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

Paolo Girardi, Silvia Lanfranchi, Libera Ylenia Mastromatteo, Massimo Stafoggia and Sara Scrimin
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Paolo Girardi: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
Silvia Lanfranchi: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
Libera Ylenia Mastromatteo: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
Massimo Stafoggia: Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, ASL Roma 1, Via Cristoforo Colombo, 112, 00147 Rome, Italy
Sara Scrimin: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-13

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 (PM 10 ) 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 PM 10 during the entire fetal period was linked to the municipality of residence of the children. The increase in the prenatal PM 10 was associated with a decrease in the cognitive score during the second (+13.2 µg/m 3 PM 10 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 PM 10 increases in the second trimester. The development of cognitive and communicative abilities of children was negatively associated with the exposure to PM 10 during the period of fetal development, confirming that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can potentially hinder the development of the brain.

Keywords: air pollution; development; cognitive; communicative; robust model; multidomain assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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