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Rau AT, Harding AB, Ryan A, Ramirez MR, Renner LM, Berman JD. Ambient air pollution and the risk of violence in primary and secondary school settings: a cross-sectional study. Inj Epidemiol 2024; 11:24. [PMID: 38867329 PMCID: PMC11170797 DOI: 10.1186/s40621-024-00512-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individual and social characteristics are attributed to violent behavior in schools, yet environmental hazards may play an understudied role. Ambient air pollution has been linked to neurological dysfunction that inhibits decision-making and may result in violent behavior in adult populations. However, little is known on how air pollution may be associated with violent behaviors in children. METHODS A cross-sectional ecologic study was designed to estimate the associations between air pollution (fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide) with the occurrence of violent incidents and incidents involving a weapon among a cohort of children in Minnesota schools (2008-2012). Differences by urban and rural status of schools were also explored. Negative binomial regression models were developed to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and incidence rate differences (IRD) to describe associations between air pollution and violent incidents in school settings. RESULTS Our results indicate that the highest levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter concentrations were associated with increased violent disciplinary incidents. Among the total student population, the 4th quartile of carbon monoxide exposure was associated with an IRD of 775.62 (95% CI 543.2, 1008.05) violent incidents per 100,000 students per school year compared to schools in the lowest quartile of exposure. Comparing the 4th to the 1st quartiles of exposure, nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter had an IRD of 629.16 (95% CI 384.87, 873.46), and 510.49 (95% CI 274.92, 746.05) violent incidents per 100,000 students per school year respectively. Schools in urban settings shared a larger burden of violent incidents associated with air pollution compared to rural schools. CONCLUSIONS Modifying environmental pollutants surrounding school environments, particularly for high exposure communities, may be a novel tool for reducing violence and subsequent injuries in schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin T Rau
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Alyson B Harding
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Andy Ryan
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Marizen R Ramirez
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- Irvine Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Lynette M Renner
- University of Minnesota School of Social Work, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Jesse D Berman
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
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Agudelo N, Cuadro A, Barg G, Queirolo EI, Mañay N, Kordas K. Blood lead levels and math learning in first year of school: An association for concern. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 246:118091. [PMID: 38215927 PMCID: PMC10947836 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.118091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Lead is a well-known neurotoxicant that continues to affect children's cognition and behavior. With the aim to examine the associations of lead exposure with math performance in children at the beginning of formal schooling, we conducted a cross-sectional study of first-grade students from 11 schools in Montevideo, Uruguay. Math abilities were assessed with tests from the Batería III Woodcock-Muñoz (Calculation, Math Facts Fluency, Applied Problems, Math Calculation Skills and Broad Maths). Separate generalized linear models (GLM) tested the association of blood lead level (BLL) and each math ability, adjusting for key covariates including age and sex, maternal education, household assets and Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory score. In a complete-case of 252 first-grade students (age 67-105 months, 45% girls), mean ± SD blood lead level was 4.0 ± 2.2 μg/dL. Covariate-adjusted logistic models were used to examine the association between childhood BLLs and the odds of low math performance. BLL was negatively associated with scores on the Calculation test (β (95% CI): -0.18 (-0.33, -0.03)), Math Calculation Skills (-1.26 (-2.26, -0.25)), and Broad Maths cluster scores (-0.88 (-1.55, -0.21)). Similarly, performance on the Calculation test, as well as cluster scores for Broad Maths and Math Calculation Skills differed between children with BLLs <5 and ≥ 5 μg/dL (p < 0.01), being lower in children with higher BLLs. Finally, considering the likelihood of low test performance, each 1 μg/dL higher B-Pb was related to 27% higher likelihood for Maths Facts Fluency, 30% for Broad Math and Math Calculation Skills, and 31% for Calculation (p < 0.05). These results suggest that lead exposure is negatively associated with several basic skills that are key to math learning. These findings further suggest that the cognitive deficits related to lead exposure impact student achievement at very early stages of formal education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Agudelo
- Department of Neuroscience and Learning, Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Ariel Cuadro
- Department of Neuroscience and Learning, Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Gabriel Barg
- Department of Neuroscience and Learning, Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Elena I Queirolo
- Department of Neuroscience and Learning, Faculty of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Nelly Mañay
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Republic of Uruguay (UDELAR), Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Katarzyna Kordas
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA.
