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Cited by 293Air Quality and Health ImpactsEnvironmental Justice and Health DisparitiesToxic Organic Pollutants Impact

Air Pollution and Neuropsychological Development: A Review of the Latest Evidence

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Suades-González, Elisabet, Gascon, Mireia, Guxens, Mònica, Sunyer, Jordi·2015·Endocrinology
DOI 10.1210/en.2015-1403PMC PMC4588818
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Abstract

For the last decade, literature on the detrimental impacts of air pollution on brain, cognition and behavior has exponentially increased. Our aim is to review the latest epidemiologic literature on the association between outdoor air pollution and neuropsychological developmental in children. Two independent researchers searched for published studies between January 1, 2012 and June 12, 2015 in MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Science direct using defined keywords on outdoor air pollution and neuropsychological development. Selection of articles was based on study eligibility criteria. We encountered sufficient evidence of detrimental effects of pre- or postnatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on global intelligence quotient. The evidence was also sufficient for the association between pre- or postnatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and autism spectrum disorder, and limited evidence was encountered between nitrogen oxides and autism spectrum disorder. For other exposure-outcome associations reviewed, the evidence was inadequate or insufficient. Although evidence is not yet conclusive and further research is needed, the latest epidemiological studies support the hypothesis that pre- or postnatal exposure to ambient pollution, particularly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PM2.5, and nitrogen oxides has a negative impact on the neuropsychological development of children. The public health impact of air pollutants cannot be ignored and the precautionary principle should be applied to protect children.

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  • The only prior review of air pollutants and neuropsychological development that followed a prescribed systematic methodology was limited to published English language studies appearing during or after 2012 and did not include a meta-analysis.

    “The only prior review of air pollutants and neuropsychological development that followed a prescribed systematic methodology was limited to published English language studies appearing during or after 2012 and did not include a meta-analysis [68].”

    From A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Multiple Airborne Pollutants and Autism Spectrum Disorder (2016) · cites this paper as [68]

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Authors
Suades-González, E., Gascon, M., Guxens, M., & Sunyer, J.
Affiliations
  • Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona (ES)
  • Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL) (E.S.-G., M.Ga., M.Gu., J.S.), Barcelona, 08003 Spain
  • Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES)
Corresponding author
Sunyer, Jordi
ORCID
Venue
Endocrinology
Publisher
The Endocrine Society
Published
2015-08-04
Volume
156
Issue
10
Pages
3473-3482
ISSN
  • 0013-7227 (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7170
DOI
10.1210/en.2015-1403
PMC
PMC4588818
OpenAlex
W1903457033
Cited by
293
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 4
FWCI
2.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (publishedVersion)
  • EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
  • RePub (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • RePub (Erasmus University Rotterdam) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (MS13/00054)
  • FP7 Ideas: European Research Council (268479)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Air Quality and Health Impacts
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Environmental Justice and Health Disparities
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
Keywords
air pollution, neuropsychological development, children, prenatal exposure, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PM2.5, autism spectrum disorder, nitrogen oxides, intelligence quotient, cognitive development, precautionary principle
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Air Pollutants, Air Pollution, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Child Development, Developmental Disabilities, Cognition, Environmental Exposure, Female, Humans, Nitrogen Oxides, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Pregnancy, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, Developmental Biology, Particulate Matter

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