This week we have a real-world example of how the Clean Air Act really improves children’s health. Policies that reduce air pollution have made major improvements in children’s mental development in New York City. These are actual improvements in children’s mental development, which came about because of Clean Air Act policies that reduced air pollution.
Researchers at Columbia University have a new study out. The study shows that as the Clean Air Act cleaned up our air, young children’s mental development in New York City improved.
The study shows that between 1998 and 2016, levels of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and fine particle pollution (PM2.5, also known as soot) went down about 30% each. By age 3, children’s mental development scores went up by 26%. Mental development scores at age 1 and 2 also went up. Statistically, these results were very strong, with a p value <0.001. (Most scientific papers look for a p value < 0.05, these results are more than 100 times stronger than that.)
The researchers note that the results of this study show that “policies to reduce fossil fuel-related emissions are beneficial to children’s health and development and support strengthening of policies to protect children’s developing brains.”
Policies that New York City put in place include cleaner taxis, cleaner municipal buses, phasing out fuel oil for heating, and the Climate Mobilization Act. The Climate Mobilization Act requires mid- or large-sized buildings to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions also reduced air pollution, because the same dirty fuels make both unhealthy air pollution and greenhouse gases. Other national policies about power plants, mercury and air toxics, acid rain, and national air pollution standards also helped improve air quality.
Researchers were able to adjust for household smoking, maternal education, gestational age and other factors that could influence mental development. This means the researchers are sure that the results are due to air pollution and not other factors.
We think this is really great news! It’s another scientific study showing that cleaning up the air really improves children’s health. This is real-world evidence about how dangerous air pollution is for children. Cleaner air means all children can thrive and be healthy. We need to keep working to stop using fossil fuels and other combustion fuels that make air pollution.
Read the news story from Columbia University here.
Read the scientific study here. Look at the 2 figures, air pollution and child development. They’re really amazing!
08-31-2026 AKMB