Abstract
The results of research indicate, that air pollution may unfavourably affect neuropsychological development in children. First information about such deterioration showed the increase of minimal brain dysfuction in children from the Northern Bohemia Region in Czech Republic in eighties.
Later was observed the neurotoxicity of polluted air in children from 2nd to 8th class, comparing the polluted district of Teplice with the control district of Prachatice. Prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was studied in cohorts of children from New York (USA), Krakow (Poland), and Tongliang (China).
All studies observed the decrease of cognitive functions, inteligency quocient, decrease of white matter volume of the left hemisphere. Studies from Spain prove unfavorable effect of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from the air polluted by traffic to cognitive and psychomotoric development of primary school children as well as the impact of prenatal exposure to affect attention.
Increased concentrations of PM2,5 (particulate matter < 2,5 mm) from traffic emissions affect working memory and attention in children. Impact of geen spaces to neurodevelopmental development is followed for a long time in Spain.
Studies prove the decrease of ADHD symptoms, improvement of working memory, improvement of attention, as well as the increase of the grey and white matter of brain volume.