Environmental Exposures and Child Neurodevelopment

Environmental exposures such as traffic-related air and noise pollution or surrounding greenness may impact child neurodevelopment through different pathways. Essential processes of neurodevelopment that take place during pregnancy and the first years of life make the brain particularly vulnerable to environmental hazards during these life stages. In this chapter, we present mechanisms that may explain the impact of air pollution, greenspace, and noise on cognitive and behavioral development, and elucidate the scientific evidence on the association between these urban environmental exposures and neurological outcomes in early life. Overall, results demonstrate that early life exposure to air pollution, noise, and lack of greenspace, detrimentally affect cognitive functioning, academic achievement, behavior, or other neurodevelopmental outcomes. Although evidence on the matter is growing, future research is needed to, among others, clarify current inconsistencies in results, determine windows of greatest susceptibility, and study the interrelationship between exposure impacts. Additional challenges concern the specificity and accuracy of exposure assessment, as this will allow for a more precise understanding of the exposure properties accountable for the health effects. Further investigation into early-life environmental exposures and their impact on neurodevelopment is crucial for shaping effective preventive measures.