conclusions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Castagna
- 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Eleonora Mascheroni
- 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Silvia Fustinoni
- EPIGET - Epidemiology, Epigenetics, and Toxicology Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Com-munity Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy; Environmental and Industrial Toxicology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Rosario Montirosso
- 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS "Eugenio Medea", Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Guxens M, Lubczynska MJ, Perez-Crespo L, Muetzel RL, El Marroun H, Basagana X, Hoek G, Tiemeier H. Associations of Air Pollution on the Brain in Children: A Brain Imaging Study. Res Rep Health Eff Inst 2022; 2022:1-61. [PMID: 36106707 PMCID: PMC9476146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Epidemiological studies are highlighting the negative effects of the exposure to air pollution on children's neurodevelopment. However, most studies assessed children's neurodevelopment using neuropsychological tests or questionnaires. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to precisely measure global and region-specific brain development would provide details of brain morphology and connectivity. This would help us understand the observed cognitive and behavioral changes related to air pollution exposure. Moreover, most studies assessed only a few air pollutants. This project investigates whether air pollution exposure to many pollutants during pregnancy and childhood is associated with the morphology and connectivity of the brain in school-age children and pre-adolescents. Methods We used data from the Generation R Study, a population-based birth cohort set up in Rotterdam, the Netherlands in 2002-2006 (n = 9,610). We used land-use regression (LUR) models to estimate the levels of 14 air pollutants at participant's homes during pregnancy and childhood: nitrogen oxides (NOx), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM10) or ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), PM between 10 μm and 2.5 μm (PMCOARSE), absorbance of the PM2.5 fraction - a measure of soot (PM2.5absorbance), the composition of PM2.5 such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organic carbon (OC), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), silicon (Si), zinc (Zn), and the oxidative potential of PM2.5 evaluated using two acellular methods: dithiothreitol (OPDTT) and electron spin resonance (OPESR). We performed MRI measurements of structural morphology (i.e., brain volumes, cortical thickness, and cortical surface area) using T1-weighted images in 6- to 10-year-old school-age children and 9- to 12-year-old pre-adolescents, structural connectivity (i.e., white matter microstructure) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in pre-adolescents, and functional connectivity (i.e., connectivity score between brain areas) using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) in pre-adolescents. We assessed cognitive function using the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment test (NEPSY-II) in school-age children. For each outcome, we ran regression analysis adjusted for several socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics. We performed single-pollutant analyses followed by multipollutant analyses using the deletion/substitution/addition (DSA) approach. Results The project has air pollution and brain MRI data for 783 school-age children and 3,857 pre-adolescents. First, exposure to air pollution during pregnancy or childhood was not associated with global brain volumes (e.g., total brain, cortical gray matter, and cortical white matter) in school-age children or pre-adolescents. However, higher pregnancy or childhood exposure to several air pollutants was associated with a smaller corpus callosum and hippocampus, and a larger amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and cerebellum in pre-adolescents, but not in school-age children. Second, higher exposure to several air pollutants during pregnancy was associated with a thinner cortex in various regions of the brain in both school-age children and pre-adolescents. Higher exposure to air pollution during childhood was also associated with a thinner cortex in a single region in pre-adolescents. A thinner cortex in two regions mediated the association between higher exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and an impaired inhibitory control in school-age children. Third, higher exposure to air pollution during childhood was associated with smaller cortical surface areas in various regions of the brain except in a region where we observed a larger cortical surface area in pre-adolescents. In relation to brain structural connectivity, higher exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and childhood was associated with an alteration in white matter microstructure in pre-adolescents. In relation to brain functional connectivity, a higher exposure to air pollution, mainly during pregnancy and early childhood, was associated with a higher brain functional connectivity among several brain regions in pre-adolescents. Overall, we identified several air pollutants associated with brain structural morphology, structural connectivity, and functional connectivity, such as NOx, NO2, PM of various size fractions (i.e., PM10, PMCOARSE, and PM2.5), PM2.5absorbance, PAHs, OC, three elemental components of PM2.5 (i.e., Cu, Si, Zn), and the oxidative potential of PM2.5. Conclusions The results of this project suggest that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and childhood play an adverse role in brain development. We observed this relationship even at levels of exposure that were below the European Union legislations. We acknowledge that identifying the independent effects of specific pollutants was particularly challenging. Most of our conclusions generally refer to traffic-related air pollutants. However, we did identify pollutants specifically originating from brake linings, tire wear, and tailpipe emissions from diesel combustion. The current direction toward innovative solutions for cleaner energy vehicles is a step in the right direction. However, our findings indicate that these measures might not be completely adequate to mitigate health problems attributable to traffic-related air pollution, as we also observed associations with markers of brake linings and tire wear.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Guxens
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Malgorzata J Lubczynska
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Laura Perez-Crespo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ryan L Muetzel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hanan El Marroun
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, Education and Child Studies, Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Xavier Basagana
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gerard Hoek
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Social and Behavioral Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Chandra M, Rai CB, Kumari N, Sandhu VK, Chandra K, Krishna M, Kota SH, Anand KS, Oudin A. Air Pollution and Cognitive Impairment across the Life Course in Humans: A Systematic Review with Specific Focus on Income Level of Study Area. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19031405. [PMID: 35162428 PMCID: PMC8835599 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive function is a crucial determinant of human capital. The Lancet Commission (2020) has recognized air pollution as a risk factor for dementia. However, the scientific evidence on the impact of air pollution on cognitive outcomes across the life course and across different income settings, with varying levels of air pollution, needs further exploration. A systematic review was conducted, using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines to assess the association between air pollution and cognitive outcomes across the life course with a plan to analyze findings as per the income status of the study population. The PubMed search included keywords related to cognition and to pollution (in their titles) to identify studies on human participants published in English until 10 July 2020. The search yielded 84 relevant studies that described associations between exposure to air pollutants and an increased risk of lower cognitive function among children and adolescents, cognitive impairment and decline among adults, and dementia among older adults with supportive evidence of neuroimaging and inflammatory biomarkers. No study from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)was identified despite high levels of air pollutants and high rates of dementia. To conclude, air pollution may impair cognitive function across the life-course, but a paucity of studies from reLMICs is a major lacuna in research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mina Chandra
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre of Excellence in Mental Health, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (formerly PGIMER) and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi 110001, India; (C.B.R.); (N.K.); (V.K.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +91-98-1183-1902
| | - Chandra Bhushan Rai
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre of Excellence in Mental Health, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (formerly PGIMER) and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi 110001, India; (C.B.R.); (N.K.); (V.K.S.)
| | - Neelam Kumari
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre of Excellence in Mental Health, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (formerly PGIMER) and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi 110001, India; (C.B.R.); (N.K.); (V.K.S.)
| | - Vipindeep Kaur Sandhu
- Department of Psychiatry, Centre of Excellence in Mental Health, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (formerly PGIMER) and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi 110001, India; (C.B.R.); (N.K.); (V.K.S.)
