Association between Exposure to Particulate Matter during Pregnancy and Multidimensional Development in School-Age Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in Italy

Abstract

Air pollutants can potentially affect the development of children. However, data on the effect of exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and developmental outcomes in school children are rare. We investigated the link between prenatal exposure to particulate matters smaller than 10 microns (PM10) and the development of school-age children in multiple domains. Cross-sectional data were collected in Italy between 2013 and 2014. Children aged between 5 and 8 years (n = 1187) were assessed on cognitive, communication, socio-emotional, adaptive, and motor developmental domains using the Developmental Profile 3 questionnaire. The monthly average concentration of PM10 during the entire fetal period was linked to the municipality of residence of the children. The increase in the prenatal PM10 was associated with a decrease in the cognitive score during the second (+13.2 µg/m3 PM10 increase: −0.30 points; 95%CI: −0.12–−0.48) and third trimesters of pregnancy (−0.31 points; 95%CI: −0.11–−0.50). The communicative domain was also negatively influenced by PM10 increases in the second trimester. The development of cognitive and communicative abilities of children was negatively associated with the exposure to PM10 during the period of fetal development, confirming that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can potentially hinder the development of the brain.

Pre- and Postnatal Fine Particulate Matter Exposure and Childhood Cognitive and Adaptive Function

“…These findings are in line with a few recent studies on early life air pollution exposure and cognitive domains in children. Specifically, associations have been found in recent studies for second trimester air pollution exposure and cognitive and communicative scores in children [ 18 ]. Additionally, other studies have found impacts from prenatal air pollution exposure and deficits in fine motor skills [ 17 ] and general facets of behavioral development [ 19 ].…”

“…Studying the impacts of environmental exposures on continuous cognitive and adaptive symptoms in children allows for the assessment of subclinical impacts and uses a more dimensional approach [ 16 ]. A few recent studies have found associations between prenatal and early postnatal air pollution exposure and several continuous cognitive outcomes in children in the general population, particularly for communicative domains, motor skills, and overall cognitive deficits [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Several additional questions remain including the specific window of susceptibility and whether associations are similar for children with and without ASD or a developmental delay (DD).…”