Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Early Childhood Cognitive Functioning

Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Early Childhood Cognitive Functioning PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The purpose of this dissertation is to understand how early life exposure to environmental pollutants like ambient PM2.5 affects childhood cognitive functioning and whether maternal history of stress and perceived neighborhood qualities moderate this association. The specific goals of this dissertation are to determine if and to what extent: (1) average exposure to ambient PM2.5 during the first 9 months of children's lives affect their cognitive functioning at 2 years; (2) experience of preconception stressful life events (PSLEs) by the biological mothers moderate the association between average PM2.5 exposure during the first 9 months of children' lives and their cognitive functioning at 2 years; and (3) perceived neighborhood quality attenuates the effect of ambient air quality on children's cognitive functioning. The dissertation first provides an overview of empirical frameworks and existing literature on the role of ambient PM2.5 on neurocognitive development and identifies potential gaps in the current body of research. As a second step, this research utilizes data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) study and air monitoring data on ambient PM2.5 from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) AirData website. Results from the first manuscript of this dissertation suggest there exposure to smaller doses of PM2.5 during the first 9 months of children's lives may have more detrimental effects on cognitive development of children at 2 years. Findings from the second manuscript suggest that ambient PM2.5 is equally likely to affect childhood cognition, irrespective of the mother's experience of any PSLE. However PSLEs may indirectly moderate the association between cognition and exposure to PM2.5 through birthweight status. Finally, findings of the last manuscript suggest that irrespective of the perceived neighborhood quality, childhood cognition is equally likely to be affected by PM2.5 exposure. This study shows that early life exposure to ambient PM2.5 matters for childhood cognition and that very-low and low birthweight children are more vulnerable to the adverse effect of PM2.5. Future studies need to investigate how specific components of ambient PM2.5 affect children's neurocognitive development and whether different domains of maternal stress can differentially moderate the association between environmental exposures and cognitive functioning.

Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Early Childhood Cognitive Functioning

Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter and Early Childhood Cognitive Functioning PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The purpose of this dissertation is to understand how early life exposure to environmental pollutants like ambient PM2.5 affects childhood cognitive functioning and whether maternal history of stress and perceived neighborhood qualities moderate this association. The specific goals of this dissertation are to determine if and to what extent: (1) average exposure to ambient PM2.5 during the first 9 months of children's lives affect their cognitive functioning at 2 years; (2) experience of preconception stressful life events (PSLEs) by the biological mothers moderate the association between average PM2.5 exposure during the first 9 months of children' lives and their cognitive functioning at 2 years; and (3) perceived neighborhood quality attenuates the effect of ambient air quality on children's cognitive functioning. The dissertation first provides an overview of empirical frameworks and existing literature on the role of ambient PM2.5 on neurocognitive development and identifies potential gaps in the current body of research. As a second step, this research utilizes data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B) study and air monitoring data on ambient PM2.5 from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) AirData website. Results from the first manuscript of this dissertation suggest there exposure to smaller doses of PM2.5 during the first 9 months of children's lives may have more detrimental effects on cognitive development of children at 2 years. Findings from the second manuscript suggest that ambient PM2.5 is equally likely to affect childhood cognition, irrespective of the mother's experience of any PSLE. However PSLEs may indirectly moderate the association between cognition and exposure to PM2.5 through birthweight status. Finally, findings of the last manuscript suggest that irrespective of the perceived neighborhood quality, childhood cognition is equally likely to be affected by PM2.5 exposure. This study shows that early life exposure to ambient PM2.5 matters for childhood cognition and that very-low and low birthweight children are more vulnerable to the adverse effect of PM2.5. Future studies need to investigate how specific components of ambient PM2.5 affect children's neurocognitive development and whether different domains of maternal stress can differentially moderate the association between environmental exposures and cognitive functioning.