| | - Kalpana Chandra
- Delhi Jal Board, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, New Delhi 110094, India;
| | - Murali Krishna
- JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysore 570015, Karnataka, India;
| | - Sri Harsha Kota
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India;
| | - Kuljeet Singh Anand
- Department of Neurology, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (Formerly PGIMER) and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi 110001, India;
| | - Anna Oudin
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umea, Sweden;
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 901 87 Umea, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhang M, Wang C, Zhang X, Song H, Li Y. Association between exposure to air pollutants and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2022; 32:207-219. [PMID: 32248699 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2020.1745764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have reached mixed conclusions regarding the association between exposure to air pollutants and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We performed systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether air pollutants were risk factors for the development of ADHD in children. We systematically searched databases for all relevant studies up to 2 July 2019. Together, the studies indicated that exposure to PAHs (risk ratio (RR): 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.82-1.17), NOx (RR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.94-1.15), and PM (RR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.93-1.33) did not have any material relationship with an increased risk of ADHD. Heterogeneity of study data was low (I2: 2.7%, P = 0.409) for studies examining PAHs, but was substantial for NOx and PM (I2: 68.4%, P = 0.007 and I2: 60.1%, P = 0.014, respectively). However, these results should be interpreted with caution since the number of epidemiological studies investigating this issue were limited.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengjie Zhang
- Department of Children, Adolescents and Women Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Changhong Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Department of Children, Adolescents and Women Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Huiling Song
- Department of Children, Adolescents and Women Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Children, Adolescents and Women Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- School of Physical Education (Main Campus), Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Ambient air pollution associated with lower academic achievement among US children: A nationwide panel study of school districts. Environ Epidemiol 2021; 5:e174. [PMID: 34909554 PMCID: PMC8663889 DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Ambient air pollution is an important environmental exposure and has been linked with impaired cognitive function. Few studies have investigated its impact on children’s academic performance on a nationwide level. We hypothesize that higher ambient air pollution concentrations will be associated with lower average academic test scores. Methods: We investigated three prevalent ambient air pollutants: PM2.5, NO2 and ozone, and their associations with the average academic test scores, at the Geographic School District (GSD) level, of the third to eighth grade students in the United States from 2010 to 2016. We applied multivariate linear regression and controlled for urbanicity, socioeconomic status, student racial/ethnic compositions, and individual intercepts for each district-grade level and each year. Results: We found that an interquartile range increase in PM2.5 concentrations was associated with a 0.007 (95% confidence interval: 0.005, 0.009) SD lower average math test scores, and a 0.004 (95% confidence interval: 0.002, 0.005) SD lower average English language/arts test scores. Similar associations were observed for NO2 and ozone on math, and for NO2 on English language/arts. The magnitudes of these associations are equivalent to the effects of short-term reductions of thousands of dollars in district median household income. The reductions in test scores were larger for GSDs with higher socioeconomic status, though most associations remained negative at all socioeconomic levels. Conclusions: Our results show that ambient air pollution within a GSD is associated with lower academic performance among children. Further improving air quality may benefit children’s overall academic achievement and socioeconomic attainment across the lifespan.
Collapse
|
19
|
Heterogeneity Analysis of the Effects of Haze Pollution on the Health of Left-Behind Children in Urban and Rural Areas in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111596. [PMID: 34770111 PMCID: PMC8582691 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Differences in economic development, public services, production, and lifestyle between urban and rural areas lead to significant differences in people’s attitudes and abilities to cope with environmental pollution. Furthermore, environmental pollution has heterogeneous effects on the health of individuals in urban and rural areas. The article takes the health of left-behind children as an entry point to analyze the impact of haze pollution on the health of urban and rural left-behind children. Using children’s survey data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey and the urban and rural raster PM2.5 data from 2000 to 2015, this study applies a logit model to analyze the heterogeneity of the impact of haze pollution on the health of left-behind children. This research finds that, first, the health effects of haze pollution on rural left-behind children are more severe than those on rural children not left behind. Moreover, the same results are not present in the sample of urban left-behind children. Second, the health of left-behind children is more vulnerable to haze pollution than the others when neither parent is at home in rural areas. Third, no evidence proves that haze pollution has more severe health effects on rural children aged 0–6 years with parents away from home. Meanwhile, haze pollution will more easily influence the health status of left-behind children aged 7 years and above in rural areas due to their parents’ absence. Fourth, the finding that haze pollution significantly affects the health of left-behind children with parents away from home only applies to the central and western rural samples in China.
Collapse
|
20
|
Gignac F, Barrera-Gómez J, Persavento C, Solé C, Tena È, López-Vicente M, Foraster M, Amato F, Alastuey A, Querol X, Llavador H, Apesteguia J, Júlvez J, Couso D, Sunyer J, Basagaña X. Short-term effect of air pollution on attention function in adolescents (ATENC!Ó): A randomized controlled trial in high schools in Barcelona, Spain. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 156:106614. [PMID: 34000503 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The recent evidence of the short-term impact of air pollution on youth cognitive functions is based primarily on observational studies. OBJECTIVES We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess whether purifying the air of the classrooms produced short-term changes in attention processes of adolescents. METHODS We recruited a total of 2,123 adolescents (13-16 years old) in 33 high schools in Barcelona metropolitan area (Spain). In each school, adolescents from each class were randomly split into two equal-sized groups and assigned to two different classrooms. A set of two air cleaner devices with the same appearance (one recirculating and filtrating the air and the other only recirculating the air) was used. Each one of the devices was placed at random at one of the two classrooms. Students were masked to intervention allocation and had to complete several computerized activities for 1.5 h, including an attention test (Flanker task) to be performed at baseline and at the end of the intervention. The response speed consistency, expressed as hit reaction time standard error (HRT-SE, in ms), was measured as the primary outcome. Analyses were conducted using conditional linear regressions with classroom as strata, adjusted for variables that may differ from one class to another such as temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide concentration. RESULTS Average levels of PM2.5 and black carbon throughout the 1.5 h of experiment were 89% and 87%, respectively, lower in the classrooms with air cleaner than in the control classrooms. No differences were found in the median of HRT-SE between classrooms with cleaned air and normal air (percent change: 1.37%, 95% confidence interval: -2.81%, 5.56%). Sensitivity analyses with secondary attention outcomes resulted in similar findings. CONCLUSIONS Cleaning the air of a classroom to reduce exposure to air pollutants for 1.5 h did not have an impact on the attention function of adolescents. Still, in light of previous evidence suggesting an association between air pollution and attention, further experimental studies should explore other short-term timescales of exposure and age ranges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florence Gignac
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Barrera-Gómez
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cecilia Persavento
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Caterina Solé
- Centre de Recerca per a l'Educació Científica i Matemàtica (CRECIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Èlia Tena
- Centre de Recerca per a l'Educació Científica i Matemàtica (CRECIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mónica López-Vicente
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Foraster
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fulvio Amato
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Research Council (CSIC) Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrés Alastuey
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Research Council (CSIC) Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA), Spanish Research Council (CSIC) Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Jordi Júlvez
- Pere Virgili Institute for Health Research (IISPV), Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus, Reus, Spain
| | - Digna Couso
- Centre de Recerca per a l'Educació Científica i Matemàtica (CRECIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Basagaña
