The possible role of air pollution in the link between ADHD and obesity

Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Conditions, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Environmental Exposure to Nitrous Oxide

“…Future research should attempt to delineate this difference and at least begin to recognize the potential etiologic importance of air pollution and namely chronic exposure to environmental N 2 O in the development of human neurodevelopmental impairment, as the author of this correspondence has reiterated previously. [4][5][6][7][8][9] Keith Fluegge Institute of Health and Environmental Research, Cleveland, OH…”

“…3 The author of this correspondence has previously been the first to repeatedly suggest through empirical investigation that exposure to the environmental air pollutant and greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N 2 O), may be the critical exposure underpinning the development of neurodevelopmental impairment. 4 –9 The purpose of this correspondence is to highlight a potential environmental confounder to the suggestion made by Zhu et al 1 that perinatal hypoxia-ischemia may contribute to neurodevelopmental impairment.…”

Plasma apelin‐13, attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder, and environmental exposure to nitrous oxide

“…The compound has been shown to affect many neural substrates, including its targeting of the kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) system, an opioid receptor subtype implicated in decision-making and impulsivity, 6 and central release of its endogenous ligand, dynorphin. [3][4][5] Li et al 7 have also shown for the first time that the apelin receptor (APJ) and KOR, two members of the family A of Gprotein-coupled receptors, form a heterodimer that increases PKC activity. Moreover, the pro-depressant characteristics of central administration of apelin-13 may be mediated at least in part by KOR in mice.…”

Do the ADHD subtypes exist on a physiological continuum? A reply to Reiersen and Todorov (2013)

“…Other recent findings have corroborated an association between air pollution and childhood behavior problems (6). It has subsequently been suggested that chronic environmental exposure to the widespread and underestimated air pollutant nitrous oxide (N2O) may be the primary etiologic factor in neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD (7)(8)(9). Subanesthetic and subanalgesic N2O exposures in humans have been characterized by impairments in attention and working memory (10,11) as well as by the induction of a parasympathetic dominant state (8), thereby suggesting that a compensatory hyperkinetic state may reverse these physiological effects (3,5).…”