Study Links Pollution Exposure to IQ

In a study, children exposed to more air pollution before birth had lower IQs at age 5. This is the first time research has linked air pollution and intelligence, the Associated Press reported. The study included 249 pregnant New York City women. None of them smoked. They lived mostly in low-income areas of Manhattan and the South Bronx. The women wore devices to track pollution for two days during the latter part of pregnancy. At age 5, their children were given IQ tests. Those exposed to the most pollution before birth scored 4 to 5 points lower than children exposed to less pollution. The journal Pediatrics published the study online July 20.