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Claesen JLA, Wheeler AJ, Klabbers G, Gonzalez DD, Molina MA, Tham R, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Carver A. Associations of traffic-related air pollution and greenery with academic outcomes among primary schoolchildren. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 199:111325. [PMID: 34000269 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is preliminary evidence that greenery/greenspace around schools may be positively associated with children's cognitive development and academic outcomes, whereas traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) may have a detrimental effect. Few studies have examined pathways between both exposures and academic outcomes. This study aimed to assess associations between greenery, road traffic density (a proxy for TRAP) surrounding primary (elementary) schools, and academic achievement of primary schoolchildren in Melbourne, Australia. METHODS This cross-sectional study examined mean academic scores in Years 3 and 5 for primary schools (n = 851) in Greater Melbourne. Scores were from the 2018 'National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy' (NAPLAN) in five domains: 'Reading'; 'Writing'; 'Spelling'; 'Grammar & Punctuation' and 'Numeracy'. Greenery was measured within school boundaries and surrounding Euclidean buffers (100, 300, 1000 and 2000 m) using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Measured TRAP proxies were weighted road density (WRD) within the buffers and distance to a major road. Generalised Linear Models were used to examine associations of greenery and TRAP with academic scores (adjusted for school socio-educational status), and to identify mediating pathways. RESULTS Greenery was positively associated with Reading scores in Year 3 (all buffers except 2000 m) and in Year 5 (all buffers), with Numeracy in Years 3 and 5 (all buffers) and with Grammar & Punctuation in Year 5 (all buffers). WRD was inversely associated with Reading scores in Year 5 (all buffers), with Numeracy in Year 3 (all buffers) and Year 5 (300 and 1000 m buffers), and with Grammar & Punctuation in Year 3 (100 and 300 m buffers) and Year 5 (all buffers). Distance to a major road was not associated with any score. TRAP partially mediated associations of greenery within 300 m with Numeracy in Year 3 and Grammar & Punctuation in Year 5, and within 2000 m for Reading in Year 5. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary evidence indicated that greenery around primary schools was positively associated with Reading, Numeracy and Grammar & Punctuation scores, with TRAP mediating some associations. Further research is required to improve TRAP exposure assessment around schools to verify these findings and inform town/school planners and educators regarding optimal school locations and environments for promoting learning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joep L A Claesen
- Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Amanda J Wheeler
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Gonnie Klabbers
- Department of Health Ethics and Society, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - David Donaire Gonzalez
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Miguel Alvarado Molina
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rachel Tham
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Health Ethics and Society, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands; Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alison Carver
- Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Mendoza DL, Benney TM, Boll S. Long-term analysis of the relationships between indoor and outdoor fine particulate pollution: A case study using research grade sensors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 776:145778. [PMID: 33647662 PMCID: PMC9753328 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The growing concern of air quality and its associated health-related impacts has led to increased awareness of pollutant exposure. Most human populations spend the majority of their time indoors and the COVID-19 pandemic has likely exacerbated this behavior. While significant amounts of research have focused on outdoor air quality, to date there have been no studies that examined simultaneous long-term trends on indoor and outdoor air quality on a site using research-grade sensors. We measured fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for a year using sensors located on the rooftop, air handling room, and indoor office space in a building and captured the impacts of three types of regularly occurring elevated pollution events: wintertime atmospheric inversions, wildfires, and fireworks. The events had different magnitudes and durations, and infiltration rates varied for each event leading to dissimilar indoor air pollution levels. The building's air handling unit and different environmental conditions (lower indoor humidity and temperature during the winter) combined to reduce indoor pollution from inversion events however, particulate matter from wildfires and fireworks infiltrated at higher rates. Together, this suggests possible intervention strategies, such as ventilation rates and filter upgrades, that could be used to mitigate contaminant intrusion during elevated pollution events. This year-long study illustrates an array of ways that elevated pollution events interact with the protective effects that buildings have against air pollution for its occupants. Furthermore, we show that outdoor air pollution is an important variable to consider when studying indoor air quality as contaminant infiltration is strongly dependent on the specific pollution source.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Mendoza
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Utah, 135 S 1460 E, Room 819, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah, 375 S 1530 E, Suite 220, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA; University of Utah School of Medicine, Pulmonary Division, 26 N 1900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
| | - Tabitha M Benney
- Department of Political Science, University of Utah, 260 S Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sarah Boll
- State of Utah, Division of Facilities Construction and Management, 4315 S 2700 W, Floor 3, Salt Lake City, UT 84129, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ju YJ, Lee JE, Lee SY. Perceived environmental pollution and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or SCD-related functional difficulties among the general population. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:31289-31300. [PMID: 33599928 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12831-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine whether perceived environmental pollution is associated with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) or SCD-related functional difficulties. We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from a nationwide sample of 191,054 individuals aged ≥19 years from the 2018 Korea Community Health Survey. Perceived air, water, soil, noise, and green space pollution was assessed. To investigate the dose-response effect of the amount of perceived environmental pollution, we determined whether an increasing number of types of perceived environmental pollution also increased the odds of having SCD or SCD-related functional difficulties. Among the 191,054 individuals, the prevalence of SCD and SCD-related functional difficulties was 17.7% (N = 33,853) and 2.2% (N = 4139), respectively. Perception of air, soil, or noise pollution was significantly associated with SCD. However, the perception of any type of environmental pollution was not significantly associated with SCD-related functional difficulties. With regard to a dose-response effect, individuals perceiving a greater number of types of environmental pollution had significantly higher odds of SCD or SCD-related functional difficulties. This association was notably more evident in the younger age group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeong Jun Ju
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, 206 World Cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16499, South Korea
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Joo Eun Lee
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Cosmo Internal Medicine, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Soon Young Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Ajou University School of Medicine, 206 World Cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16499, South Korea.
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Requia WJ, Roig HL, Schwartz JD. Schools exposure to air pollution sources in Brazil: A nationwide assessment of more than 180 thousand schools. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 763:143027. [PMID: 33129521 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of evidence demonstrates that children at schools who are exposed to increased concentrations of air pollutants may have a higher risk for several health problems, including cognitive deficits. In this paper we estimate the exposure to air pollution sources at 186,080 schools in Brazil. Specifically, we accounted for the exposure to three proxies of air pollution source emissions, including distance to roadways, the extent of roadways within a buffer around each school, and the number of wildfire occurrences within a buffer around each school. About 25% of the Brazilian schools evaluated in our study are located within a distance ≤250 m of a major roadway, have ≥2 km of roadway within a buffer of 1 km, and have ≥7 wildfires records within a buffer of 10 km. Our results indicate significant prevalence ratio of these schools exposed to air pollution sources when we stratified the analyses by socioeconomic factors, including geographic (public schools had an increased likelihood of being exposed), economic (low-income areas had an increased likelihood of being exposed), health (overall, areas with low public health status had an increased likelihood of being exposed), and educational conditions (overall, areas with low educational indicator had an increased likelihood of being exposed). For example, we estimated that private schools were 15% (95% CI: 13-17%) less likely to be located within 250 m of a major roadway compared with public schools; schools in areas with low child mortality were 35% (95% CI: 34-37%) less likely to be within 250 m of a major roadway; and schools in regions with low expected years of schooling were 25% (95% CI: 22-28%) more likely to be located within 250 m of a major roadway. The analysis of the spatial patterns shows that a substantial number of schools (36-54%, depending on the air pollution source) has a positive autocorrelation, suggesting that exposure level at these schools are similar to their neighbors. Estimating children's exposure to air pollutants at school is crucial for future public policies to develop effective environmental, transportation, educational, and urban planning interventions that may protect students from exposure to environmental hazards and improve their safety, health, and learning performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weeberb J Requia
- School of Public Policy and Government, Fundação Getúlio Vargas, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
| | - Henrique L Roig
- Geoscience Institute, University of Brasilia, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Joel D Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Effects of Three Levels of Green Exercise, Physical and Social Environments, Personality Traits, Physical Activity, and Engagement with Nature on Emotions and Attention. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13052686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The current study examined the effects of the three levels of green exercise on people’s psychological health using a randomized trial with a pretest and posttest design and further explored which variables of the physical environment (thermal comfort, noise, and air pollution), social environment (the number of companions and crowdedness), personality traits, physical activity (intensity and frequency), and engagement with nature may help explain experiences during the three levels of green exercise using a cross-sectional approach. Field studies were conducted to test the study’s hypotheses. The participants were 95 students from a technology university in Taiwan. The experiment comprised a 15-min green exercise in a park. No significant differences were found in emotions and attention between the three levels of green exercise. However, a 15-min green exercise of any level significantly improved emotions and attention. Furthermore, fatigue was significantly and negatively associated with daily transportation-related physical activity, agreeableness, and engagement with nature. Moreover, the total mood disturbance was significantly and negatively associated with engagement with nature and daily transportation-related physical activity. The degree of engagement with nature played a pivotal role in green exercise. This study provided the evidence that quantified engagement with nature is beneficial for quantified psychological health for the first time.
