Fine particulate matter exposure during childhood relates to hemispheric-specific differences in brain structure

Cserbik, Dora; Chen, Jiu‐Chiuan; McConnell, Rob; Berhane, Kiros; Sowell, Elizabeth R.; Schwartz, Joel; Hackman, Daniel A.; Kan, Eric; Fan, Chun; Herting, Megan M.

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2020.105933

Cited by 96 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…Neuroimaging studies show that childhood exposures to traffic-related air pollutants such as PM 2.5 can induce changes in the brain's cerebral white matter, cortical gray matter, and the basal ganglia, all of which may have implications for cognition. 29,44,45 A literature review of 31 studies on the effects of air pollution and developmental health across the lifespan suggest that higher pollution exposure in childhood is inversely associated with academic achievement and cognitive performance in children. 46 Early-life exposure is also associated with a reduction in fundamental cognitive abilities, including working memory, conflict attentional network, and, more recently, atypical excitatory neurotransmission and glial inflammatory responses that may have important implications on anxiety disorders.…”

Section: 4142mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These complications range from alteration in the subclinical brain structure to overt signs and symptoms or diagnosis of neuropsychological disorders such as ADHD and ASD. Neuroimaging studies show that childhood exposures to traffic‐related air pollutants such as PM 2.5 can induce changes in the brain’s cerebral white matter, cortical gray matter, and the basal ganglia, all of which may have implications for cognition 29,44,45 . A literature review of 31 studies on the effects of air pollution and developmental health across the lifespan suggest that higher pollution exposure in childhood is inversely associated with academic achievement and cognitive performance in children 46 .…”

Section: Developmental Effects Of Postnatal Exposuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Air pollution and neurological development in children

2020

Develop Med Child Neuro

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Pregnancy and early childhood are periods with high plasticity in neurological development. Environmental perturbations during these sensitive windows can have lifelong developmental consequences. This review summarizes key findings relevant to the effects of air pollution on neurological development. Mounting evidence suggests that exposure to air pollution, both during pregnancy and childhood, is associated with childhood developmental outcomes ranging from changes in brain structures to subclinical deficits in developmental test scores, and, ultimately, developmental disorders such as attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorders or autism spectrum disorders. Although the biological mechanisms of effects remain to be elucidated, multiple pathways are probably involved and include oxidative stress, inflammation, and/or endocrine disruption. Given the alarming global increase in developmental disorders in recent years, and increased human exposures to pollution, it is critical to reduce personal and community‐level exposures through tight collaboration of interdisciplinary and multi‐level bodies including community partners, physicians, industry partners, policy makers, public health practitioners, and researchers. What this paper adds Exposure to air pollution is associated with a range of childhood developmental complications. Biological mechanisms may include oxidative stress, inflammation, and endocrine disruption.

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Section: 4142mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Developmental Effects Of Postnatal Exposuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Air pollution and neurological development in children

2020

Develop Med Child Neuro

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“…For example, IQ in older children has been shown to be better predicted by concurrent than past blood-lead levels [ 94 , 96 ], and, even at low levels of exposure, IQ was shown to be associated with concurrent blood-lead levels in 7- to 14-year-olds [ 97 , 98 ]. Ultimately, the age of greatest vulnerability to lead neurotoxicity is unclear [ 95 ], but recent evidence has suggested that exposure to other neurotoxicants (i.e., air pollution) is also associated with brain structure in 9- to 10-year-olds [ 99 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk of lead exposure, subcortical brain structure, and cognition in a large cohort of 9- to 10-year-old children

