Prenatal Exposure to Sand and Dust Storms and Children's Cognitive Function in China: A Quasi-Experimental Study

• 2018

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• Zhihui Li; Lincoln Chen; Mingqiang Li; Jessica Cohen
PMID: 29709285DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s2542-5196(18)30068-8

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About

This study explores how prenatal exposure to sand and dust storms in China affects children's cognitive abilities. It describes that increased exposure leads to lower word-recognition scores and delays in speaking and counting milestones, especially during the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy. The research uses data from the China Family Panel Studies and a fixed-effect model to compare children with different levels of storm exposure. It suggests protecting pregnant women from these storms could benefit future generations' cognitive development. The study also highlights limitations like potential biases due to unobserved factors or pollutants.

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Tags

Focus Areas: Natural Disasters; Severe Weather

Audiences: Physicians; Public Health Professionals

Emergency Management Stage: Preparedness (Prevention / Protection)

Keywords: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Child Development; China; Dust; Environmental Exposure; Pregnant Women; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Safety

Institutions: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; China Medical Board

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