Air Pollution, Child Health, and Cognitive Development
通过测量尼日利亚学龄前儿童血液中的一氧化碳水平，研究发现室内空气污染显著损害儿童的运动技能和问题解决能力，并影响其健康状况。
This study investigates the impact of indoor air pollution exposure, assessed through blood carbon monoxide (CO) levels, on both the development and health outcomes of preschool-age children in Nigeria. Prior research often relies on ambient air pollution data, which presents limitations in resource-constrained settings. To address this, we employ a direct approach, measuring CO levels in participants’ blood using the Rad-57 CO-oximeter. Our analysis demonstrates a robust association between elevated CO levels and significantly reduced acquisition of gross motor, fine motor and problem-solving skills. CO also exerts a statistically significant negative impact on children’s health outcomes. In light of these findings, we discuss potential policy implications to mitigate these detrimental effects.