PhD defence M.S.W. (Michelle) Kusters

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

Air pollution is something most of us encounter every day in traffic, near factories, or simply by breathing outdoor air in a city. While we know that air pollution is bad for our lungs and heart, researchers are increasingly concerned about its effects on the brain, especially in children.
This thesis studied how air pollution affects the developing brains of children. Using brain scans from thousands of children in the Netherlands at different ages, we found that children who were exposed to higher levels of air pollution, both before they were born and during early childhood, showed differences in specific parts of the brain. These included regions involved in memory and emotion, as well as the brain's "wiring" that connects different areas together. Some of these differences persisted as children grew older, suggesting that the effects of early-life air pollution may be long-lasting.
We also examined whether air pollution affected how well children think, learn, and feel. While we did not find clear harmful effects on thinking skills or mental health in our sample, this does not mean air pollution is safe. It may simply reflect the challenges of measuring such complex outcomes. Additionally, using data from six European countries, we found that higher air pollution was linked to signs of prolonged bodily stress in children. Together, these findings add to the growing evidence that cleaner air is essential for the healthy development of children's brains and that urgent action is needed to make this a political priority.