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

Khalid M Khan; M Margaret Weigel; Sarah Yonts; Diane Rohlman; Rodrigo Armijos

doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2019.02.018

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

Neurotoxicology. 2019 Jul:73:31-39. doi: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.02.018. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Authors

Khalid M Khan¹, M Margaret Weigel², Sarah Yonts³, Diane Rohlman⁴, Rodrigo Armijos²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, USA. Electronic address: kmkhan@indiana.edu.
² Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, USA; Global Environmental Health Research Laboratory, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, USA.
³ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University-Bloomington, USA.
⁴ Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, USA.

PMID: 30826345
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.02.018

Abstract

Purpose: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: 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.

Keywords: Distance from traffic; Fine and ultrafine particulate matters; Neurobehavioral outcomes; Traffic-generated air pollution.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior / drug effects*
Adolescent Development / drug effects*
Age Factors
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*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Ecuador
Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
Female
Humans
Male
Memory / drug effects
Motor Activity / drug effects
Nervous System / drug effects*
Nervous System / growth & development
Particulate Matter / adverse effects*
Residence Characteristics
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Traffic-Related Pollution / adverse effects*
Urban Health*
Vehicle Emissions*

Substances

Particulate Matter
Vehicle Emissions