Journal article
Residential exposure to urban traffic is associated with the poorer neurobehavioral health of Ecuadorian schoolchildren
Neurotoxicology (Park Forest South), Vol.73, pp.31-39
07/2019
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.02.018
PMID: 30826345
Abstract
•Residential exposure to traffic pollutants was associated with child behavior.•Children living <100 m of heavy traffic demonstrated neurobehavioral impairment.•Fine particulate matters and ultrafine particles may affect brain development.
We investigated whether chronic traffic-generated air pollution containing fine and ultrafine particulate matter is associated with reduced neurobehavioral performance and behavioral dysfunction in urban Ecuadorian schoolchildren. Also, we examined the effect of child hemoglobin and sociodemographic risk factors on these neurocognitive outcomes.
A convenience sample of healthy children aged 8–14 years attending public schools were recruited in Quito, Ecuador. Child residential proximity to the nearest heavily trafficked road was used as a proxy for traffic-related pollutant exposure. These included high exposure (<100 m), medium exposure (100–199 m) and low exposure (≥ 200 m) from the nearest heavily trafficked road. The Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS), a computerized test battery assessing attention, memory, learning and motor function was used to evaluate child neurobehavioral performance. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18) was used to assess child behavioral dysfunction as reported by mothers. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression.
Children with the highest residential exposure to traffic pollutants (< 100 m) had significantly longer latencies as measured by match to sample (b = 410.27; p = 0.01) and continuous performance (b = 37.90; p = 0.02) compared to those living ≥ 200 m away. A similar but non-significant association was observed for reaction time latency. Children living within 100 m of heavy traffic also demonstrated higher scores across all CBCL subscales although only the relationship with thought problems (p = 0.05) was statistically significant in the adjusted model.
The study findings suggest that children living within 100 m of heavy traffic appear to experience subtle neurobehavioral deficits that may result from fine and ultrafine particulate matter exposure.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Residential exposure to urban traffic is associated with the poorer neurobehavioral health of Ecuadorian schoolchildren
- Creators
- Khalid M Khan - Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, USAM. Margaret Weigel - Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, USASarah Yonts - Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, USADiane Rohlman - Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, USARodrigo Armijos - Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Neurotoxicology (Park Forest South), Vol.73, pp.31-39
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.02.018
- PMID
- 30826345
- NLM abbreviation
- Neurotoxicology
- ISSN
- 0161-813X
- eISSN
- 1872-9711
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100016817, name: University of Maryland School of Public Health; DOI: 10.13039/100006733, name: Indiana University
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/2019
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health; International Programs; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984214960202771
Metrics
10 Record Views