et al. 2021

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Background Lead, a toxic metal, affects cognitive development at the lowest measurable concentrations found in children, but little is known about its direct impact on brain development. Recently, we reported widespread decreases in cortical surface area and volume with increased risks of lead exposure, primarily in children of low-income families. Methods and findings We examined associations of neighborhood-level risk of lead exposure with cognitive test performance and subcortical brain volumes. We also examined whether subcortical structure mediated associations between lead risk and cognitive performance. Our analyses employed a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the observational Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The multi-center ABCD Study used school-based enrollment to recruit a demographically diverse cohort of almost 11,900 9- and 10-year-old children from an initial 22 study sites. The analyzed sample included data from 8,524 typically developing child participants and their parents or caregivers. The primary outcomes and measures were subcortical brain structure, cognitive performance using the National Institutes of Health Toolbox, and geocoded risk of lead exposure. Children who lived in neighborhoods with greater risks of environmental lead exposure exhibited smaller volumes of the mid-anterior (partial correlation coefficient [rp] = -0.040), central (rp = -0.038), and mid-posterior corpus callosum (rp = -0.035). Smaller volumes of these three callosal regions were associated with poorer performance on cognitive tests measuring language and processing speed. The association of lead exposure risk with cognitive performance was partially mediated through callosal volume, particularly the mid-posterior corpus callosum. In contrast, neighborhood-level indicators of disadvantage were not associated with smaller volumes of these brain structures. Conclusions Environmental factors related to the risk of lead exposure may be associated with certain aspects of cognitive functioning via diminished subcortical brain structure, including the anterior splenium (i.e., mid-posterior corpus callosum).

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“…In the Nurses' Health Study, higher longterm concentrations of both PM 2.5-10 and PM 2.5 were linked to a significantly faster cognitive decline over a two-year period [50]. Studies integrating environmental epidemiology and neuroimaging suggest that white matter, cortical grey matter and the basal ganglia could be targets of air-pollution and that these alterations on the brain-level might underlie the association between airpollution and cognitive dysfunction in humans, however, the results are inconsistent possibly due to considerable heterogeneity across study populations, MRI methods, pollutants, and methods of cognitive investigation [46,51]. The exact mechanisms by which air pollutants cause damage to the central nervous system (CNS) are unknown.…”

Section: Air Pollution and Neurocognitive Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical activity in an air-polluted environment: behavioral, psychological and neuroimaging protocol for a prospective cohort study (Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment study – Program 4)

et al. 2021

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Background Air pollution has been linked to increased mortality and morbidity. The Program 4 of the Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment study investigates whether the health and wellbeing benefits of physical activity (PA) can be fully realized in individuals living in highly polluted environments. Herein, we introduce the behavioral, psychological and neuroimaging protocol of the study. Methods This is a prospective cohort study of N = 1500 individuals aged 18–65 years comparing: (1) individuals living in the highly polluted, industrial region surrounding the city of Ostrava (n = 750), and (2) controls from the comparison region with relative low pollution levels in Southern Bohemia (n = 750). Quota sampling is used to obtain samples balanced on age, gender, PA status (60% active runners vs. 40% insufficiently active). Participants are screened and complete baseline assessments through online questionnaires and in-person lab-based assessments of physiological, biomechanical, neuroimaging and cognitive function parameters. Prospective 12-month intensive monitoring of air pollution and behavioral parameters (PA, inactivity, and sleep) follows, with a focus on PA-related injuries and psychological factors through fitness trackers, smartphones, and mobile apps. Subsequently, there will be a 5-year follow-up of the study cohort. Discussion The design of the study will allow for (1) the assessment of both short-term variation and long-term change in behavioral parameters, (2) evaluation of the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries and psychological factors impacting behavior and injury recovery, and (3) the impact that air pollution status (and change) has on behavior, psychological resilience, and injury recovery. Furthermore, the integration of MRI techniques and cognitive assessment in combination with data on behavioral, biological and environmental variables will provide an opportunity to examine brain structure and cognitive function in relation to health behavior and air pollution, as well as other factors affecting resilience against and vulnerability to adverse changes in brain structure and cognitive aging. This study will help inform individuals about personal risk factors and decision-makers about the impact of environmental factors on negative health outcomes and potential underlying biological, behavioral and psychological mechanisms. Challenges and opportunities stemming from the timing of the study that coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic are also discussed.

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Fine particulate matter exposure during childhood relates to hemispheric-specific differences in brain structure

Cited by 96 publications

References 84 publications

Air pollution and neurological development in children

Air pollution and neurological development in children

Risk of lead exposure, subcortical brain structure, and cognition in a large cohort of 9- to 10-year-old children

Physical activity in an air-polluted environment: behavioral, psychological and neuroimaging protocol for a prospective cohort study (Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment study – Program 4)

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