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Pedde M, Szpiro A, Hirth RA, Adar SD. School Bus Rebate Program and Student Educational Performance Test Scores. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e243121. [PMID: 38506806 PMCID: PMC10955349 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.3121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Students who ride older school buses are often exposed to high levels of exhaust during their commutes, which may adversely affect health and school attendance. As a result, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded millions of dollars to school districts to replace older, highly polluting school buses with newer, cleaner buses. Objective To leverage the EPA's randomized allocation of funding under the 2012-2016 School Bus Rebate Programs to estimate the association between replacing old, highly polluting buses and changes in district-average standardized test scores. Design, Setting, and Participants This study examined changes in reading and language arts (RLA) and math test scores among US school district applicants to the EPA's 2012-2016 national School Bus Rebate Programs 1 year before and after each lottery by selection status. Data analysis was conducted from January 15 to July 30, 2023. Exposure Selection to receive EPA funding to replace older school buses with newer, cleaner alternatives. Main Outcomes and Measures School district changes in RLA and math test scores among students in grades 3 through 8 before and after the EPA funding lotteries by selection status were measured using an intention-to-treat approach. Results This study included 1941 school district applicants to the 2012-2106 EPA School Bus Rebate Programs. These districts had a mean (SD) of 14.6 (33.7) schools per district, 8755 (23 776) students per district, and 41.3% (20.2%) of students with free lunch eligibility. Among the applicants, 209 districts (11%) were selected for the clean bus funding. District-average student test scores did not improve among selected districts overall. In secondary analyses, however, districts replacing the oldest, highest polluting buses (ie, pre-1990) experienced significantly greater improvements in district-average test scores in the year after the lottery for RLA and math (SD improvement in test scores, 0.062 [95% CI, 0.050-0.074] and 0.025 [95% CI, 0.011-0.039], respectively) compared with districts without replacements. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, the EPA funding was not associated with student test scores overall, but in secondary analyses, the replacement of the oldest school buses was associated with improved educational performance. These findings support prioritizing clean bus replacement of the oldest buses as an actionable way for improving students' educational performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith Pedde
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Adam Szpiro
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Richard A. Hirth
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Sara D. Adar
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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Lim YH, Bilsteen JF, Mortensen LH, Lanzky LRM, Zhang J, Tuffier S, Brandt J, Ketzel M, Flensborg-Madsen T, Wimmelmann CL, Okholm GT, Hegelund ER, Napolitano GM, Andersen ZJ, Loft S. Lifetime exposure to air pollution and academic achievement: A nationwide cohort study in Denmark. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 185:108500. [PMID: 38430583 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108500] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/04/2024]
Abstract
Recent research suggests a link between air pollution and cognitive development in children, and studies on air pollution and academic achievement are emerging. We conducted a nationwide cohort study in Denmark to explore the associations between lifetime exposure to air pollution and academic performance in 9th grade. The study encompassed 785,312 children born in Denmark between 1989 and 2005, all of whom completed 9th-grade exit examinations. Using linear mixed models with a random intercept for each school, we assessed the relationship between 16 years of exposure to PM2.5, PM10, and gaseous pollutants and Grade Point Averages (GPA) in exit examinations, covering subjects such as Danish literature, Danish writing, English, mathematics, and natural sciences. The study revealed that a 5 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with a decrease of 0.99 (95 % Confidence Intervals: -1.05, -0.92) and 0.46 (-0.50, -0.41) in GPA, respectively. Notably, these negative associations were more pronounced in mathematics and natural sciences compared to language-related subjects. Additionally, girls and children with non-Danish mothers were found to be particularly susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution exposure. These results underscore the potential long-term consequences of air pollution on academic achievement, emphasizing the significance of interventions that foster healthier environments for children's cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youn-Hee Lim
- Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Josephine Funck Bilsteen
- Ministry of Children and Education, National Agency for Education and Quality, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Jiawei Zhang
- Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stéphane Tuffier
- Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Brandt
- Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Matthias Ketzel
- Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Roskilde, Denmark; Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom
| | - Trine Flensborg-Madsen
- National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Gunhild Tidemann Okholm
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - George Maria Napolitano
- Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Zorana Jovanovic Andersen
- Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Steffen Loft
- Section of Environmental Health, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Lam PH, Zang E, Chen D, Liu R, Chen K. Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Academic Performance Among Children in North Carolina. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2340928. [PMID: 37906198 PMCID: PMC10618843 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.40928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional study analyzes the association of exposure to fine particulate matter and academic performance among school age children in North Carolina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pak Hung Lam
