Fetal Exposure To Common Air Pollutant In Utero May Impair Brain Function, Development In Kids.

a study published online March 25 in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that “a common pollutant in vehicle exhaust, power plant emissions and cigarette smoke can shrink white matter in fetal brains and cause developmental damage during the toddler years.” A study involving 40 children revealed that “prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] was correlated with reduced white matter on the left side of children’s brains during their early childhood,” and that these “physical changes in the brain’s internal wiring also were correlated with slower cognitive processing and with symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity.” http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-air-pollution-baby-brains-20150324-story.html