Introduction
If a pregnant woman is exposed to air pollutants, the chances of the kid developing brain injury and damage are high. This process includes the effects of inhaling polluted air in children up to the age of six years, which may cause problems later in life. In this research study, the goal scientists hoped to achieve with this assessment was to further document the effects air pollution has on kids exposed to polluted air in the prenatal and postnatal stages.
Main body
The research focuses on the association between air pollutants and child behavioral and cognitive performance problems. The study included the results of both prenatal and postnatal exposure to air pollutants, mainly nitrogen oxides (NO2) and particulate matter (PM) (Ni et al., 2022). An alternative hypothesis to the study is that air pollutants increase the chances of depression in adulthood in these children (Ni et al., 2022). This point is supported by the results from the study showing there is an effect on the people.
The experimental study involved 1,967 pregnant women in six different cities in the United States, using ECHO-PATHWAYS Consortium cohorts throughout their pregnancy until the child was six years old. The research namely, the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) study, the Infant Development and Environment Study (TIDES), and the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth (GAPPS) (Ni et al., 2022). For the air pollution assessment, the residential environment from which the addresses were provided was measured for air pollution using intensive research cohort-specific monitors.
Each cohort method was conducted for a different reason, from pregnancy until the child was between four and six years old. The CANDLE study was meant to observe and identify risk factors causing child neurodevelopment problems. In contrast, the TIDES study was designed to examine how child health and development are affected due to exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The GAPPS study’s primary purpose is to reduce preterm birth by measures of a biorepository within evidence-based treatments and interventions (Ni et al., 2022). Information gathered from these studies was documented, and the results of the behavior and characters of the children were compared to the air pollution exposure they received.
The scientists involved conducted an observational study to acquire the results. This research means the individuals were observed without any interventions or attempts to affect the outcome medically, environmentally, or physically. The main findings from the research study indicate that exposure to these pollutants leads to an increased risk of violent behavior and other problems, such as economic productivity in adolescence and adulthood. According to Sunyer and Dadvand (2019), environmental toxicants contribute to a global pandemic of developmental brain problems. Brain structure formation and growth occur during the prenatal period. During this period, permanent brain injury may occur if exposed to a contaminated and polluted environment (Sunyer & Dadvand, 2019). Therefore, pregnant women should avoid areas with extreme air pollutants, as well as protect toddlers from these toxic environments. These may include industrial areas or even being around smokers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, from the research studies, it is clear that exposure to air pollutants affects a child’s development and even later in life. The significance of the findings to public health is that they provide more information on how air pollution affects pregnancies and the damage it might cause to the brain. It provides insights into how these pollutants affect the general growth of a person mentally and behaviorally as well as long-term effects. Additionally, it includes information on the risk factors and public interventions that may be applied.
References
Ni, Y., Loftus, C. T., Szpiro, A. A., Young, M. T., Hazlehurst, M. F., Murphy, L. E., Tylavaskyy, F. A., Mason, W. A., LeWinn, K. Z., Sathyanarayana, S., Barrett, E. S., Bush, N. R., & Karr, C. J. (2022). Associations of pre-and postnatal air pollution exposures with child behavioral problems and cognitive performance: a US multi-cohort study. Environmental Health Perspectives, 130(6), 067008. Web.
Sunyer, J., & Dadvand, P. (2019). Pre‐natal brain development as a target for urban air pollution. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 125, 81-88. Web.