Collapse
|
26
|
Payne-Sturges DC, Cory-Slechta DA, Puett RC, Thomas SB, Hammond R, Hovmand PS. Defining and Intervening on Cumulative Environmental Neurodevelopmental Risks: Introducing a Complex Systems Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:35001. [PMID: 33688743 PMCID: PMC7945198 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The combined effects of multiple environmental toxicants and social stressor exposures are widely recognized as important public health problems contributing to health inequities. However cumulative environmental health risks and impacts have received little attention from U.S. policy makers at state and federal levels to develop comprehensive strategies to reduce these exposures, mitigate cumulative risks, and prevent harm. An area for which the inherent limitations of current approaches to cumulative environmental health risks are well illustrated is children's neurodevelopment, which exhibits dynamic complexity of multiple interdependent and causally linked factors and intergenerational effects. OBJECTIVES We delineate how a complex systems approach, specifically system dynamics, can address shortcomings in environmental health risk assessment regarding exposures to multiple chemical and nonchemical stressors and reshape associated public policies. DISCUSSION Systems modeling assists in the goal of solving problems by improving the "mental models" we use to make decisions, including regulatory and policy decisions. In the context of disparities in children's cumulative exposure to neurodevelopmental stressors, we describe potential policy insights about the structure and behavior of the system and the types of system dynamics modeling that would be appropriate, from visual depiction (i.e., informal maps) to formal quantitative simulation models. A systems dynamics framework provides not only a language but also a set of methodological tools that can more easily operationalize existing multidisciplinary scientific evidence and conceptual frameworks on cumulative risks. Thus, we can arrive at more accurate diagnostic tools for children's' environmental health inequities that take into consideration the broader social and economic environment in which children live, grow, play, and learn. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7333.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Devon C. Payne-Sturges
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of UMD Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Robin C. Puett
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of UMD Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephen B. Thomas
- Department of Health Policy and Management and Maryland Center for Health Equity, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Ross Hammond
- Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center on Social Dynamics and Policy, The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Peter S. Hovmand
- Center for Community Health Integration, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Park J, Sohn JH, Cho SJ, Seo HY, Hwang IU, Hong YC, Kim KN. Association between short-term air pollution exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-related hospital admissions among adolescents: A nationwide time-series study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 266:115369. [PMID: 32810816 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Long-term air pollution exposure has been suggested to increase the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the association between short-term air pollution exposure and ADHD-related outcomes is still unknown. We investigated the associations between short-term exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤10 μm (PM10), nitrogen oxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) and hospital admissions with a principal diagnosis of ADHD among adolescents (age 10-19 years) in 16 regions of the Republic of Korea from 2013 to 2015. We estimated the region-specific relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from quasi-Poisson regressions adjusted for potential confounders, considering single-day and moving average lag. Consequently, we performed meta-analyses to pool the region-specific estimates. The risks of ADHD-related hospital admissions were increased in the single-day and moving average lag models for PM10 (largest association for lag 1 in the single-day lag model, RR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.20; lag 0-2 in the moving average lag model, RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.27), NO2 (lag 3, RR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.73; lag 1-3, RR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.04), and SO2 (lag 1, RR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.41; lag 1-3, RR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.49). The associations were similar between boys and girls, but they were stronger among adolescents aged 15-19 years than those aged 10-14 years for NO2 and SO2. In conclusion, the results indicate that short-term exposure to PM10, NO2, and SO2 may be a risk factor for the exacerbation of ADHD symptoms, leading to hospitalization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiyoon Park
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hoon Sohn
- Division of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Joon Cho
- Department of Psychiatry, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwa Yeon Seo
- Division of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Il-Ung Hwang
- Division of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Chul Hong
- Division of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoung-Nam Kim
- Division of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Cserbik D, Chen JC, McConnell R, Berhane K, Sowell ER, Schwartz J, Hackman DA, Kan E, Fan CC, Herting MM. Fine particulate matter exposure during childhood relates to hemispheric-specific differences in brain structure. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 143:105933. [PMID: 32659528 PMCID: PMC7708513 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging findings have increased concern that exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution (aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm; PM2.5) may be neurotoxic, even at lower levels of exposure. Yet, additional studies are needed to determine if exposure to current PM2.5 levels may be linked to hemispheric and regional patterns of brain development in children across the United States. OBJECTIVES We examined the cross-sectional associations between geocoded measures of concurrent annual average outdoor PM2.5 exposure, regional- and hemisphere-specific differences in brain morphometry and cognition in 10,343 9- and 10- year-old children. METHODS High-resolution structural T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and NIH Toolbox measures of cognition were collected from children at ages 9-10 years. FreeSurfer was used to quantify cortical surface area, cortical thickness, as well as subcortical and cerebellum volumes in each hemisphere. PM2.5 concentrations were estimated using an ensemble-based model approach and assigned to each child's primary residential address collected at the study visit. We used mixed-effects models to examine regional- and hemispheric- effects of PM2.5 exposure on brain estimates and cognition after considering nesting of participants by familial relationships and study site, adjustment for socio-demographic factors and multiple comparisons. RESULTS Annual residential PM2.5 exposure (7.63 ± 1.57 µg/m3) was associated with hemispheric specific differences in gray matter across cortical regions of the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes as well as subcortical and cerebellum brain regions. There were hemispheric-specific associations between PM2.5 exposures and cortical surface area in 9/31 regions; cortical thickness in 22/27 regions; and volumes of the thalamus, pallidum, and nucleus accumbens. We found neither significant associations between PM2.5 and task performance on individual measures of neurocognition nor evidence that sex moderated the observed associations. DISCUSSION Even at relatively low-levels, current PM2.5 exposure across the U.S. may be an important environmental factor influencing patterns of structural brain development in childhood. Prospective follow-up of this cohort will help determine how current levels of PM2.5 exposure may affect brain development and subsequent risk for cognitive and emotional problems across adolescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dora Cserbik
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90063, USA
| | - Jiu-Chiuan Chen
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90063, USA; Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90063, USA
| | - Rob McConnell
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90063, USA
| | - Kiros Berhane
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Sowell
- Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA; Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daniel A Hackman
- USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Eric Kan
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Chun C Fan
- Center for Human Development, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Megan M Herting
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90063, USA; Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Mullen C, Grineski SE, Collins TW, Mendoza DL. Effects of PM 2.5 on Third Grade Students' Proficiency in Math and English Language Arts. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E6931. [PMID: 32971971 PMCID: PMC7559489 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17186931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Fine particulate air pollution is harmful to children in myriad ways. While evidence is mounting that chronic exposures are associated with reduced academic proficiency, no research has examined the frequency of peak exposures. It is also unknown if pollution exposures influence academic proficiency to the same degree in all schools or if the level of children's social disadvantage in schools modifies the effects, such that some schools' academic proficiency levels are more sensitive to exposures. We address these gaps by examining the percentage of third grade students who tested below the grade level in math and English language arts (ELA) in Salt Lake County, Utah primary schools (n = 156), where fine particulate pollution is a serious health threat. More frequent peak exposures were associated with reduced math and ELA proficiency, as was greater school disadvantage. High frequency peak exposures were more strongly linked to lower math proficiency in more advantaged schools. Findings highlight the need for policies to reduce the number of days with peak air pollution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Casey Mullen
- Department of Sociology, University of Utah, 480 S 1530 E. Rm 0301, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
| | - Sara E. Grineski
- Department of Sociology/Environmental and Sustainability Studies, University of Utah, 480 S 1530 E. Room 0301, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Timothy W. Collins
- Department of Geography/Environmental and Sustainability Studies, University of Utah, 260 Central Campus Dr #4625, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
| | - Daniel L. Mendoza
