Improved air quality linked to better mental development in toddlers, study finds

The Guardian UK Friday 18 September 2026, 05:00 UTC By Gary Fuller 1 min read

Key Points

Long-term research in New York shows efforts to reduce air pollution associated with higher cognitive test scoresImprovements in air pollution are leading to brighter, smarter toddlers, according to a new study from Columbia University in New York. For more than two decades, Prof Frederica Perera and a team from the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health measured the air pollution exposure of pregnant women and the development of their children in the disadvantaged communities...

Long-term research in New York shows efforts to reduce air pollution associated with higher cognitive test scores

Improvements in air pollution are leading to brighter, smarter toddlers, according to a new study from Columbia University in New York.

For more than two decades, Prof Frederica Perera and a team from the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health measured the air pollution exposure of pregnant women and the development of their children in the disadvantaged communities of northern Manhattan and the South Bronx. More than 1,100 children were assessed when they were one, two and three years old.

New York (LOCATION) Columbia University (ORG) Frederica Perera (PERSON) the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health (ORG) Manhattan (LOCATION) the South Bronx (LOCATION)

Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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