Exposure to road traffic noise and cognitive development in schoolchildren in

Barcelona, Spain: A population-based cohort study

Mar Alvarez-Pedrerol, Ioar Rivas, Mònica López-Vicente, Elisabet Suades-González,

David Donaire-Gonzalez, Marta Cirach, Montserrat de Castro, Mikel Esnaola, Xavier
Basagaña, Payam Dadvand, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Jordi Sunyer

Published: December 2017

Abstract

As stated in the abstract, the study investigated how exposure to air pollution from
traffic while cimmuting to school affects the cognitive development of children. The
researchers followed 1,234 children aged 7-10 years who walked to school in
Barcelona, Spain over a 12-month period. They tested the children's working memory
and inattentiveness four times during the study to track their cognitive development. The
study found that exposure to particulate matter and black carbon during walking
commutes was associated with a reduction in the growth of working memory. The study
suggests that efforts should be made to create pedestrian school pathways through low
traffic streets to reduce children's exposure to air pollutants and improve their cognitive
development.

Why did you find the study interesting?

While previous studies have explored the association between exposure to air pollution
at home or school and cognitive development, this study is unique in terms of examining
the impact of exposure during commuting; and since the study included Nitrogen
Dioxide which usually comes from the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, gas and oil)
especially fuel used in cars, buses, trucks, etc. It is also produced from making nitric
acid, welding and using explosives, refining of petrol and metals, commercial
manufacturing, and food manufacturing.

I commute every time I go to school, which is why this study piqued my interest the most.

Additionally, the study focuses specifically on children who walk to school, a group that
may be more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution due to their proximity to traffic.
By investigating the relationship between exposure to traffic-related air pollution
during walking commutes and cognitive development, this study contributes to a
growing body of research on the potential health effects of air pollution and provides
important insights for policymakers and urban planners seeking to improve public
health and safety.

2 important findings
The study discussed the potential impact of exposure to air pollution during commuting
on cognitive development in children. As mentioned in the study, researchers found
adverse associations between the levels of black carbon (BC) and PM2.5 (particulate
matter, which refers to tiny particles in the air that are less than or equal to 2.5 microns
in diameter. These particles are small enough to be inhaled deeply into the lungs, and
they can cause a range of health problems, particularly for people with pre-existing
respiratory or cardiovascular conditions) during commuting between home and school
and working memory. The study also observed an impairment in attention function,
although the associations were not significant. The findings for nitrogen dioxide and
working memory, and for all pollutants and inattentiveness, were not conclusive. The
study also observed that the associations between air pollutants and cognitive function
were independent of total air pollutant (TRAPs) levels at school and home.

One important finding from the discussion is that exposure to air pollution during
commuting may have a significant impact on cognitive development in children. The
study suggests that exposure to air pollutants during commuting has an independent
effect on cognitive development, and the relative contribution of time and dose during
commuting in children is substantial. Previous epidemiological studies have mainly
focused on air pollutants' effects at home or in the living area, and this is the first study
to report the potential impact of air pollution during commuting on cognitive
development. The study highlights the need for more research on the impact of
exposure to air pollution during commuting on children's health.

Another important finding from the study is that working memory is a function
susceptible to be affected by the exposure to neurotoxicants during childhood. The
study found an association between exposure to air pollutants during commuting and
working memory, which is a good predictor of learning achievement. The prefrontal
cortex, which is crucial for working memory, is still immature during childhood.
Therefore working memory is a function susceptible to be affected by exposure to
neurotoxicants during childhood. The study suggests that the impact of exposure to air
pollutants during commuting on working memory is potentially significant, particularly
in children, who have a smaller lung capacity and higher breathing rates than adults.
The study highlights the need for more research on the impact of exposure to air
pollution on children's cognitive development, especially for functions such as working
memory.