- Department of Atmospheric Sciences/City & Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah, 135 S 1460 E. Room 819, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Pulimeno M, Piscitelli P, Colazzo S, Colao A, Miani A. Indoor air quality at school and students' performance: Recommendations of the UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development & the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA). Health Promot Perspect 2020; 10:169-174. [PMID: 32802752 PMCID: PMC7420173 DOI: 10.34172/hpp.2020.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The issue of indoor air quality (IAQ) concerns 64 million students across Europe, but it is still a neglected topic, although it impacts both their health and learning outcomes. Classroommicroclimate is the first key factor determining a healthy or unhealthy school environment, and it is influenced by ventilation, temperature and humidity rate. Classrooms are usually crowded, overheated and poorly ventilated, thus resulting in possible increases of carbon dioxide (CO2), that can cause several problems when its concentrations exceed the value of 0.15 percentage volume of CO2 (1500 ppm) or even at lower levels (1000 ppm). CO2 can also arise from outside the school, being widely produced by the combustion of fossils or road traffic. Anthropogenic activities are responsible for the emission of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAH) too, which represent other possible external contaminants potentially impairing IAQ. Furtherdangerous exposures for students' health are those related to natural emission of gas Radon, which typically accumulates in poorly ventilated classrooms, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs, released by building materials, paints, furnishings, detergents), while chemicals substances (i.e.cyanoacrylate, lead, cadmium, nickel) might be contained in school materials. Finally, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) originating from road traffic, domestic heating or industrial activities represent additional possible contaminants impacting schools' air quality. Poor IAQ might result in mild adverse events (i.e. headaches, nausea etc.) or cause respiratory problems. More frequently, IAQ affects students' attention and their school performances, as widely documented by many studies. Standardized tests administered to pupils exposed to poor IAQ (to assess reading and mathematical abilities) systematically result in worse outcomes compared to students staying in healthy classroom environments. In this paper, we present recommendations of UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development and Italian Society of Environmental Medicine(SIMA) to ensure an optimal IAQ at school, including some post-COVID-19 issues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Pulimeno
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy.,Doctorate in Human Relations Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy.,Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Colazzo
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy.,Department of History, Society and Human Studies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Annamaria Colao
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy.,Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University School of Medicine, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Miani
- UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, Naples, Italy.,Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA), Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Sharma A, Kumar P. Quantification of air pollution exposure to in-pram babies and mitigation strategies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 139:105671. [PMID: 32278197 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Young children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution exposure during their early childhood development, yet research on exposure to in-pram babies in different types of single/double prams is limited. This work aims to mimick their exposure to multiple air pollutants - particulate matter ≤10 µm in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5; fine particles), ≤1 µm (PM1), ≤0.10 µm (measured as particle number concentration, PNC) - in three different types of prams (single pram facing the road; single pram facing parents; double pram facing the road). We also assessed the differences in exposure concentrations between typical adult and in-pram baby breathing height via simultaneous measurements besides assessing their physico-chemical properties (morphology and elemental composition). In addition, we analysed the impact of pram covers in mitigating in-pram exposure concentrations of selected pollutants. We carried out a total of 89 single runs, repeating on a 2.1 km long pre-defined route between an origin-destination pair (the University of Surrey to a local school) during the morning (08:00-10:00 h; local time) and afternoon (15:00-17:00 h) hours. These run simulated morning drop-off and afternoon pick-off times of school children. Overall, the experimental runs took about 66 h and covered the total length of 145 km. Substantial variability is observed in measured concentrations of different pollutants within each run (e.g., up to 290-times for PNC) and between different runs performed during different times of the day (e.g., ~62% variability in average PNC; ~7% for PM1 and 8% for PM2.5 during morning versus afternoon). The average in-pram concentration of fine particles was always higher by up to 44% compared with adult breathing height during both morning and afternoon runs. The comparison of exposure concentrations at two different sitting heights of double pram showed that PNC concentrations were higher by about 72% at the bottom seat compared to the top seat. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis of PM2.5-10 revealed traces of brake wear, tyre wear and re-suspended dust minerals with the predominance of brake and tyre wear emissions at baby height compared with a relatively larger share of earth crust elements at adult height. For mitigation measures, pram covers reduced concentrations of small-sized particles by as much as 39% (fine particles) and 43% (coarse particles). Our results reinforce the need for mitigating exposures to in-pram babies, especially at urban pollution hotspots such as busy congested roads, bus stops, and traffic intersections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Sharma
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Prashant Kumar
- Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Mizen A, Lyons J, Milojevic A, Doherty R, Wilkinson P, Carruthers D, Akbari A, Lake I, Davies GA, Al Sallakh M, Fry R, Dearden L, Rodgers SE. Impact of air pollution on educational attainment for respiratory health treated students: A cross sectional data linkage study. Health Place 2020; 63:102355. [PMID: 32543438 PMCID: PMC7214342 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2020.102355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is some evidence that exam results are worse when students are acutely exposed to air pollution. Studies investigating the association between air pollution and academic attainment have been constrained by small sample sizes. METHODS Cross sectional educational attainment data (2009-2015) from students aged 15-16 years in Cardiff, Wales were linked to primary health care data, modelled air pollution and measured pollen data, and analysed using multilevel linear regression models. Annual cohort, school and individual level confounders were adjusted for in single and multi-pollutant/pollen models. We stratified by treatment of asthma and/or Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis (SAR). RESULTS A unit (10μg/m3) increase of short-term exposure to NO2 was associated with 0.044 (95% CI: -0.079, -0.008) reduction of standardised Capped Point Score (CPS) after adjusting for individual and household risk factors for 18,241 students. This association remained statistically significant after controlling for other pollutants and pollen. There was no association of PM2.5, O3, or Pollen with standardised CPS remaining after adjustment. We found no evidence that treatment for asthma or SAR modified the observed NO2 effect on educational attainment. CONCLUSION Our study showed that short-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution, specifically NO2, was associated with detrimental educational attainment for students aged 15-16. Longitudinal investigations in different settings are required to confirm this possible impact and further work may uncover the long-term economic implications, and degree to which impacts are cumulative and permanent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Mizen
- Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Jane Lyons
- Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Ai Milojevic
- Department of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Ruth Doherty
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Paul Wilkinson
- Department of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Ashley Akbari
- Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Iain Lake
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | | | | | - Richard Fry
- Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Lorraine Dearden
- The Institute for Fiscal Studies, 7 Ridgmount Street, London, WC1E 7AE, UK
| | - Sarah E Rodgers
- Department of Public Health and Policy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Herting MM, Younan D, Campbell CE, Chen JC. Outdoor Air Pollution and Brain Structure and Function From Across Childhood to Young Adulthood: A Methodological Review of Brain MRI Studies. Front Public Health 2019; 7:332. [PMID: 31867298 PMCID: PMC6908886 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Outdoor air pollution has been recognized as a novel environmental neurotoxin. Studies have begun to use brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to investigate how air pollution may adversely impact developing brains. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate and synthesize the reported evidence from MRI studies on how early-life exposure to outdoor air pollution affects neurodevelopment. Using PubMed and Web of Knowledge, we conducted a systematic search, followed by structural review of original articles with individual-level exposure data and that met other inclusion criteria. Six studies were identified, each sampled from 3 cohorts of children in Spain, The Netherlands, and the United States. All studies included a one-time assessment of brain MRI when children were 6–12 years old. Air pollutants from traffic and/or regional sources, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrogen dioxide, elemental carbon, particulate matter (<2.5 or <10 μm), and copper, were estimated prenatally (n = 1), during childhood (n = 3), or both (n = 2), using personal monitoring and urinary biomarkers (n = 1), air sampling at schools (n = 4), or a land-use regression (LUR) modeling based on residences (n = 2). Associations between exposure and brain were noted, including: smaller white matter surface area (n = 1) and microstructure (n = 1); region-specific patterns of cortical thinness (n = 1) and smaller volumes and/or less density within the caudate (n = 3); altered resting-state functional connectivity (n = 2) and brain activity to sensory stimuli (n = 1). Preliminary findings suggest that outdoor air pollutants may impact MRI brain structure and function, but limitations highlight that the design of future air pollution-neuroimaging studies needs to incorporate a developmental neurosciences perspective, considering the exposure timing, age of study population, and the most appropriate neurodevelopmental milestones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan M Herting
