Impact of Coal Pollution on Child Development in China
Author Information
Author(s): Tang Deliang, Li Tin-yu, Liu Jason J., Zhou Zhi-jun, Yuan Tao, Chen Yu-hui, Rauh Virginia A., Xie Jiang, Perera Frederica
Primary Institution: Columbia University
Hypothesis
Prenatal exposure to PAHs, lead, or mercury would be associated with lower developmental quotients in children at 2 years of age.
Conclusion
Exposure to pollutants from the power plant adversely affected the development of children living in Tongliang.
Supporting Evidence
- Increased PAH–DNA adduct levels were associated with decreased motor and language area DQs.
- High cord blood lead levels were significantly associated with decreased social area DQ.
- 80% of newborns had detectable PAH–DNA adduct levels.
Takeaway
Breathing in pollution from coal can make babies grow up with learning problems. This study looked at how dirty air affected kids in China.
Methodology
The study measured PAH–DNA adducts, lead, and mercury in umbilical cord blood and assessed child development using the Gesell Developmental Schedules.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to reliance on maternal self-reported data and the inability to separate exposures by trimester.
Limitations
The study did not have data on postnatal exposure to pollutants and had a small sample size.
Participant Demographics
Participants were nonsmoking women aged 20 and older, living within 2.5 km of the coal power plant.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.009 for lead and social area DQ
Confidence Interval
95% CI for motor area DQ: −31.30 to −0.72
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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