Neurodevelopmental Deceleration by Urban Fine Particles from Different Emission Sources: A Longitudinal Observational Study
Overview
Authors
Affiliations
Background: A few studies have reported associations between traffic-related air pollution exposure at schools and cognitive development. The role of PM components or sources other than traffic on cognitive development has been little explored.
Objectives: We aimed to explore the role of PM sources in school air on cognitive development.
Methods: A cohort of 2,618 schoolchildren (average age, 8.5 years) belonging to 39 schools in Barcelona (Spain) was followed up for a year. Children completed computerized tests assessing working memory, superior working memory, and inattentiveness during four visits. Particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5) was measured during two 1-week campaigns in each school, both outdoors and in the classroom. Source apportionment resulted in nine sources: mineral, organic/textile/chalk, traffic, secondary sulfate and organics, secondary nitrate, road dust, metallurgy, sea spray, and heavy oil combustion. Differences in cognitive growth trajectories were assessed with mixed models with age-by-source interaction terms.
Results: An interquartile range increase in indoor traffic-related PM2.5 was associated with reductions in cognitive growth equivalent to 22% (95% CI: 2%, 42%) of the annual change in working memory, 30% (95% CI: 6%, 54%) of the annual change in superior working memory, and 11% (95% CI: 0%, 22%) of the annual change in the inattentiveness scale. None of the other PM2.5 sources was associated with adverse effects on cognitive development.
Conclusions: Traffic was the only source of fine particles associated with a reduction in cognitive development. Reducing air pollution from traffic at primary schools may result in beneficial effects on cognition.
Citation: Basagaña X, Esnaola M, Rivas I, Amato F, Alvarez-Pedrerol M, Forns J, López-Vicente M, Pujol J, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Querol X, Sunyer J. 2016. Neurodevelopmental deceleration by urban fine particles from different emission sources: a longitudinal observational study. Environ Health Perspect 124:1630-1636; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP209.
Faherty T, Raymond J, McFiggans G, Pope F Nat Commun. 2025; 16(1):1339.
PMID: 39915448 PMC: 11803098. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56508-3.
Impact on murine neurodevelopment of early-life exposure to airborne ultrafine carbon nanoparticles.
Vanbrabant K, Rasking L, Vangeneugden M, Bove H, Ameloot M, Vanmierlo T Part Fibre Toxicol. 2024; 21(1):51.
PMID: 39633442 PMC: 11619103. DOI: 10.1186/s12989-024-00612-7.
Adar S, Pedde M, Hirth R, Szpiro A Res Rep Health Eff Inst. 2024; (221):1-44.
PMID: 39582384 PMC: 11587696.
Sukumaran K, Botternhorn K, Schwartz J, Gauderman J, Cardenas-Iniguez C, McConnell R Environ Health Perspect. 2024; 132(10):107009.
PMID: 39475730 PMC: 11524409. DOI: 10.1289/EHP14418.
Faherty T, Badri H, Hu D, Voliotis A, Pope F, Mudway I Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024; 21(3).
PMID: 38541284 PMC: 11154498. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21030284.