- The Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Emma Zang
- Department of Sociology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Dieyi Chen
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Riyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
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Payne-Sturges DC, Taiwo TK, Ellickson K, Mullen H, Tchangalova N, Anderko L, Chen A, Swanson M. Disparities in Toxic Chemical Exposures and Associated Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Scoping Review and Systematic Evidence Map of the Epidemiological Literature. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:96001. [PMID: 37754677 PMCID: PMC10525348 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children are routinely exposed to chemicals known or suspected of harming brain development. Targeting Environmental Neuro-Development Risks (Project TENDR), an alliance of > 50 leading scientists, health professionals, and advocates, is working to protect children from these toxic chemicals and pollutants, especially the disproportionate exposures experienced by children from families with low incomes and families of color. OBJECTIVE This scoping review was initiated to map existing literature on disparities in neurodevelopmental outcomes for U.S. children from population groups who have been historically economically/socially marginalized and exposed to seven exemplar neurotoxicants: combustion-related air pollution (AP), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), organophosphate pesticides (OPs), phthalates (Phth), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). METHODS Systematic literature searches for the seven exemplar chemicals, informed by the Population, Exposure, Comparator, Outcome (PECO) framework, were conducted through 18 November 2022, using PubMed, CINAHL Plus (EBSCO), GreenFILE (EBSCO), and Web of Science sources. We examined these studies regarding authors' conceptualization and operationalization of race, ethnicity, and other indicators of sociodemographic and socioeconomic disadvantage; whether studies presented data on exposure and outcome disparities and the patterns of those disparities; and the evidence of effect modification by or interaction with race and ethnicity. RESULTS Two hundred twelve individual studies met the search criteria and were reviewed, resulting in 218 studies or investigations being included in this review. AP and Pb were the most commonly studied exposures. The most frequently identified neurodevelopmental outcomes were cognitive and behavioral/psychological. Approximately a third (74 studies) reported investigations of interactions or effect modification with 69% (51 of 74 studies) reporting the presence of interactions or effect modification. However, less than half of the studies presented data on disparities in the outcome or the exposure, and fewer conducted formal tests of heterogeneity. Ninety-two percent of the 165 articles that examined race and ethnicity did not provide an explanation of their constructs for these variables, creating an incomplete picture. DISCUSSION As a whole, the studies we reviewed indicated a complex story about how racial and ethnic minority and low-income children may be disproportionately harmed by exposures to neurotoxicants, and this has implications for targeting interventions, policy change, and other necessary investments to eliminate these health disparities. We provide recommendations on improving environmental epidemiological studies on environmental health disparities. To achieve environmental justice and health equity, we recommend concomitant strategies to eradicate both neurotoxic chemical exposures and systems that perpetuate social inequities. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11750.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kristie Ellickson
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Union of Concerned Scientists, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Haley Mullen
- Department of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Laura Anderko
- M. Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Aimin Chen
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Iyanna N, Yolton K, LeMasters G, Lanphear BP, Cecil KM, Schwartz J, Brokamp C, Rasnick E, Xu Y, MacDougall MC, Ryan PH. Air pollution exposure and social responsiveness in childhood: The cincinnati combined childhood cohorts. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 251:114172. [PMID: 37116232 PMCID: PMC10682723 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114172] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects about 1 in 44 children and environmental exposures may contribute to disease onset. Air pollution has been associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, yet little research has examined its association with autistic-like behaviors. Therefore, our objective was to examine the association between exposure to air pollution, including NO2 and PM2.5, during pregnancy and the first year of life to ASD-like behaviors during childhood. Participants (n = 435) enrolled in the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study and the Health Outcomes and Measures of the Environment Study were included in the analysis. Daily exposures to NO2 and PM2.5 at the residential addresses of participants were estimated using validated spatiotemporal models and averaged to obtain prenatal and first year exposure estimates. ASD-like behaviors were assessed via the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) questionnaire at age 12. Linear regression models adjusting for confounders were applied to estimate the association between pollutants and SRS scores. After adjusting for covariates, the association between NO2 and PM2.5 and SRS scores remained positive but were no longer statistically significant. Prenatal and first year exposure to NO2 were associated with total SRS T-scores with an estimated 0.4 point increase (95% CI: -0.7, 1.6) per 5.2 ppb increase in NO2 exposure and 0.7 point (95% CI: -0.3, 1.6) per 4.2 ppb increase in NO2 exposure, respectively. For PM2.5, a 2.6 μg/m3 increase in prenatal exposure was associated with a 0.1 point increase (95% CI: -1.1, 1.4) in SRS Total T-scores and a 1.3 μg/m3 increase first year of life was associated with a 1 point increase (95% CI: -0.2, 2.3). In summary, exposure to NO2 and PM2.5 during pregnancy and the first year of life were not significantly associated with higher autistic-like behaviors measured with SRS scores after adjustment of covariates. Additional research is warranted given prior studies suggesting air pollution contributes to ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nidhi Iyanna