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Diana Younan
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Claire E Campbell
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jiu-Chiuan Chen
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.,Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Gonet T, Maher BA. Airborne, Vehicle-Derived Fe-Bearing Nanoparticles in the Urban Environment: A Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:9970-9991. [PMID: 31381310 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b01505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Airborne particulate matter poses a serious threat to human health. Exposure to nanosized (<0.1 μm), vehicle-derived particulates may be hazardous due to their bioreactivity, their ability to penetrate every organ, including the brain, and their abundance in the urban atmosphere. Fe-bearing nanoparticles (<0.1 μm) in urban environments may be especially important because of their pathogenicity and possible association with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. This review examines current knowledge regarding the sources of vehicle-derived Fe-bearing nanoparticles, their chemical and mineralogical compositions, grain size distribution and potential hazard to human health. We focus on data reported for the following sources of Fe-bearing nanoparticles: exhaust emissions (both diesel and gasoline), brake wear, tire and road surface wear, resuspension of roadside dust, underground, train and tram emissions, and aircraft and shipping emissions. We identify limitations and gaps in existing knowledge as well as future challenges and perspectives for studies of airborne Fe-bearing nanoparticles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Gonet
- Centre for Environmental Magnetism & Palaeomagnetism, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University , Lancaster LA1 4YQ , United Kingdom
| | - Barbara A Maher
- Centre for Environmental Magnetism & Palaeomagnetism, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University , Lancaster LA1 4YQ , United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Loftus CT, Hazlehurst MF, Szpiro AA, Ni Y, Tylavsky FA, Bush NR, Sathyanarayana S, Carroll KN, Karr CJ, LeWinn KZ. Prenatal air pollution and childhood IQ: Preliminary evidence of effect modification by folate. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 176:108505. [PMID: 31229778 PMCID: PMC6710141 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Animal studies suggest that air pollution is neurotoxic to a developing fetus, but evidence in humans is limited. We tested the hypothesis that higher air pollution is associated with lower child IQ and that effects vary by maternal and child characteristics, including prenatal nutrition. METHODS We used prospective data collected from the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood study. Outdoor pollutant exposure during pregnancy was predicted at geocoded home addresses using a validated national universal kriging model that combines ground-based monitoring data with an extensive database of land-use covariates. Distance to nearest major roadway was also used as a proxy for traffic-related pollution. Our primary outcome was full-scale IQ measured at age 4-6. In regression models, we adjusted for multiple determinants of child neurodevelopment and assessed interactions between air pollutants and child sex, race, socioeconomic status, reported nutrition, and maternal plasma folate in second trimester. RESULTS In our analytic sample (N = 1005) full-scale IQ averaged 2.5 points (95% CI: 0.1, 4.8) lower per 5 μg/m3 higher prenatal PM10, while no associations with nitrogen dioxide or road proximity were observed. Associations between PM10 and IQ were modified by maternal plasma folate (pinteraction = 0.07). In the lowest folate quartile, IQ decreased 6.8 points (95% CI: 1.4, 12.3) per 5-unit increase in PM10; no associations were observed in higher quartiles. CONCLUSIONS Our findings strengthen evidence that air pollution impairs fetal neurodevelopment and suggest a potentially important role of maternal folate in modifying these effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine T Loftus
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, University of Washington (UW), Seattle, WA, 95105, USA.
| | - Marnie F Hazlehurst
- Department of Epidemiology, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 357236, UW, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Adam A Szpiro
- Department of Biostatistics, UW, Box 357232, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Yu Ni
- Department of Epidemiology, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 357236, UW, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Frances A Tylavsky
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, 462 Doctors Office Building, 66 N Pauline St, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California (UC) 401 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Department of Pediatrics, 550 16th Street, Box 0110 UC, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, University of Washington (UW), Seattle, WA, 95105, USA; Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Ave, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA; Department of Pediatrics, 1959 NE Pacific St, UW, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Kecia N Carroll
- Division of General Pediatrics, 2200 Children's Way, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 27232, USA
| | - Catherine J Karr
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, University of Washington (UW), Seattle, WA, 95105, USA; Department of Epidemiology, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 357236, UW, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA; Department of Pediatrics, 1959 NE Pacific St, UW, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Kaja Z LeWinn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California (UC) 401 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Schifano P, Asta F, Marinaccio A, Bonafede M, Davoli M, Michelozzi P. Do exposure to outdoor temperatures, NO 2 and PM 10 affect the work-related injuries risk? A case-crossover study in three Italian cities, 2001-2010. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e023119. [PMID: 31427308 PMCID: PMC6701593 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studies on the effect of temperature on rates of work-related injuries (WRIs) are very recent, and are evolving in depth and scope. However, less is known about potential effects of air pollutants. Our objective was to analyse the association between WRI and NO2, PM10 and air temperature in three major Italian cities, and to identify groups of workers more at risk in Italy. DESIGN Time-stratified case-crossover study. SETTINGS Milan, Turin, Rome, years 2001-2010. PARTICIPANTS A total of 468 816 WRI occurred between 2001 and 2010 in Milan, Turin and Rome were extracted from the Italian national workers' compensation authority database. MAIN OUTCOMES Associations between WRI and temperature, PM10, NO2, separately in the warm and in the cold season (WS, May-September; CS, November-February). Effect modification was studied by economic sector, occupational activity and indoor/outdoor job activity. RESULTS Exposure to NO2 (lag 0-8) showed the highest effect on the risk of WRI,with ORs ranging from 1.20 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.24) in Milan to 1.30 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.37) in Turin in the WS. The effect of exposure to PM10 was milder but consistent across all cities: ORs from 1.09 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.12) in Turin to 1.15 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.18) in Rome. Temperature was associated with risk of WRI only among those working in construction (highest association in Rome 1.06; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.12), transportation (highest association in Milan 1.05; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.14) and the energy industry (highest association in Milan 1.57; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.38) in the WS in all cities. A weak effect of low temperatures was observed in the CS only in Rome. CONCLUSIONS Exposures to NO2 resulted as strongest hazard for WRIs, mainly in warm months, while the independent effect of temperature was significant only in specific subgroups of workers. These results could be considered to better plan safety prevention programmes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Schifano
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Asta
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marinaccio
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Rome, Italy
| | - Michela Bonafede
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Davoli
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Michelozzi
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
de Prado Bert P, Mercader EMH, Pujol J, Sunyer J, Mortamais M. The Effects of Air Pollution on the Brain: a Review of Studies Interfacing Environmental Epidemiology and Neuroimaging. Curr Environ Health Rep 2019; 5:351-364. [PMID: 30008171 PMCID: PMC6132565 DOI: 10.1007/s40572-018-0209-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review An emerging body of evidence has raised concern regarding the potentially harmful effects of inhaled pollutants on the central nervous system during the last decade. In the general population, traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure has been associated with adverse effects on cognitive, behavior, and psychomotor development in children, and with cognitive decline and higher risk of dementia in the elderly. Recently, studies have interfaced environmental epidemiology with magnetic resonance imaging to investigate in vivo the effects of TRAP on the human brain. The aim of this systematic review was to describe and synthesize the findings from these studies. The bibliographic search was carried out in PubMed with ad hoc keywords. Recent Findings The selected studies revealed that cerebral white matter, cortical gray matter, and basal ganglia might be the targets of TRAP. The detected brain damages could be involved in cognition changes. Summary The effect of TRAP on cognition appears to be biologically plausible. Interfacing environmental epidemiology and neuroimaging is an emerging field with room for improvement. Future studies, together with inputs from experimental findings, should provide more relevant and detailed knowledge about the nature of the relationship between TRAP exposure and cognitive, behavior, and psychomotor disorders observed in the general population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jesus Pujol
- MRI Research Unit, Department of Radiology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, CIBERSAM G21, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- ISGLOBAL, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Marion Mortamais
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- ISGLOBAL, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain.
