United States – The team of Dr. Ferera at Columbia University shows the relationship between the exposure of the expectant mother to pollution and the IQ of a child.

Chemical substances contained in the air from burning gasoline or coal, cigarettes are known to cause respiratory problems, especially among children. The researchers were interested in 249 pregnant women residing in three districts of New York. These women were aged 18 to 35 years, who do not smoke and were of African or Dominican origin.

During the pregnancy, these women carried monitors to measure their exposure to air pollution. When their kids are 5 years, their children were subjected to IQ test. Children whose mothers had been most exposed to pollution had poorer test scores: 5 points lower on average when compared to less exposed children. No fewer than 140 children showed very high rates of exposure to pollutants.

For researchers, these declines in IQ could have an impact on school performance of children. However since 1998 the presence of pollutants in the air have decreased due to policies to reduce road traffic and researchers have stressed the importance of these policies for the well-being of populations.