Residential exposure to urban traffic is associated with the poorer neurobehavioral health of Ecuadorian schoolchildren

• Published in: Neurotoxicology (Park Forest South) Vol. 73; pp. 31 - 39
• Main Authors: Khan, Khalid M., Weigel, M. Margaret, Yonts, Sarah, Rohlman, Diane, Armijos, Rodrigo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2019; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - drug effects; Adolescent Development - drug effects; Age Factors; Air pollution; Air pollution measurements; Attention - drug effects; Child; Child Behavior - drug effects; Child Behavior Disorders - chemically induced; Child Behavior Disorders - physiopathology; Child Behavior Disorders - psychology; Child Development - drug effects; Children; Children & youth; Cognition; Computer memory; Cross-Sectional Studies; Distance from traffic; Ecuador; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Exposure; Female; Fine and ultrafine particulate matters; Hemoglobin; Humans; Latency; Male; Memory - drug effects; Motor Activity - drug effects; Motor skill learning; Nervous System - drug effects; Nervous System - growth & development; Neurobehavioral outcomes; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - adverse effects; Particulates; Pollutants; Reaction time; Reaction time task; Regression analysis; Residence Characteristics; Risk analysis; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Schools; Statistical analysis; Traffic; Traffic-generated air pollution; Traffic-Related Pollution - adverse effects; Ultrafines; Urban Health; Vehicle Emissions; Ecuador; Traffic-generated air pollution; Fine and ultrafine particulate matters; Neurobehavioral outcomes; Distance from traffic
• ISSN: 0161-813X; 1872-9711
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.02.018

•Residential exposure to traffic pollutants was associated with child behavior.•Children living <100 m of heavy traffic demonstrated neurobehavioral impairment.•Fine particulate matters and ultrafine particles may affect brain development. We investigated whether chronic traffic-generated air pollution containing fine and ultrafine particulate matter is associated with reduced neurobehavioral performance and behavioral dysfunction in urban Ecuadorian schoolchildren. Also, we examined the effect of child hemoglobin and sociodemographic risk factors on these neurocognitive outcomes. A convenience sample of healthy children aged 8–14 years attending public schools were recruited in Quito, Ecuador. Child residential proximity to the nearest heavily trafficked road was used as a proxy for traffic-related pollutant exposure. These included high exposure (<100 m), medium exposure (100–199 m) and low exposure (≥ 200 m) from the nearest heavily trafficked road. The Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS), a computerized test battery assessing attention, memory, learning and motor function was used to evaluate child neurobehavioral performance. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18) was used to assess child behavioral dysfunction as reported by mothers. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Children with the highest residential exposure to traffic pollutants (< 100 m) had significantly longer latencies as measured by match to sample (b = 410.27; p = 0.01) and continuous performance (b = 37.90; p = 0.02) compared to those living ≥ 200 m away. A similar but non-significant association was observed for reaction time latency. Children living within 100 m of heavy traffic also demonstrated higher scores across all CBCL subscales although only the relationship with thought problems (p = 0.05) was statistically significant in the adjusted model. The study findings suggest that children living within 100 m of heavy traffic appear to experience subtle neurobehavioral deficits that may result from fine and ultrafine particulate matter exposure.