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Aghaei M, Janjani H, Yousefian F, Jamal A, Yunesian M. Association between ambient gaseous and particulate air pollutants and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children; a systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 173:135-156. [PMID: 30909100 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder highly attributed to genetics, but the combination of other social and environmental determinants, as well as potential gene-environment interactions, can also be responsible. This paper aims to review relevant literature published up to April 2018 for determining whether air pollution caused by ambient gaseous (NO2, SO2, PCDD/Fs, Benzene) and particulate matters (PM10, PM2.5, PM7, PAH, BC/EC) as an environmental risk factor is associated with increased risk of ADHD in children. Relevant literature was identified through electronic searches of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus database and gray literature. A total of 872 articles were initially identified 28 of which meeting the defined inclusion criteria were included. The methodological quality of the included articles was evaluated using the modified Critical Appraisal Skills Programs (CASP) and confounding variables, exposure and outcome measurement were assessed. The results of this systematic review revealed that there is more evidence on the detrimental effects of EC, BC, and PM on ADHD compared to PAH. Among gaseous air pollutants, association was found between SO2 and urinary level of t,t-MA (trans, trans-muconic acid) as a proxy-biomarker of NO2 exposure, not merely benzene. However few studies related to NO2 (0.46%) found detrimental effects. Overall, the number of studies reporting an association between air pollution and increased risk of ADHD is relatively higher compared to the number of studies reporting no association. However, the findings of the studies provided limited evidence to support the idea that exposure to air pollution may be linked to increased risk of ADHD. Well-designed and harmonized studies considering standard methods for individual exposure assessment, critical windows of susceptibility, and appropriate tools for outcome measurement, can improve the quality of epidemiological studies and strengthen the evidence. Since ADHD with its long-term consequences can impose large costs to communities and impact the children performance, determination of the risk factors in children and particularly the role of the environment as priorities for research should be considered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mina Aghaei
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hosna Janjani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Yousefian
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Akram Jamal
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masud Yunesian
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Research Methodology and Data Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Tseng CY, Yu JY, Chuang YC, Lin CY, Wu CH, Liao CW, Yang FH, Chao MW. The Effect of Ganoderma Microsporum immunomodulatory proteins on alleviating PM 2.5-induced inflammatory responses in pregnant rats and fine particulate matter-induced neurological damage in the offsprings. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6854. [PMID: 31048730 PMCID: PMC6497649 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38810-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fine particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) induces free radicals and oxidative stress in animals, leading to a range of illnesses. In this study, Ganoderma Microsporum immunomodulatory (GMI) proteins were administered to alleviate PM2.5-induced inflammatory responses in mother rats, and PM2.5-induced inflammatory responses and neurological damage in their offspring. The results suggested that GMI administration decreased the risk of neurological disorders in mother rats and their offspring by reducing the white blood cell count, lessening inflammatory responses and PM2.5-induced memory impairment, and preventing dendritic branches in the hippocampi from declining and microRNAs from PM2.5-induced modulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Yi Tseng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, Taiwan 320; Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Yu Yu
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, Taiwan 320; Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chen Chuang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, Taiwan 320; Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ying Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, Taiwan 320; Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hao Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, Taiwan 320; Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Liao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, Taiwan 320; Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Hua Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, Taiwan 320; Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Wei Chao
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, Taiwan 320; Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan. .,Center for Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, Taiwan 320; Chung Yuan Christian University, Zhongli district, Taoyuan, 32023, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Schmidt S. Brain Fog: Does Air Pollution Make Us Less Productive? ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2019; 127:52001. [PMID: 31084450 PMCID: PMC6792460 DOI: 10.1289/ehp4869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
|
41
|
Rivas I, Basagaña X, Cirach M, López-Vicente M, Suades-González E, Garcia-Esteban R, Álvarez-Pedrerol M, Dadvand P, Sunyer J. Association between Early Life Exposure to Air Pollution and Working Memory and Attention. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2019; 127:57002. [PMID: 31070940 PMCID: PMC6791117 DOI: 10.1289/ehp3169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although previous studies have reported negative associations between exposure to air pollution and cognition, studies of the effects of prenatal and postnatal exposures in early childhood have been limited. OBJECTIVES We sought to assess the role exposure to fine particulate matter ([Formula: see text]) during different prenatal and postnatal windows may play in children's cognitive development at school age. METHODS Within the Brain Development and Air Pollution Ultrafine Particles in School Children (BREATHE) Project, we estimated residential [Formula: see text] exposures by land use regression for the prenatal period and first seven postnatal years of 2,221 children from Barcelona, Spain. The participants ([Formula: see text]) completed computerized tests assessing working memory, attentiveness, and conflict network during four visits in 2012–2013. We used linear mixed effects and distributed lag models to assess the period of exposure to [Formula: see text] in association with cognitive development. RESULTS Inverse associations were identified between [Formula: see text] exposure during the fifth and sixth postnatal years and working memory, with boys showing much higher vulnerability. Regarding attention functions, exposure to higher [Formula: see text] levels during the prenatal period and from the fourth postnatal year were associated with a reduction in conflict network performance, though we found no association with attentiveness. The overall estimated cumulative effect of a [Formula: see text] increase in [Formula: see text] resulted in a reduction in the working memory [Formula: see text] score of [Formula: see text] [95% confidence interval (CI): [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]] points and an increase in the conflict attentional network of 11.31 (95% CI: 6.05, 16.57) milliseconds, indicating a poorer performance. CONCLUSIONS Early life exposure to [Formula: see text] was associated with a reduction in fundamental cognitive abilities, including working memory and conflict attentional network. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP3169.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioar Rivas
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CIBERESP (Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health), Madrid, Spain
- MRC-PHE Centre for Environment & Health, Environmental Research Group, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Xavier Basagaña
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CIBERESP (Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Cirach
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CIBERESP (Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica López-Vicente
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CIBERESP (Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health), Madrid, Spain
- Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques–Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Elisabet Suades-González
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CIBERESP (Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health), Madrid, Spain
- Learning Disabilities Unit (UTAE), Neuropediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Garcia-Esteban
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CIBERESP (Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Álvarez-Pedrerol
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CIBERESP (Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health), Madrid, Spain
| | - Payam Dadvand
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CIBERESP (Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal (Barcelona Institute for Global Health), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- CIBERESP (Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health), Madrid, Spain
- Institut Hospital del Mar d’Investigacions Mèdiques–Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Rivas I, Querol X, Wright J, Sunyer J. How to protect school children from the neurodevelopmental harms of air pollution by interventions in the school environment in the urban context. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2018; 121:199-206. [PMID: 30216772 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Recently, there has been a flurry of publications assessing the effect of air pollution on neurodevelopment. Here we present a summary of the results obtained within the BRain dEvelopment and Air polluTion ultrafine particles in scHool childrEn (BREATHE) Project, which aimed to evaluate the effects of the exposure to traffic related air pollutants in schoolchildren in Barcelona. To this end, we comprehensively characterised air quality in 39 urban schools from Barcelona and identified the main determinants of children's increased exposure. We propose a series of measures to be implemented to improve air quality in schools within the urban context and, consequently, minimise the negative effects on children's neurodevelopment that we found to be associated with the exposure to air pollution. We also aimed to list some of the actions pushed by governments and the society (including school managers, parents, and children) that have been taking place around Europe for promoting better high quality in the school and its surroundings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioar Rivas
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Environmental Research Group, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK.
