Exposure to ambient air pollution and socio-economic status on intelligence quotient among schoolchildren in a developing country.

Evidence suggests the association between ambient airborne particulate matters and children's IQ and psychological development in the early stages of life. However, data on the relationship between ambient air particulate matters and children's IQ are rare in developing countries and less privileged areas. In this study, the association between PM and PM and the IQ of children in different areas were investigated in terms of pollution levels. In 2019, 369 children between the ages of 6 and 8 years old were randomly selected in three regions of southern Iran after screening through a questionnaire. In this study, PM and PM were determined using a direct reading device. IQ was surveyed according to Raymond B. Cattell scale I-A. The confounder factors including age, gender, economic conditions, maternal education, and type of delivery were adjusted. The average PM in areas with low, medium, and high pollution levels were measured to be 59.14±25.24 μg/m, 89.7±37.34 μg/m, and 121.44±43.49 μg/m, respectively, while PM were found to be 38.97±16.87 μg/m, 58±23.94 μg/m, and 84.18±31.32 μg/m, respectively. The IQ of children in the area with a high pollution was 16.628 lower than that in the area with low pollution (β= 16.628; [95% CI: 13.295 to 19.96]; P ≤ 0.0001). In addition, IQ in the area with high pollution level was found to be 7.48 lower than that in moderate pollution. ( β= 7.489; [95% CI: 4.109 to 10.870]; P ≤ 0.0001). Exposure to increased PM and PM is associated with decreased IQ in children.