Joan Forns1, Payam Dadvand2, Mikel Esnaola2, Mar Alvarez-Pedrerol2, Mònica López-Vicente3, Raquel Garcia-Esteban2, Marta Cirach2, Xavier Basagaña2, Mònica Guxens4, Jordi Sunyer3. 1. ISGlobal-Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain; Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain. Electronic address: joanfornsguzman@gmail.com. 2. ISGlobal-Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain; Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain. 3. ISGlobal-Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain; Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain. 4. ISGlobal-Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain; Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain; Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain; Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Recently, we showed that exposure to traffic-related air pollutants (TRAPs) at school was negatively associated with cognitive development, specifically working memory and inattentiveness, in primary schoolchildren during a course of 12 months. The persistence of such associations over longer periods remains as an open question. OBJECTIVE: To study the longitudinal association between TRAPs at school and cognitive development over a period of 3.5 years. METHODS: Indoor and outdoor levels of TRAPs (elemental carbon (EC), dioxide nitrogen (NO2), particulate matter (PM2.5) from traffic sources and ultrafine particles (UFP)) were measured at 39 schools across Barcelona during 2012/2013. Working memory, as a measure of cognitive development, was evaluated 4 times in 2012/2013 assessment and was re-evaluated one more time in 2015 using computerized n-back test (3-back d' as main outcome). Linear mixed effects models were used to test the association between TRAPs and 3-back d', adding child and school as random effects to account for the multilevel nature of the data, and school air pollutants levels (one at a time) as predictor. RESULTS: We found detrimental associations between all TRAPs and annual change in 3-back d' (working memory) (i.e. slower development of working memory in children attending schools with higher levels of air pollution). The associations (per one interquartile range increase in exposure) were strongest for outdoor NO2 (Coefficient (Coef) = - 4.22, 95% confidence interval (CI), - 6.22, - 2.22) and indoor UFP (Coef = - 4.12, 95%CI, - 5.68, - 1.83). These reductions were equivalent to - 20% (95%CI, - 30.1, - 10.7) and - 19.9% (95%CI, - 31.5, - 8.4) change in annual working memory development associated with one interquartile range increase in outdoor NO2 and indoor UFP, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the persistence of the negative association between TRAPs exposure at school and cognitive trajectory measured by n-back test over a period of 3.5 years.
INTRODUCTION: Recently, we showed that exposure to traffic-related air pollutants (TRAPs) at school was negatively associated with cognitive development, specifically working memory and inattentiveness, in primary schoolchildren during a course of 12 months. The persistence of such associations over longer periods remains as an open question. OBJECTIVE: To study the longitudinal association between TRAPs at school and cognitive development over a period of 3.5 years. METHODS: Indoor and outdoor levels of TRAPs (elemental carbon (EC), dioxidenitrogen (NO2), particulate matter (PM2.5) from traffic sources and ultrafine particles (UFP)) were measured at 39 schools across Barcelona during 2012/2013. Working memory, as a measure of cognitive development, was evaluated 4 times in 2012/2013 assessment and was re-evaluated one more time in 2015 using computerized n-back test (3-back d' as main outcome). Linear mixed effects models were used to test the association between TRAPs and 3-back d', adding child and school as random effects to account for the multilevel nature of the data, and school air pollutants levels (one at a time) as predictor. RESULTS: We found detrimental associations between all TRAPs and annual change in 3-back d' (working memory) (i.e. slower development of working memory in children attending schools with higher levels of air pollution). The associations (per one interquartile range increase in exposure) were strongest for outdoor NO2 (Coefficient (Coef) = - 4.22, 95% confidence interval (CI), - 6.22, - 2.22) and indoor UFP (Coef = - 4.12, 95%CI, - 5.68, - 1.83). These reductions were equivalent to - 20% (95%CI, - 30.1, - 10.7) and - 19.9% (95%CI, - 31.5, - 8.4) change in annual working memory development associated with one interquartile range increase in outdoor NO2 and indoor UFP, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest the persistence of the negative association between TRAPs exposure at school and cognitive trajectory measured by n-back test over a period of 3.5 years.
Authors: Ornella Luminati; Alexandra Brentani; Benjamin Flückiger; Bartolomeu Ledebur de Antas de Campos; Michelle Raess; Martin Röösli; Kees de Hoogh; Günther Fink Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-05-13 Impact factor: 3.752
Authors: Christine T Loftus; Yu Ni; Adam A Szpiro; Marnie F Hazlehurst; Frances A Tylavsky; Nicole R Bush; Sheela Sathyanarayana; Kecia N Carroll; Michael Young; Catherine J Karr; Kaja Z LeWinn Journal: Environ Res Date: 2019-12-23 Impact factor: 6.498
Authors: Silvia Alemany; Natàlia Vilor-Tejedor; Raquel García-Esteban; Mariona Bustamante; Payam Dadvand; Mikel Esnaola; Marion Mortamais; Joan Forns; Barend L van Drooge; Mar Álvarez-Pedrerol; Joan O Grimalt; Ioar Rivas; Xavier Querol; Jesus Pujol; Jordi Sunyer Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2018-08-02 Impact factor: 9.031