| | - Xavier Querol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, C/Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - John Wright
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Duckworth Lane, Bradford, BD9 6RJ, UK
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Mizen A, Lyons J, Doherty R, Berridge D, Wilkinson P, Milojevic A, Carruthers D, Akbari A, Lake I, Davies GA, Sallakh MA, Mavrogianni A, Dearden L, Johnson R, Rodgers SE. Creating individual level air pollution exposures in an anonymised data safe haven: a platform for evaluating impact on educational attainment. Int J Popul Data Sci 2018; 3:412. [PMID: 32934998 PMCID: PMC7299475 DOI: 10.23889/ijpds.v3i1.412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is a lack of evidence on the adverse effects of air pollution on cognition for people with air quality-related health conditions. We propose that educational attainment, as a proxy for cognition, may increase with improved air quality. This study will explore whether asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis, when exacerbated by acute exposure to air pollution, is associated with educational attainment. Objective To describe the preparation of individual and household-level linked environmental and health data for analysis within an anonymised safe haven. Also to introduce our statistical analysis plan for our study: COgnition, Respiratory Tract illness and Effects of eXposure (CORTEX). Methods We imported daily air pollution and aeroallergen data, and individual level education data into the SAIL databank, an anonymised safe haven for person-based records. We linked individual-level education, socioeconomic and health data to air quality data for home and school locations, creating tailored exposures for individuals across a city. We developed daily exposure data for all pupils in repeated cross sectional exam cohorts (2009-2015). Conclusion We have used the SAIL databank, an innovative, data safe haven to create individual-level exposures to air pollution and pollen for multiple daily home and school locations. The analysis platform will allow us to evaluate retrospectively the impact of air quality on attainment for multiple cross-sectional cohorts of pupils. Our methods will allow us to distinguish between the pollution impacts on educational attainment for pupils with and without respiratory health conditions. The results from this study will further our understanding of the effects of air quality and respiratory-related health conditions on cognition. Highlights
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Mizen
- Health Data Research UK Wales and Northern Ireland, Swansea University Medical School, Wales, UK
| | - Jane Lyons
- Health Data Research UK Wales and Northern Ireland, Swansea University Medical School, Wales, UK
| | - Ruth Doherty
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Damon Berridge
- Health Data Research UK Wales and Northern Ireland, Swansea University Medical School, Wales, UK
| | - Paul Wilkinson
- Department of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - Ai Milojevic
- Department of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - David Carruthers
- Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ashley Akbari
- Health Data Research UK Wales and Northern Ireland, Swansea University Medical School, Wales, UK
| | - Iain Lake
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Gwyneth A Davies
- Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Swansea University Medical School, Singleton Park, Swansea, UK
| | - Mohammad Al Sallakh
- Health Data Research UK Wales and Northern Ireland, Swansea University Medical School, Wales, UK
| | - Anna Mavrogianni
- UCL Energy Institute, University College London, Gower Street, London
| | - Lorraine Dearden
- The Institute for Fiscal Studies, 7 Ridgmount Street, London WC1E 7AE
| | - Rhodri Johnson
- Health Data Research UK Wales and Northern Ireland, Swansea University Medical School, Wales, UK
| | - Sarah Elizabeth Rodgers
- Health Data Research UK Wales and Northern Ireland, Swansea University Medical School, Wales, UK.,Department of Public Health and Policy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Cedeño Laurent JG, Williams A, Oulhote Y, Zanobetti A, Allen JG, Spengler JD. Reduced cognitive function during a heat wave among residents of non-air-conditioned buildings: An observational study of young adults in the summer of 2016. PLoS Med 2018; 15:e1002605. [PMID: 29990359 PMCID: PMC6039003 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In many regions globally, buildings designed for harnessing heat during the cold exacerbate thermal exposures during heat waves (HWs) by maintaining elevated indoor temperatures even when high ambient temperatures have subdued. While previous experimental studies have documented the effects of ambient temperatures on cognitive function, few have observed HW effects on indoor temperatures following subjects' habitual conditions. The objective was to evaluate the differential impact of having air conditioning (AC) on cognitive function during a HW among residents of AC and non-AC buildings using a prospective observational cohort study. METHODS We followed 44 students (mean age = 20.2 years; SD = 1.8 years) from a university in the Greater Boston area, Massachusetts in the United States living in AC (n = 24) and non-AC (n = 20) buildings before, during, and after a HW. Two cognition tests were self-administered daily for a period of 12 days (July 9-July 20, 2016), the Stroop color-word test (STROOP) to assess selective attention/processing speed and a 2-digit, visual addition/subtraction test (ADD) to evaluate cognitive speed and working memory. The effect of the HW on cognitive function was evaluated using difference-in-differences (DiD) modelling. FINDINGS Mean indoor temperatures in the non-AC group (mean = 26.3°C; SD = 2.5°C; range = 19.6-30.4°C) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in the AC group (mean = 21.4°C; SD = 1.9°C; range = 17.5-25.0°C). DiD estimates show an increase in reaction time (STROOP = 13.4%, p < 0001; ADD = 13.3%, p < 0.001) and reduction in throughput (STROOP = -9.9%, p < 0.001; ADD = -6.3%, p = 0.08) during HWs among non-AC residents relative to AC residents at baseline. While ADD showed a linear relationship with indoor temperatures, STROOP was described by a U-shaped curve with linear effects below and above an optimum range (indoor temperature = 22°C-23°C), with an increase in reaction time of 16 ms/°C and 24 ms/°C for STROOP and ADD, respectively. Cognitive tests occurred right after waking, so the study is limited in that it cannot assess whether the observed effects extended during the rest of the day. Although the range of students' ages also represents a limitation of the study, the consistent findings in this young, healthy population might indicate that greater portions of the population are susceptible to the effects of extreme heat. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive function deficits resulting from indoor thermal conditions during HWs extend beyond vulnerable populations. Our findings highlight the importance of incorporating sustainable adaptation measures in buildings to preserve educational attainment, economic productivity, and safety in light of a changing climate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Guillermo Cedeño Laurent
- Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Augusta Williams
- Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Youssef Oulhote
- Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Antonella Zanobetti
- Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joseph G. Allen
- Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - John D. Spengler
- Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Alvarez-Pedrerol M, Rivas I, López-Vicente M, Suades-González E, Donaire-Gonzalez D, Cirach M, de Castro M, Esnaola M, Basagaña X, Dadvand P, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Sunyer J. Impact of commuting exposure to traffic-related air pollution on cognitive development in children walking to school. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 231:837-844. [PMID: 28866425 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.08.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
A few studies have found associations between the exposure to traffic-related air pollution at school and/or home and cognitive development. The impact on cognitive development of the exposure to air pollutants during commuting has not been explored. We aimed to assess the role of the exposure to traffic-related air pollutants during walking commute to school on cognitive development of children. We performed a longitudinal study of children (n = 1,234, aged 7-10 y) from 39 schools in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) who commuted by foot to school. Children were tested four times during a 12-month follow-up to characterize their developmental trajectories of working memory (d' of the three-back numbers test) and inattentiveness (hit reaction time standard error of the Attention Network Test). Average particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), Black Carbon (BC) and NO2 concentrations were estimated using Land Use Regression for the shortest walking route to school. Differences in cognitive growth were evaluated by linear mixed effects models with age-by-pollutant interaction terms. Exposure to PM2.5 and BC from the commutes by foot was associated with a reduction in the growth of working memory (an interquartile range increase in PM2.5 and BC concentrations decreased the annual growth of working memory by 5.4 (95% CI [-10.2, -0.6]) and 4.6 (95% CI [-9.0, -0.1]) points, respectively). The findings for NO2 were not conclusive and none of the pollutants were associated with inattentiveness. Efforts should be made to implement pedestrian school pathways through low traffic streets in order to increase security and minimize children's exposure to air pollutants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mar Alvarez-Pedrerol
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ioar Rivas
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Mònica López-Vicente
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisabet Suades-González
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Learning Disabilities Unit (UTAE), Neuropediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Donaire-Gonzalez
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Cirach
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat de Castro
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mikel Esnaola
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Basagaña
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Payam Dadvand
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques-Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Bertazzon S, Shahid R. Schools, Air Pollution, and Active Transportation: An Exploratory Spatial Analysis of Calgary, Canada. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14080834. [PMID: 28757577 PMCID: PMC5580538 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14080834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 07/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
An exploratory spatial analysis investigates the location of schools in Calgary (Canada) in relation to air pollution and active transportation options. Air pollution exhibits marked spatial variation throughout the city, along with distinct spatial patterns in summer and winter; however, all school locations lie within low to moderate pollution levels. Conversely, the study shows that almost half of the schools lie in low walkability locations; likewise, transitability is low for 60% of schools, and only bikability is widespread, with 93% of schools in very bikable locations. School locations are subsequently categorized by pollution exposure and active transportation options. This analysis identifies and maps schools according to two levels of concern: schools in car-dependent locations and relatively high pollution; and schools in locations conducive of active transportation, yet exposed to relatively high pollution. The findings can be mapped and effectively communicated to the public, health practitioners, and school boards. The study contributes with an explicitly spatial approach to the intra-urban public health literature. Developed for a moderately polluted city, the methods can be extended to more severely polluted environments, to assist in developing spatial public health policies to improve respiratory outcomes, neurodevelopment, and metabolic and attention disorders in school-aged children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Bertazzon
- Department of Geography, University of Calgary, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Rizwan Shahid
- Department of Geography, University of Calgary, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB T2W 3N2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|