The Breathe Project: How does the air quality at schools affect cognitive development?

Authors

  • Mònica López-Vicente Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona, Campus Mar, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona.

Keywords:

Air pollution, green spaces, school, cognitive development, brain, childhood.

Abstract

Childhood is a vulnerable period for brain development. External factors during this period have a large impact throughout life. High levels of traffic-related air pollution in big cities like Barcelona are a public health concern that mainly affects the most vulnerable individuals, such as children. The Breathe project was aimed to study the effects of air pollution in Barcelona’s schools on children’s cognitive development. A total of 2,897 schoolchildren in 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades (7-10 years old) participated in the study. During 2012, we measured the school air pollution levels on two occasions and we assessed children’s working memory and attention across four visits. This allowed us to detect chronic and acute negative effects of school air pollution on children’s cognitive development, brain maturity and mental health. Contact with green spaces, on the other hand, had a positive effect on brain development.

Keywords: Air pollution, green spaces, school, cognitive development, brain, childhood.

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Author Biography

Mònica López-Vicente, Institut de Salut Global de Barcelona, Campus Mar, Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona.



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How to Cite

López-Vicente, M. (2018). The Breathe Project: How does the air quality at schools affect cognitive development?. Revista Catalana De Pedagogia, 14, 205–217. Retrieved from https://revistes.iec.cat/index.php/RCP/article/view/144990

Issue

Vol. 14 (2018)

Section

Miscellaneous

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