Air pollution and neurodevelopmental skills in preschool- and school-aged children: A systematic review. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Castagna, Annalisa; Mascheroni, Eleonora; Fustinoni, Silvia; Montirosso, Rosario
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 136(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: Pollutants -- Neurodevelopmental skills -- Child development -- Air pollution exposure; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104623
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

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. Highlights: Exposure to pollutants may be a risk for brain maturation and neurodevelopment. Air pollution may have detrimental effect on different neurodevelopmental skills. Air pollution mainly affect global intellective functioning and attentive skills. The greatest risk for neurodevelopment seems to occur through prenatal exposure.