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kimberly Yolton
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Grace LeMasters
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Bruce P Lanphear
- Child and Family Research Institute, BC Children's and Women's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Kim M Cecil
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Joel Schwartz
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, USA
| | - Cole Brokamp
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Erika Rasnick
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Yingying Xu
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Melinda C MacDougall
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Patrick H Ryan
- Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Boonpeng C, Sangiamdee D, Noikrad S, Boonpragob K. Lichen biomonitoring of seasonal outdoor air quality at schools in an industrial city in Thailand. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:59909-59924. [PMID: 37016263 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26685-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Poor air quality in school environments causes adverse health effects in children and decreases their academic performance. The main objective of this study was to use lichens as a biomonitoring tool for assessing outdoor air quality at schools in the industrial area of Laem Chabang municipality in Thailand. Thalli of the lichen Parmotrema tinctorum were transplanted from an unpolluted area to nine schools in the industrial area and to a control site. The lichens were exposed for four periods in the dry, hot, early rainy, and late rainy seasons, for 90 days each. The concentrations of 14 elements, including As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Ti, V, and Zn, were determined using inductively coupled plasma‒mass spectrometry (ICP‒MS), and 8 physiological parameters were measured. The concentrations of all 14 investigated elements were clearly higher at the schools than at the control site. The contamination factors (CFs) suggested that 9 out of the 14 elements, including As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Pb, Sb, and Ti, heavily contaminated the school environments, especially Pb, the concentration of which was 3 to 11 times higher than at the control site. The most polluted time was the hot season as evidenced by the investigated elements, and the least polluted time was the late rainy season. The pollution load indices (PLIs) demonstrated that schools in the inner and middle zones clearly had higher pollution loads than the schools in the outer zone during the rainy seasons, while the hot and dry seasons showed similar pollution levels in all zones. The vitality indices (VIs) showed that the lower lichen vitalities at most schools were observed during the dry season and at the schools in the inner and middle zones. Accordingly, the air performance indices (APIs) revealed that poorer air quality at most schools was found during the dry season and at the schools in the inner and middle zones. This study clearly showed that the transplanted lichen P. tinctorum was an effective bioindicator of air quality in school environments. The results illustrated that all studied schools were contaminated by air pollutants; therefore, improving air quality at the schools is crucial and should be an urgent issue for maintaining good health and may benefit children's academic achievements and careers in the long run.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaiwat Boonpeng
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand.
- Lichen Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand.
| | - Duangkamon Sangiamdee
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand
| | - Sutatip Noikrad
- Lichen Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand
| | - Kansri Boonpragob
- Lichen Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ramkhamhaeng University, Hua Mark, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, 10240, Thailand
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Zierold KM, Myers JV, Brock GN, Sears CG, Zhang CH, Sears L. Indoor coal ash and school and social competency among children aged 6-14 years. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2023; 33:434-438. [PMID: 36396715 PMCID: PMC10188657 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-022-00500-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A child's ability to succeed in social interactions and in a school setting are important for their development and growth. Exposure to environmental pollutants has been associated with poorer school performance and fewer social interaction in children. Fly ash, a waste product generated when burning coal for energy, is comprised of small glass spheres with neurotoxic heavy metal(loid)s found to be risk factors for learning and social problems in school. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this novel study was to assess the association of fly ash in children's homes with school and social competency. METHODS We recruited children aged 6-14 years old from communities located within 10 miles of two coal-burning power plants. In homes of the participants, fly ash was collected on polycarbonate filters using personal modular impactors. We measured school competency and social competency using the validated Child Behavioral Checklist. Using Tobit and linear regression we investigated the relationship of indoor fly ash with school and social competency. RESULTS Forty-three percent of children in the study had fly ash in their homes. In covariate-adjusted Tobit models, children with fly ash in their homes scored on average 2.63 (95% CI: -4.98, -0.28) points lower on the school competency scale than peers without ash in their homes. We did not observe that fly ash in homes was related with lower social competency. SIGNIFICANCE Results from this study suggest that children with fly ash in their homes had poorer performance in the school setting, compared to peers without fly ash in their homes. In the US, coal-fired power plants are being closed, however health concerns about pollution from coal ash storage facilities remains. Findings from this study can provide impetus for creating of public health policy and to highlight the need future research on children's exposure to fly ash. IMPACT Children's growth and development are impacted by their social interactions and ability to perform in school settings. Environmental pollutants may impact these essential elements of development. Millions of children are exposed to fly ash which is a waste product generated from burning coal. Fly ash, an environmental health threat throughout the world, is comprised of small glass spheres with trace concentrations of neurotoxic metal(loid)s. Findings from this research show that children with fly ash in their homes are significantly more likely to have poorer school performance than children without fly ash in their homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M Zierold
