A published on Jan. 24, 2023, showed that toddlers whose mothers were exposed to high levels of pollution during mid- to late-pregnancy were prone to lower cognitive scores.
The researchers followed 161 Latino mothers with infants in Southern California. They used EPA data to calculate the mothers鈥� past exposure to air pollution from roadside traffic, industry and wildfire smoke. Their children were tested at age 2 for cognition, motor coordination and language skills. Researchers found that 16% of the toddlers had scores that indicated some degree of impairment, with those exposed to the highest levels of prenatal pollution having the lowest scores.
For example, the study showed that 2-year-olds exposed to inhalable particulate matter (tiny particles found in dust and smoke known as ) at the 75th percentile scored roughly three points lower than those exposed at the 25th percentile.
Tanya Alderete, an assistant professor of integrative physiology at CU Boulder who led the study, said pollution can increase inflammation and stress on an unborn child.
鈥淲e need to be aware that the things that we鈥檙e doing to the planet that results in climate change and greater exposure in humans, and particularly impacting certain communities disproportionately, has health-associated effects,鈥� Alderete said.
She said pregnant women can reduce risks by staying indoors when the air quality is unhealthy and using an air purifier at home.
Alderete added that being exposed to high pollution levels while pregnant does not guarantee that a child will have poor neurodevelopmental outcomes.
, more than 90% of the world鈥檚 population is exposed to particulate matter levels exceeding its recommended levels for healthy air. Moreover, air pollution is responsible for around 7 million premature deaths annually.
This story was produced by the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, KUNC in Colorado, KUNM in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau is provided in part by the .
Copyright 2023 KUNR Public Radio. To see more, visit . 9(MDAxNDQ2NDAxMDEyNzU2NzM2ODA3ZGI1ZA001))