Abstract
Automotive traffic-related air pollution (TRP) imposes an increasing health burden with global urbanization. Gestational and early child exposure to urban TRP is associated with higher risk of autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia, as well as low birth weight. While cardio-respiratory effects from exposure are well documented, cognitive effects are only recently becoming widely recognized. This review discusses effects of TRP on brain and cognition in human and animal studies. The mechanisms underlying these epidemiological associations are studied with rodent models of pre- and neonatal exposure to TRP, which show persisting inflammatory changes and altered adult behaviors and cognition. Some behavioral and inflammatory changes show male bias. Rodent models may identify dietary and other interventions for neuroprotection to TRP.
Highlights
Air pollution from fossil fuel combustion is increasingly recognized for its globally adverse effects on health throughout life
Because developmental cognitive defects are often associated with fetal growth retardation, it is important that traffic-related air pollution (TRP) can impact fetal growth
Pre- and postnatal exposure to urban TRP is correlated with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia, and impaired cognitive development
Summary
Air pollution from fossil fuel combustion is increasingly recognized for its globally adverse effects on health throughout life. Pre- and neonatal developmental exposure to TRP increases risk for low birth weight, and numerous cognitive detriments, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia, delayed development and cognitive impairment [5,6,7,8]. The risks for these disorders are especially high during development, and pollution exposure during gestation can alter development and create lifelong deficits. We discuss epidemiological data on the effects of TRP exposure during gestational development, including impaired fetal growth, as this is often associated with cognitive defects, and the effects of TRP exposure on later life cognition are reviewed. As well as the relevant data produced from those models in this nascent field
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