Traffic-related air pollution and hyperactivity/inattention, dyslexia and dyscalculia in adolescents of the German GINIplus and LISAplus birth cohorts.

Elaine Fuertes, Marie Standl, Joan Forns, Dietrich Berdel, Judith Garcia-Aymerich, Iana Markevych, Gerd Schulte-Koerne, Dorothea Sugiri, Tamara Schikowski, Carla M T Tiesler, Joachim Heinrich

Journal: Environment international 2017;97():85-92

PMID: 27835751

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Abstract

BACKGROUND

Few studies have examined the link between air pollution exposure and behavioural problems and learning disorders during late childhood and adolescence.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether traffic-related air pollution exposure is associated with hyperactivity/inattention, dyslexia and dyscalculia up to age 15years using the German GINIplus and LISAplus birth cohorts (recruitment 1995-1999).

METHODS

Hyperactivity/inattention was assessed using the German parent-completed (10years) and self-completed (15years) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Responses were categorized into normal versus borderline/abnormal. Parent-reported dyslexia and dyscalculia (yes/no) at age 10 and 15years were defined using parent-completed questionnaires. Individual-level annual average estimates of nitrogen dioxide (NO), particulate matter (PM) mass, PM mass and PM absorbance concentrations were assigned to each participant's birth, 10year and 15year home address. Longitudinal associations between the air pollutants and the neurodevelopmental outcomes were assessed using generalized estimation equations, separately for both study areas, and combined in a random-effects meta-analysis. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals are given per interquartile range increase in pollutant concentration.

RESULTS

The prevalence of abnormal/borderline hyperactivity/inattention scores and parental-reported dyslexia and dyscalculia at 15years of age was 12.9%, 10.5% and 3.4%, respectively, in the combined population (N=4745). In the meta- analysis, hyperactivity/inattention was associated with PM mass estimated to the 10 and 15year addresses (1.12 [1.01, 1.23] and 1.11 [1.01, 1.22]) and PM absorbance estimated to the 10 and 15year addresses (1.14 [1.05, 1.25] and 1.13 [1.04, 1.23], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

We report associations suggesting a potential link between air pollution exposure and hyperactivity/inattention scores, although these findings require replication.

Address: ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: [email protected].; Institute of Epidemiology I, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: [email protected].; Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Marien-Hospital Wesel, Wesel, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; ISGlobal, Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: [email protected].; Institute of Epidemiology I, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine, Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; Institute of Epidemiology I, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine, Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].; Institute of Epidemiology I, Helmholtz Zentrum München-German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), German Center for Lung Research, Munich, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.10.017

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MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Air Pollutants, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Child, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Female, Germany, Humans, Male, Motor Vehicles, Nervous System Diseases, Nitrogen Dioxide, Particulate Matter, Vehicle Emissions