Environmental pollution: risk to the developing brain
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34024/rnc.2021.v29.12311Keywords:
Pollution, neurodevelopment, prenatal, childhoodAbstract
Introduction. Numerous recent studies showed the adverse health impacts of air pollution, especially in the developing brain. This article is a review of the literature of articles on pollution in the developing brain, from the prenatal period and childhood. Objectives. The purpose of this review was to show the existing evidence that associates exposure to environmental pollutants and consequences to the developing brain. Method. Searches for articles related to air pollution and its effects on the nervous system were carried out in the MEDLINE database. Results. Studies point to relationships between cognitive impairment and exposure to pollutants such as particulate matter, lead and mercury in children whose mothers were exposed to these materials. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are related to global developmental delay and deficits in stature and weight. Conclusion. Air pollutants are responsible for several deleterious effects during central nervous system’s development.
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Copyright (c) 2021 Mariana Braatz Krueger, Jainara Gonçalves, José Eduardo Peixoto Santos, Maria José da Silva Fernandes
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