Air Pollution, Child Health, and Cognitive Development

This study investigates the impact of indoor air pollution exposure, assessed through blood carbon monoxide (CO) levels, on both the development and health outcomes of preschool-age children in Nigeria. Prior research often relies on ambient air pollution data, which presents limitations in resource-constrained settings. To address this, we employ a direct approach, measuring CO levels in participants’ blood using the Rad-57 CO-oximeter. Our analysis demonstrates a robust association between elevated CO levels and significantly reduced acquisition of gross motor, fine motor and problem-solving skills. CO also exerts a statistically significant negative impact on children’s health outcomes. In light of these findings, we discuss potential policy implications to mitigate these detrimental effects.