Prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with altered brain structure, function, and metabolism in childhood

Prenatal exposure to air pollution disrupts cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development. The brain disturbances associated with prenatal air pollution are largely unknown.In this prospective cohort study, we estimated prenatal exposures to fine particulate matter (PMBoth exposures were associated with thinning of dorsal parietal cortices and thickening of postero-inferior and mesial wall cortices. They were associated with smaller white matter volumes, reduced organization in white matter of the internal capsule and frontal lobe, higher metabolite concentrations in frontal cortex, reduced cortical blood flow, and greater microstructural organization in subcortical gray matter nuclei. Associations were stronger for PMThe commonality of effects across exposures suggests PM