The Impact of Short Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution on Cognitive Performance and Human Capital Formation

The Impact of Short Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution on Cognitive Performance and Human Capital Formation PDF Author: Victor Lavy
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Educational attainment
Languages : en
Pages : 22

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Book Description
Cognitive performance is critical to productivity in many occupations and potentially linked to pollution exposure. We evaluate this potentially important relationship by estimating the effect of pollution exposure on standardized test scores among Israeli high school high-stakes tests (2000-2002). Since students take multiple exams on multiple days in the same location after each grade, we can adopt a fixed effects strategy estimating models with city, school, and student fixed effects. We focus on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO), which are considered to be two of the most dangerous forms of air pollution. We find that while PM2.5 and CO levels are only weakly correlated with each other, both exhibit a robust negative relationship with test scores. We also find that PM2.5, which is thought to be particularly damaging for asthmatics, has a larger negative impact on groups with higher rates of asthma. For CO, which affects neurological functioning, the effect is more homogenous across demographic groups. Furthermore, we find that exposure to either pollutant is associated with a significant decline in the probability of not receiving a Bagrut certificate, which is required for college entrance in Israel. The results suggest that the gain from improving air quality may be underestimated by a narrow focus on health impacts. Insofar as air pollution may lead to reduced cognitive performance, the consequences of pollution may be relevant for a variety of everyday activities that require mental acuity. Moreover, by temporarily lowering the productivity of human capital, high pollution levels lead to allocative inefficiency as students with lower human capital are assigned a higher rank than their more qualified peers. This may lead to inefficient allocation of workers across occupations, and possibly a less productive workforce.

Traffic-Related Air Pollution

Traffic-Related Air Pollution PDF Author: Haneen Khreis
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0128181230
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 650

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Book Description
Traffic-Related Air Pollution synthesizes and maps TRAP and its impact on human health at the individual and population level. The book analyzes mitigating standards and regulations with a focus on cities. It provides the methods and tools for assessing and quantifying the associated road traffic emissions, air pollution, exposure and population-based health impacts, while also illuminating the mechanisms underlying health impacts through clinical and toxicological research. Real-world implications are set alongside policy options, emerging technologies and best practices. Finally, the book recommends ways to influence discourse and policy to better account for the health impacts of TRAP and its societal costs. - Overviews existing and emerging tools to assess TRAP's public health impacts - Examines TRAP's health effects at the population level - Explores the latest technologies and policies--alongside their potential effectiveness and adverse consequences--for mitigating TRAP - Guides on how methods and tools can leverage teaching, practice and policymaking to ameliorate TRAP and its effects

Something in the Air?

Something in the Air? PDF Author: Dave E. Marcotte
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Air
Languages : en
Pages : 40

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Book Description
Poor air quality has been shown to harm the health and development of children. Research on these relationships has focused almost exclusively on the effects of human-made pollutants, and has not fully distinguished between contemporaneous and long-run effects. This paper contributes on both of these fronts. Merging data on plant pollen, human-made pollutants and ECLS-K data on academic skills, I study the relationship between poor air quality in the first years of life on school-readiness, and the effects of ambient air quality on achievement of young children. I find evidence that exposure in early childhood affects school readiness at the start of kindergarten, and that the effects of air quality on the growth of cognitive skills in math and reading continue into elementary school.

Essentials of WAIS-IV Assessment

Essentials of WAIS-IV Assessment PDF Author: Elizabeth O. Lichtenberger
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 0470538554
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 434

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Book Description
Essentials of WAIS®-IV Assessment: Complete coverage of administration, scoring,interpretation, and reporting Expert advice on avoiding common pitfalls Conveniently formatted for rapid reference Quickly acquire the knowledge and skills you need to confidently administer, score, and interpret the WAIS®-IV Coauthored by Alan Kaufman, who was mentored by David Wechsler, the creator of the Wechsler scales, Essentials of WAIS®-IV Assessment provides beginning and seasoned clinicians with comprehensive step-by-step guidelines to administering, scoring, and interpreting this latest revision of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale®. Like all the volumes in the Essentials of Psychological Assessment series, this book is designed to help busy mental health practitioners quickly acquire the basic knowledge and skills they need to make optimal use of a major psychological assessment instrument. Each concise chapter features numerous callout boxes highlighting key concepts, bulleted points, and extensive illustrative material, as well as test questions that help you gauge and reinforce your grasp of the information covered. Offering a clinically rich and innovative theory-based interpretive system, as well as a neuro-psychologically based interpretive approach articulated in detail by Dr. George McCloskey in an invited chapter, this book offers state-of-the-art interpretation of the most popular intelligence test for adults. In addition, the book is packaged with an accompanying CD-ROM containing scoring tables, case report material, worksheets, and a user-friendly software program that fully automates the interpretive system, making Essentials of WAIS®-IV Assessment the best and most authoritative resource of information on this test. Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

