Studies on air pollution and development

“Air pollution has no place in any individual’s airways, especially not during development”.

– Björn Lundberg, Karolinska Insitute

Here you can fins some articles and studies on air pollution and the effects it has on the growth and development on children.

Air pollution and children’s health

April 2023.

Report from European Environmental Agency (EEA).

” While air pollution affects everyone, children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable because their bodies, organs and immune systems are still developing. Air pollution damages health during childhood and increases the risk of diseases later in life, yet children can do little to protect themselves or influence air quality policies. Until air pollution overall is reduced to safe levels, improving air quality around child-centric settings like schools and kindergartens can help reduce their exposure. “

Click here to get to the full article.

Air pollution exposure impairs lung function in infants

May 2022.

The author Björn Lundberg included 177 children born and growing up in Stockholm.

The children were living in areas in the Stockholm region with low to moderate air pollution levels and went through a series of lung function testings at the age of 6 months.

The results showed a reduction in both airway diameter, and lung volume as a result of air pollution exposure during intrauterine life, as well as during the first six months of life.

The reduction in lung function was approximately 5 % in this group.

Click here to get to the study.

 

Pollution and Child Development

June 2018.

Landrigan et al.

Pollution exposures in the first 1000 days of life – from conception to 2 years of age – are especially dangerous because during this time children’s bodies are growing and their organ systems are moving through complex developmental processes that can easily be disrupted.

Exposure to even low levels of pollution during the first 1000 days can stunt children’s growth, increase their risk of disease, and cause lasting damage to eg the lungs.

Click here to get to the full article.

Children and Air Pollution

Children and teens face special risks from air pollution.

April 2023

Article from the American Lung Association on the effects of ir pollution on the developing human.

“ researchers found that those who grew up in more polluted areas face the increased risk of having reduced lung growth, which may never recover to their full capacity. The average drop in lung function was similar to the impact of growing up in a home with parents who smoked.”

“There is also real-world evidence that reducing air pollution can help protect children.”

Click here to get to the full article.

Associations of improved air quality with lung function growth from childhood to adulthood: the BAMSE study

European Respiratory Journal 2023

The BAMSE study is an ongoing population-based cohort from Stockholm, Sweden, including 4089 newborns in 1994–1996.

“Long-term reduction of air pollution is associated with positive lung function development from childhood to young adulthood.”

Click here to get to the full article.