Is Your Child's Attention Span Suffering? New Study Links Traffic Pollution to Cognitive Decline

By Tejal Somvanshi By Tejal Somvanshi

New study links traffic-related air pollution to reduced attention span in children aged 4-8.

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Higher NO2 exposure between ages 1.3-2.2 associated with slower reaction times and more errors in attention tests.

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Boys may be more vulnerable to long-term effects of NO2 exposure due to slower brain maturation.

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Early childhood, up to age 2, identified as critical window for implementing pollution prevention measures.

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Air pollution affects more than just cognition - it also impacts children's respiratory and cardiovascular health.

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Economic costs of air pollution estimated in the trillions of dollars annually.

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Parents and policymakers urged to take action: advocate for stricter emissions standards and improve indoor air quality.

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Future research needed to track pollution's cognitive effects into adolescence and adulthood.

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Experts emphasize urgency of reducing traffic-related air pollution to protect future generations' cognitive potential.

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