What is air pollution doing to young children’s attention span?

Boys’ Brain Development and the Impact of Air Pollution

According to Spanish researchers, boys may be more affected by traffic fumes due to their slower brain maturation.

Air Pollution and Children’s Attention Span

A new study suggests that air pollution is weakening children’s attention span. Specifically, exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a pollutant mainly emitted by road traffic, is linked to poorer attention span in children aged four to eight years old.

This impact is particularly pronounced in boys, as revealed by researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). Their findings, published in the Environment International journal, contribute to the growing body of evidence highlighting the negative effects of air pollution during pregnancy and childhood on brain development.

When are children most impacted by air pollution?

The researchers analyzed data from over 1,700 women and their children in four Spanish regions. They estimated the daily exposure to NO2 during pregnancy and the first six years of childhood, taking into account each family’s home address.

In addition, the researchers assessed attentional function (the ability to choose what to pay attention to and what to ignore) at ages 4-6 and 6-8. They also evaluated working memory (the ability to temporarily hold information) at ages 6-8 using computer tests.

The findings indicate that children exposed to higher levels of NO2 are more likely to have poorer attentional function at ages 4-6. The most vulnerable age for this pollutant’s impact is 2 years old. The link between air pollution and attention span persists for boys aged 6-8.

Why are boys more impacted by air pollution at this age than girls?

Attentional function plays a crucial role in the development of executive functions in the brain, which control actions, thoughts, and emotions to achieve goals. Anne-Claire Binter, the last author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher at ISGlobal, explains that the prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functions, develops slowly and continues to mature during pregnancy and childhood.

This slow maturation makes the prefrontal cortex vulnerable to air pollution exposure. Animal studies have linked air pollution to inflammation, oxidative stress, and impaired energy metabolism in the brain. Binter suggests that boys may be more susceptible to the association between NO2 exposure and attentional function due to their slower brain maturation.

Interestingly, a previous study by ISGlobal researchers found that prenatal exposure to the pollutant negatively impacts girls the most.

Importance of Preventive Measures

“This study suggests that early childhood, up to the age of 2, seems to be a relevant period for implementing preventive measures,” says Binter. She emphasizes that even a small effect at the individual level from relatively low levels of exposure can have significant consequences at the population level. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution is therefore a determinant of the health of future generations.

This study adds to the growing list of reasons for decarbonizing transport systems. The European Environment Agency estimates that more than 1,200 children and teenagers in Europe are killed by air pollution each year. While this number is relatively low compared to the overall deaths from air pollution, which reached 311,000 in 2020, the impact on early life is considered greater.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The article highlights the negative impact of air pollution on children’s attention span and brain development, which is relevant to SDG 3, specifically the target of reducing deaths and illnesses from air pollution.

SDG 4: Quality Education

While not explicitly mentioned in the article, the impact of air pollution on children’s attention span can also affect their ability to learn and access quality education, making it connected to SDG 4.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article discusses the link between air pollution, particularly nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and its adverse impact on children’s attention span. This is relevant to SDG 11, which aims to reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities, including air quality.

SDG 13: Climate Action

Although not directly addressed in the article, the issue of air pollution is closely related to climate change and the need for climate action. SDG 13 emphasizes the integration of climate change measures into national policies and planning.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.

The article highlights the negative impact of air pollution, specifically nitrogen dioxide (NO2), on children’s attention span. By reducing air pollution, particularly in urban areas, progress can be made towards achieving this target.

Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

The article emphasizes the need to address air pollution in cities, particularly the impact of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on children’s attention span. By improving air quality and reducing pollution levels, progress can be made towards achieving this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. However, the level of exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) can serve as an indicator to measure progress in reducing air pollution in cities, which is relevant to SDG 11.

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Source: euronews.com

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