Air Pollution and Neuropsychological Development: A Review of the Latest Evidence

Suades-González, Elisabet; Gascón, Mireia; Guxens, Mònica; Sunyer, Jordi

doi:10.1210/en.2015-1403

Cited by 245 publications

(179 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…To date, we lack a clear understanding of the causes of ASD despite its serious social impact. Based on the most recent reviews of the role of environmental toxicants in the etiology of ASD (e.g., Rossignol, Genuis & Frye, 2014; Suades-González, Gascon, Guxens, & Sunyer, 2015; Talbott, Marshall et al, 2015), a number of classes of chemicals have been identified as potential contributors, including pesticides, phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), solvents, air particulates (PM 2.5 ), traffic-related pollutants, ozone, and heavy metals, with the strongest evidence found for air pollutants and pesticides. Current findings are tempered by at least three issues—all of which suggest future directions for neurotoxicology research in the mental health arena.…”

Section: Broadening Outcome Measures In Neurotoxicology Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research Review: Environmental exposures, neurodevelopment, and child mental health – new paradigms for the study of brain and behavioral effects

Rauh

Margolis

2016

Child Psychology Psychiatry

138

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Background Environmental exposures play a critical role in the genesis of some child mental health problems. Methods We open with a discussion of children’s vulnerability to neurotoxic substances, changes in the distribution of toxic exposures, and co-occurrence of social and physical exposures. We address trends in prevalence of mental health disorders, and approaches to the definition of disorders that are sensitive to the subtle effects of toxic exposures. We suggest broadening outcomes to include dimensional measures of autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and child learning capacity, as well as direct assessment of brain function. Findings We consider the impact of two important exposures on children’s mental health: lead and pesticides. We argue that longitudinal research designs may capture the cascading effects of exposures across biological systems and the full-range of neuropsychological endpoints. Neuroimaging is a valuable tool for observing brain maturation under varying environmental conditions. A dimensional approach to measurement may be sensitive to subtle sub-clinical toxic effects, permitting the development of exposure-related profiles and testing of complex functional relationships between brain and behavior. Questions about the neurotoxic effects of chemicals become more pressing when viewed through the lens of environmental justice. Conclusions Reduction in the burden of child mental health disorders will require longitudinal study of neurotoxic exposures, incorporating dimensional approaches to outcome assessment and measures of brain function. Research that seeks to identify links between toxic exposures and mental health outcomes has enormous public health and societal value.

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Section: Broadening Outcome Measures In Neurotoxicology Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research Review: Environmental exposures, neurodevelopment, and child mental health – new paradigms for the study of brain and behavioral effects

Rauh

Margolis

2016

Child Psychology Psychiatry

138

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“…Air pollution is involved in cardiovascular disease [2], stroke [3] and respiratory diseases [4,5] such as lung cancer [6], childhood asthma [7] and atopic dermatitis [8]. Furthermore, perinatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and particulate matter (PM) has been demonstrated to have a negative impact on neuropsychological development in children [9]. A study carried out in Sydney estimated that reducing particulate matter (PM2.5) by 10% for 10 years would avoid approximately 650 premature deaths [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does air pollution play a role in infertility?: a systematic review

et al. 2017

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Background: Air pollution is involved in many pathologies. These pollutants act through several mechanisms that can affect numerous physiological functions, including reproduction: as endocrine disruptors or reactive oxygen species inducers, and through the formation of DNA adducts and/or epigenetic modifications. We conducted a systematic review of the published literature on the impact of air pollution on reproductive function. Eligible studies were selected from an electronic literature search from the PUBMED database from January 2000 to February 2016 and associated references in published studies. Search terms included (1) ovary or follicle or oocyte or testis or testicular or sperm or spermatozoa or fertility or infertility and (2) air quality or O 3 or NO 2 or PM2.5 or diesel or SO 2 or traffic or PM10 or air pollution or air pollutants. The literature search was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We have included the human and animal studies corresponding to the search terms and published in English. We have excluded articles whose results did not concern fertility or gamete function and those focused on cancer or allergy. We have also excluded genetic, auto-immune or iatrogenic causes of reduced reproduction function from our analysis. Finally, we have excluded animal data that does not concern mammals and studies based on results from in vitro culture. Data have been grouped according to the studied pollutants in order to synthetize their impact on fertility and the molecular pathways involved.

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“…The authors of a recent review identified polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ), and nitrogen dioxides as air pollutants potentially harmful to neuropsychological development in children (Suades-Gonzalez et al 2015). Recent epidemiologic studies have examined whether air pollution exposure increases risk for adverse behavioral development including behaviors related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prenatal and childhood traffic-related air pollution exposure and childhood executive function and behavior

Harris

Gold

Rifas‐Shiman

et al. 2016

Neurotoxicology and Teratology

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Background Traffic-related air pollution exposure may influence brain development and function and thus be related to neurobehavioral problems in children, but little is known about windows of susceptibility. Aims Examine associations of gestational and childhood exposure to traffic-related pollution with executive function and behavior problems in children. Methods We studied associations of pre- and postnatal pollution exposures with neurobehavioral outcomes in 1,212 children in the Project Viva pre-birth cohort followed to mid-childhood (median age 7.7 years). Parents and classroom teachers completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Using validated spatiotemporal models, we estimated exposure to black carbon (BC) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the third trimester of pregnancy, from birth to 3 years, from birth to 6 years, and in the year before behavioral ratings. We also measured residential distance to major roadways and near-residence traffic density at birth and in mid-childhood. We estimated associations of BC, PM2.5, and other traffic exposure measures with BRIEF and SDQ scores, adjusted for potential confounders. Results Higher childhood BC exposure was associated with higher teacher-rated BRIEF Behavioral Regulation Index (BRI) scores, indicating greater problems: 1.0 points (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0, 2.1) per interquartile range (IQR) increase in birth-age 6 BC, and 1.7 points (95% CI: 0.6, 2.8) for BC in the year prior to behavioral ratings. Mid-childhood residential traffic density was also associated with BRI score (0.6, 95% CI: 0.1, 1.1). Birth-age 3 BC was not associated with BRIEF or SDQ scores. Third trimester BC exposure was not associated with teacher-rated BRI scores (−0.2, 95% CI: −1.1, 0.8), and predicted lower scores (fewer problems) on the BRIEF Metacognition Index (−1.2, 95% CI: −2.2, −0.2) and SDQ total difficulties (−0.9, 95% CI: −1.4, −0.4). PM2.5 exposure was associated with teacher-rated BRIEF and SDQ scores in minimally adjusted models but associations attenuated with covariate adjustment. None of the parent-rated outcomes suggested adverse effects of greater pollution exposure at any time point. Conclusions Children with higher mid-childhood exposure to BC and greater near-residence traffic density in mid-childhood had greater problems with behavioral regulation as assessed by classroom teachers, but not as assessed by parents. Prenatal and early childhood exposure to traffic-related pollution did not predict greater executive function or behavior problems; third trimester BC was associated with lower scores (representing fewer problems) on measures of metacognition and behavioral problems.

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Air Pollution and Neuropsychological Development: A Review of the Latest Evidence

Cited by 245 publications

References 52 publications

Research Review: Environmental exposures, neurodevelopment, and child mental health – new paradigms for the study of brain and behavioral effects

Research Review: Environmental exposures, neurodevelopment, and child mental health – new paradigms for the study of brain and behavioral effects

Does air pollution play a role in infertility?: a systematic review

Prenatal and childhood traffic-related air pollution exposure and childhood executive function and behavior

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