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - John V Myers
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Guy N Brock
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Clara G Sears
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Charlie H Zhang
- Department of Geographic & Environmental Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Lonnie Sears
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
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Greenwood PB, Cohen JW, Liu R, Hoepner L, Rauh V, Herbstman J, Pagliaccio D, Margolis AE. Effects of prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and childhood material hardship on reading achievement in school-age children: A preliminary study. Front Psychol 2023; 13:933177. [PMID: 36687992 PMCID: PMC9845780 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.933177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Children from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds are at elevated risk for reading problems. They are also likely to live in neighborhoods with high levels of air pollution and to experience material hardship. Despite these risk factors, the links between prenatal chemical exposures, socioeconomic adversities, and reading problems in youth from disadvantaged backgrounds remain understudied. Here we examine associations between prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), a common air pollutant, and reading skills, and determine if this relationship is exacerbated by material hardship among Black and/or Latinx children who have been followed as part of a longitudinal urban birth cohort. Methods Mothers and their children, who were participants in a prospective birth cohort followed by the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health, were recruited for the current study. Personal prenatal PAH exposure was measured during the third-trimester of pregnancy using a personal air monitoring backpack. Mothers reported their level of material hardship when their child was age 5 and children completed measures of pseudoword and word reading [Woodcock Johnson III Tests of Achievement (WJ-III) Basic Reading Index] at age 7. We used multiple linear regression to examine the effects of the interaction between prenatal PAH and material hardship on Basic Reading Index, controlling for ethnicity/race, sex, birthweight, presence of a smoker in the home (prenatal), and maternal education (prenatal) (N = 53). Results A prenatal PAH × material hardship interaction significantly associated with WJ-III Basic Reading Index scores at age 7 (β = -0.347, t(44) = -2.197, p = 0.033). Exploratory analyses suggested that this effect was driven by untimed pseudoword decoding (WJ-III Word Attack: β = -0.391, t(44) = -2.550, p = 0.014). Conclusion Environmental chemical exposures can be particularly toxic during the prenatal period when the fetal brain undergoes rapid development, making it uniquely vulnerable to chemical perturbations. These data highlight the interactive effects of environmental neurotoxicants and unmet basic needs on children's acquisition of reading skill, specifically phonemic processing. Such findings identify potentially modifiable environmental risk factors implicated in reading problems in children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige B. Greenwood
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jacob W. Cohen
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ran Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lori Hoepner
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, SUNY Downstate Health Science University, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Virginia Rauh
- Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Julie Herbstman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - David Pagliaccio
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
| | - Amy E. Margolis
- Department of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, United States
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11
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Son S, Elkamhawy A, Jang CM. Active Soil Filter System for Indoor Air Purification in School Classrooms. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15666. [PMID: 36497741 PMCID: PMC9740050 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
An active soil filter system was newly designed and evaluated to obtain a higher removal efficiency of fine particulate matter (PM) for indoor air purification in schools. Unlike passive air purification systems that remove PM using only plant leaves, air purification can be maximized by filtering polluted indoor air directly between the soil particles supporting the plant. The novel system is composed of a composite soil layer and a suction blower that forces outside air into the soil layer. It was found that the air purification performance was improved as the inflow air velocity upstream of the soil is decreased and the soil stacking height increased. The lower the soil moisture, the better the air purification performance. Considering both the classroom environment and the system's energy consumption, it is recommended that the soil stacking height is 150 mm, the soil inflow air velocity is 2 cm/s, and the relative humidity is 35%. Under these conditions, the air purification efficiency for PM2.5 is 41.5%. The indoor air purification system using the soil filter system, along with the currently used plant leaves medium, is expected to improve the indoor air quality in public facilities, such as school classrooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungwan Son
- Department of Environmental Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Goyang 10223, Republic of Korea
| | - Aya Elkamhawy
- Department of Environmental Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Goyang 10223, Republic of Korea
- Smart City and Construction Engineering, University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Choon-Man Jang
- Department of Environmental Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), Goyang 10223, Republic of Korea
- Smart City and Construction Engineering, University of Science & Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Republic of Korea
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12