America's Children and the Environment

America's Children and the Environment PDF Author: U.s. Environmental Protection Agency
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781547052585
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 502

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Book Description
"America's Children and the Environment (ACE)" is EPA's report presenting data on children's environmental health. ACE brings together information from a variety of sources to provide national indicators in the following areas: Environments and Contaminants, Biomonitoring, and Health. Environments and Contaminants indicators describe conditions in the environment, such as levels of air pollution. Biomonitoring indicators include contaminants measured in the bodies of children and women of child-bearing age, such as children's blood lead levels. Health indicators report the rates at which selected health outcomes occur among U.S. children, such as the annual percentage of children who currently have asthma. Accompanying each indicator is text discussing the relevance of the issue to children's environmental health and describing the data used in preparing the indicator. Wherever possible, the indicators are based on data sources that are updated in a consistent manner, so that indicator values may be compared over time.

The Urban Child Institute CANDLE Study

The Urban Child Institute CANDLE Study PDF Author: Lisa Sontag-Padilla
Publisher: Rand Corporation
ISBN:
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
This report describes the study design and summary data from the first year of data collection for the Urban Child Institute Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood Study: participant demographics, prenatal and birth measures; child and family health and nutrition; mothers' mental and behavioral health; and cognitive performance, psychosocial measures, and biological samples for mothers and children.

Neurological Disorders

Neurological Disorders PDF Author: World Health Organization
Publisher: World Health Organization
ISBN: 9241563362
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
Although there are several gaps in understanding the many issues related to neurological disorders, we know enough to be able to shape effective policy responses to some of the most common. This book describes and discusses the increasing public health impact of common neurological disorders such as dementia, epilepsy, headache disorders, multiple sclerosis, neuroinfections, neurological disorders associated with malnutrition, pain associated with neurological disorders, Parkinson's disease, stroke and traumatic brain injuries. It provides information and advice on public health interventions that may reduce their occurrence and consequences, and offers health professionals and planners the opportunity to assess the burden caused by these disorders. The clear message that emerges is that unless immediate action is taken globally, the neurological burden is likely to become an increasingly serious and unmanageable.

Smog in our brains: Gender differences in the impact of exposure to air pollution on cognitive performance in China

Smog in our brains: Gender differences in the impact of exposure to air pollution on cognitive performance in China PDF Author: Chen, Xi
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 43

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Book Description
While there is a large body of literature on the negative health effects of air pollution, there is much less written about its effects on cognitive performance for the whole population. This paper studies the effects of contemporaneous and cumulative exposure to air pollution on cognitive performance based on a nationally representative survey in China. By merging a longitudinal sample at the individual level with local air-quality data according to the exact dates and counties of interviews, we find that contemporaneous and cumulative exposure to air pollution impedes both verbal and math scores of survey subjects. Interestingly, the negative effect is stronger for men than for women. Specifically, the gender difference is more salient among the old and less educated in both verbal and math tests.

Educational Neuroscience

Educational Neuroscience PDF Author: Michael S. C. Thomas
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000040798
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 487

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Book Description
The field of educational neuroscience uses new insights about the neural mechanisms of learning to improve educational practices and outcomes. The first volume to bring together the latest knowledge on the development of educational neuroscience from a life-span perspective, this important text offers state of the art, authoritative research findings in educational neuroscience before providing evidence-based recommendations for classroom practice. Thomas, Mareschal, Dumontheil, and the team of expert international contributors assembled in this volume thoroughly explore four main themes throughout the book. The first theme is individual differences, or what makes children perform better or worse in the classroom. The second theme is the nature of individual differences at different stages in development, from early years into adulthood. The third theme addresses cognitive enhancement, summarizing research that has investigated activities that might give general benefits to cognition. And the fourth theme considers the translation of research findings into classroom practices, discussing broader ethical issues raised by educational neuroscience, and what teachers need to know about neuroscience to enhance their day-to-day practice. Specific topics explored include neuropsychological perspectives on socioeconomic disparities in educational achievement, reading difficulties, phonological skills, executive function, and emotional development. Educational Neuroscience is essential reading for researchers and graduate students of educational psychology, developmental science, developmental psychology, and cognitive psychology, especially those specializing in emotion regulation.