There’s been a huge push to “go green” and reduce our carbon footprint in recent years. This is largely because studies show that pollution puts our children at higher risks for health conditions like asthma and heart disease.
However, a new study says that even prenatal exposure to air pollution can impact our kids’ academic performance.
According to the study, which was recently published in Environmental Research, children who are exposed to elevated air pollution levels may show signs of poor academic performance and self-regulation skills during early adolescence.
To complete the study, researchers at the Columbia University's Irving Medical Center followed 200 children from northern Manhattan and the Bronx in a longitudinal study. The team collected measurements for prenatal airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during each mother's third trimester of pregnancy. Then the team tested each child's impulse control and academic performance between ages 10 and 13.
Overall, the researchers found that children with higher PAH exposures consistently scored low in both self-regulation and academic performance.
In an interview with Science Daily, study co-author Julie Herbstman, PhD claimed these latest findings add even more ammunition to a growing body of research which shows just how detrimental early childhood pollution exposures are to kids' lifetime health outcomes. In fact, previous studies from Columbia University have found links between prenatal PAH levels and the development of ADHD in young children, and other studies have found that air pollution is literally causing higher death rates for kids than ever before.
"This study adds to a growing body of literature showing the deleterious health effects of prenatal exposure to air pollution on child health outcomes, including academic achievement."
According to Herbstman, the best thing we can do as a society is work towards reducing air pollution both at a local and global level. This can not only help save the planet, but prevent adverse outcomes for our children.
Furthermore, Greenpiece says families can also take specific measures to reduce their exposure to air pollution on a daily basis. These measures include spending time in green spaces, avoiding main roads, and not going outside during rush hour traffic.
We can’t remove exposures to air pollution that have already happened, but we can help protect our kids from further damage and protect future generations too. It’s just going to require a shift in mindset and how we live our day-to-day lives.
Sources: Environmental Research, Science Daily, Greenpiece