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Millar DA, Kapwata T, Kunene Z, Mogotsi M, Wernecke B, Garland RM, Mathee A, Theron L, Levine DT, Ungar M, Batini C, John C, Wright CY. Respiratory health among adolescents living in the Highveld Air Pollution Priority Area in South Africa. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2136. [PMID: 36411414 PMCID: PMC9677637 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14497-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollution is a global, public health emergency. The effect of living in areas with very poor air quality on adolescents' physical health is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of adverse respiratory health outcomes among adolescents living in a known air pollution hotspot in South Africa. METHODS Ambient air quality data from 2005 to 2019 for the two areas, Secunda and eMbalenhle, in the Highveld Air Pollution Priority Area in Mpumalanga province, South Africa were gathered and compared against national ambient air pollution standards and the World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines. In 2019, adolescents attending schools in the areas completed a self-administered questionnaire investigating individual demographics, socio-economic status, health, medical history, and fuel type used in homes. Respiratory health illnesses assessed were doctor-diagnosed hay fever, allergies, frequent cough, wheezing, bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma. The relationship between presence (at least one) or absence (none) of self-reported respiratory illness and risk factors, e.g., fuel use at home, was explored. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) of risk factors associated with respiratory illness adjusted for body mass index (measured by field assistants), gender, education level of both parents / guardians and socio-economic status. RESULTS Particulate matter and ozone were the two pollutants most frequently exceeding national annual air quality standards in the study area. All 233 adolescent participants were between 13 and 17 years of age. Prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms among the participants ranged from 2% for 'ever' doctor-diagnosed bronchitis and pneumonia to 42% ever experiencing allergies; wheezing chest was the second most reported symptom (39%). Half (52%) of the adolescents who had respiratory illness were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in the dwelling. There was a statistically significant difference between the presence or absence of self-reported respiratory illness based on the number of years lived in Secunda or eMbalenhle (p = 0.02). For a one-unit change in the number of years lived in an area, the odds of reporting a respiratory illness increased by a factor of 1.08 (p = 0.025, 95% CI = 1.01-1.16). This association was still statistically significant when the model was adjusted for confounders (p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Adolescents living in air polluted areas experience adverse health impacts Future research should interrogate long-term exposure and health outcomes among adolescents living in the air polluted environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle A Millar
- Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
| | - Thandi Kapwata
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Zamantimande Kunene
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mirriam Mogotsi
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Bianca Wernecke
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Rebecca M Garland
- Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Angela Mathee
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Smart Places Cluster, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Linda Theron
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Diane T Levine
- Leicester Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Michael Ungar
- School of Social Work, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
| | - Chiara Batini
- Genetic Epidemiology Group, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Catherine John
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Caradee Y Wright
- Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
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13
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Ambient air pollution associated with lower academic achievement among US children: A nationwide panel study of school districts: Erratum. Environ Epidemiol 2022; 6:e202. [DOI: 10.1097/ee9.0000000000000202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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14
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Lead contamination of public drinking water and academic achievements among children in Massachusetts: a panel study. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:107. [PMID: 35033038 PMCID: PMC8761345 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12474-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Public drinking water can be an important source exposure to lead, which can affect children’s cognitive development and academic performance. Few studies have looked at the impact of lead exposures from community water supplies or their impact on school achievements. We examined the association between annual community water lead levels (WLLs) and children’s academic performances at the school district level. Methods We matched the 90th percentile WLLs with the grade 3–8 standardized test scores from the Stanford Education Data Archive on Geographic School Districts by geographic location and year. We used multivariate linear regression and adjusted for urbanicity, race, socioeconomic characteristics, school district, grade, and year. We also explored potential effect measure modifications and lag effects. Results After adjusting for potential confounders, a 5 μg/L increase in 90th percentile WLLs in a GSD was associated with a 0.00684 [0.00021, 0.01348] standard deviation decrease in the average math test score in the same year. No association was found for English Language Arts. Conclusions We found an association between the annual fluctuation of WLLs and math test scores in Massachusetts school districts, after adjusting for confounding by urbanicity, race, socioeconomic factors, school district, grade, and year. The implications of a detectable effect of WLLs on academic performance even at the modest levels evident in MA are significant and timely. Persistent efforts should be made to further reduce lead in drinking water. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12474-1.
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