Open AccessHealthy Air, Healthy Brains: Advancing Air Pollution Policy to Protect Children’s Health
Author(s) -
Devon Payne-Sturges,
Melanie A. Marty,
Frederica P. Perera,
Mark D. Miller,
Maureen Swanson,
Kristie Ellickson,
Deborah A. CorySlechta,
Beate Ritz,
John R. Balmes,
Laura Anderko,
Evelyn O. Talbott,
Robert M. Gould,
Irva HertzPicciotto
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2018.304902
Subject(s) - air pollution , environmental health , scientific evidence , air pollutants , public health , environmental planning , business , medicine , environmental protection , environmental science , nursing , philosophy , chemistry , organic chemistry , epistemology
Evidence is growing on the adverse neurodevelopmental effects of exposure to combustion-related air pollution. Project TENDR (Targeting Environmental Neurodevelopmental Risks), a unique collaboration of leading scientists, health professionals, and children's and environmental health advocates, has identified combustion-related air pollutants as critical targets for action to protect healthy brain development. We present policy recommendations for maintaining and strengthening federal environmental health protections, advancing state and local actions, and supporting scientific research to inform effective strategies for reducing children's exposures to combustion-related air pollution. Such actions not only would improve children's neurological development but also would have the important co-benefit of climate change mitigation and further improvements in other health conditions.