Air pollution fact falter the memory of the children

peter77/epictura

Published the 08.10.2017 at 14h57

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pollution airparticules finesenfantmémoiredéveloppementcognitif

Exhaust, factory chimney… On the way to school, children inhale many pollutants that are harmful to their cognitive development, report of the work of the ISGlobal, Barcelona (Spain) published in Environmental Pollution.

This study was carried out among 1 200 children from 7 to 10 years who went every day to school on foot. Close to forty institutions of barcelona have agreed to participate.

For 12 months, the researchers analyzed the levels of air pollution (fine particulate matter 2.5 microns, oxides of nitrogen and nitrogen dioxide or carbon soot), to which the students were exposed to during their commute daily. In parallel, they tested their cognitive development through the use of tests of memory and attention 4 times.

Increased sensitivity of small boys

“The results of toxicological studies and experimental work have shown that shorter exposures to high levels of pollutants can cause a disproportionate impact to health, has explained Mar Álvarez-Pedrerol, one of the authors. The negative effects can be especially pronounced in children because of their reduced lung capacity and their high respiratory rate “.

Preliminary studies confirmed by this new work. These reveal that the exposure to PM2,5 and the carbon soot slows the development of the working memory of children. The effects seem to be more pronounced in boys than girls. An increased sensitivity that the researchers do not know yet explain.

In contrast, no link has been demonstrated between the nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants, and a reduction of working memory or inattention.