Let's talk about ways to lower kids' IQs: one thing that works pretty well is smoking in utero, and another is exposing them to lead. And still another is simply living in a high traffic-pollution area. Ouch.
Sad-but-true: kids living in high-traffic areas rife with pollution were measured IQ-wise, and the resultant IQ drops were consistent with those found in kids exposed to secondhand or in utero smoking or lead exposure.
Sadder-but-true: kids living in high-traffic-pollution areas likely have little choice about it. Urban living, even when it's a firm lifestyle choice, has its tradeoffs. I think I might choose the myriad cultural opportunities offered in most cities over an average 3-point IQ drop, or at least I'd not be so dissuaded from urban living with so little an actual effect, but I'm not sure how clear or well-defined the research has been in this. They do know that memory and cognition are also affected.
Still, I don't like the idea of high-traffic pollution anyway. Surely the effects are greater than we're presently aware, and isn't that enough reason to cut down on emissions?
Oh, and the worst-offending high-pollution cities have populations that can less afford ill effects in kids. Here's a late-2006 list of the world's worst:
- Dzherzhinsk, Russia
- Norilsk, Russia
- Rudnaya Pristan, Russia
- Linfen, China
- Haina, Dominican Republic
- Ranipet, India
- Mayluu-Suu, Kyrgyzstan
- La Oroya, Peru
- Chernobyl, Ukraine
- Kabwe, Zambia
*Cough*
Photo: www.pedestrians.org
