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Ke L, Feng G, Zhang Y, Ma X, Zhao B, Sun Y, Dong Z, Xing J, Wang S, Di Q. Causal effects of prenatal and chronic PM 2.5 exposures on cognitive function. Environ Res 2023; 219:115138. [PMID: 36565844 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.115138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence indicated an association between PM2.5 exposure and cognitive function, but the causal effect and the cognitive effect of prenatal PM2.5 exposure remain elusive. We obtained 15,099 subjects from a nationally representative sample of China and measured their cognitive performance. We ascertained subjects' prenatal PM2.5 exposure and chronic PM2.5 exposure of the recent two years. Using this national sample, we found that PM2.5 exposure during the mid- to late-pregnancy was significantly associated with declined cognition and income; chronic PM2.5 exposure was also independently associated with cognition and income measured at adulthood with greater magnitude. Negative effect modification was observed between prenatal and chronic PM2.5 exposure. Instrumental variable approach and difference-in-difference study verified causal effects: every 1 μg/m3 increase in prenatal and chronic PM2.5 exposures were causally associated with -0.22% (-0.38%, -0.06%) and -0.17% (-0.31%, -0.03%) changes in cognitive function, respectively. People with low cognition and low income were more vulnerable to PM2.5 exposure with greater cognitive and income decline. In the future, although China's improved air quality continues to benefit people and reduce cognitive decline induced by chronic PM2.5 exposure, high prenatal PM2.5 exposure will continue to hurt the overall cognition of Chinese population, since in total 360 million people were born during the 2000-2020 polluted era. Prenatal PM2.5-induced cognitive decline would remain largely unchanged before 2050 and gradually reduce after 2065, regardless of environmental policy scenarios. The long-lasting cognitive impact of PM2.5 is worth considering while enacting environmental policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limei Ke
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Guoqing Feng
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Yao Zhang
- Soochow College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China; Division of Sports Science & Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Xindong Ma
- Division of Sports Science & Physical Education, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Yisheng Sun
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Zhaoxin Dong
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Jia Xing
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Qian Di
- Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Institute for Healthy China, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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