Semivolatile compounds in schools and their influence on cognitive performance of children

• Authors: Hans-Peter Hutter , Daniela Haluza , Kathrin Piegler , Philipp Hohenblum , Marina Fröhlich , Sigrid Scharf , Maria Uhl , Bernhard Damberger , Peter Tappler , Michael Kundi , Peter Wallner , Hanns Moshammer

Abstracts

EN

Objectives: WHO's Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE) focuses on improvements of indoor environments where children spend most of their time. To investigate the relationship between school indoor air pollutants and cognitive performance in elementary school children, a multidisciplinary study was planned in all-day schools in Austria. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study (LuKi study: Air and Children) indoor air pollutants were monitored in nine elementary all-day schools in urban and rural regions of Austria. In addition, school dust and suspended particulates ($\text{PM}_\text{10}$, $\text{PM}_\text{2.5}$) were measured, focusing on semivolatile compounds (e.g. phthalates, phosphororganic compounds [POC]). Health status and environmental conditions were determined by parents' questionnaire, cognitive function was measured by Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM). Results: Overall, 596 children (6-8 years of age) were eligible for the study. Cognitive tests were performed in 436 children. Analysis showed significant correlations of tris(2-chlorethyl)-phosphate (TCEP) in $\text{PM}_\text{10}$ and $\text{PM}_\text{2.5}$ and school dust samples with cognitive performance. Cognitive performance decreased with increasing concentrations of TCEP. Furthermore, cognitive function decreased significantly with increasing CO₂ levels. Conclusions: POC are widely used as plasticizers, flame retardants and floor sealing. This is the first report of a correlation between TCEP in indoor air samples and impairment of cognitive performance in school children. As a precautionary measure, it is recommended to prohibit the use of toxic chemicals and those suspected of a toxic potential in children's environments such as schools.

Keywords

EN

children’s health; cognitive performance; indoor air pollution; semivolatile compounds; TCEP

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 628-635

Dates

published

2013

Contributors

author

Hans-Peter Hutter

• Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

author

Daniela Haluza

• Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

author

Kathrin Piegler

• Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

author

Philipp Hohenblum

• Environmental Agency Austria, Vienna, Austria

author

Marina Fröhlich

• Environmental Agency Austria, Vienna, Austria

author

Sigrid Scharf

• Environmental Agency Austria, Vienna, Austria

author

Maria Uhl

• Environmental Agency Austria, Vienna, Austria

author

Bernhard Damberger

• Austrian Institute for Healthy and Ecological Building, Vienna, Austria

author

Peter Tappler

• Austrian Institute for Healthy and Ecological Building, Vienna, Austria

author

Michael Kundi

• Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

author

Peter Wallner

• Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
• Medicine and Environmental Protection, Vienna, Austria

author

Hanns Moshammer

• Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s13382-013-0125-z

Biblioteka Nauki

2179136