Award: Bronze

Institution: University of California, Davis

Title of Entry: Air Quality Impacts Early Brain Development

About this Entry: If you live in an urban environment adjacent to freeways or other sources of air pollution, have you ever wondered what that exposure has on your health? In a uniquely designed study, UC Davis researchers set out to find some answers to that question. This news release summarizes their findings that found a link between traffic-related air pollution and an increased risk for changes in brain development relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. Their study, based on rodent models, corroborates previous epidemiological evidence showing this association. Researchers included a toxicologist from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, atmospheric scientists from the College of Engineering and medical researchers from the UC Davis School of Medicine and the MIND Institute. This cross-disciplinary approach advances the field of air pollution research, and informs policymakers and stakeholders about how best to protect human health.