What two (or more) quotes capture the message of the article?
“Air pollution can be bad for children – starting even before birth, a new study suggests.”
“The higher the exposure to PAHs, the more reductions the children had in the white matter surface of the left hemispheres of their brains. The amount of damaged white matter correlated directly with higher scores on measures of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other behavioral problems.”
What is the main point of the article, and how is it supported?
The main point of the article is that air pollution negatively impacts children, even before they are born. This argument is supported by the researchers discussed in the article, who investigated the exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), caused by “burning gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil and coal.” The researchers conducted the study on 40 mothers; they measured the PAH concentrations in their blood and urine while they were in their third trimester, and their children’s urine. The researchers continued to observe the children and gave them MRI exams until they were 7 to 9 years old. The results of the MRI showed that the more the children were exposed to PAHs, the less white matter surface they had in the left hemispheres of their brains. The researchers also found that the more damaged white matter, the higher scores on measures of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other behavioral problems.
What actors (individuals or organizations) are referred to? (Provide names and short descriptions.)
Researchers: conducted the study on the 40 pregnant women. Measured the PAH in their urine, as well as that in their children’s. They also monitored the children until they were 7 to 9 years old and performed an MRI on the left hemisphere of their brain.
Mothers: 40 subjects were used for the purpose of the research.
Children: The children of the 40 mothers were monitored until they were 7 to 9 years old. Researchers performed MRIs on them to see how the deduction in their white matter impacted their scores on measures of symptoms of ADHD and other behavioral issues.
What kind of causation or responsibility is argued or implied in the article?
The causation that is clearly argued in the article is that exposure to PAHs by pregnant mothers leads to the deduction of white matter in the left hemisphere of their children’s brain, which as a result, leads to higher chances of the children having ADHD or other behavioral issues.
The article implies causation when it states where PAHs come from, which is burning gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil and coal. Though the article does not directly place blame on the oil and coal industry, it seems that there was an implied blame there.
How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
The children represent the equity issues addressed in this article. These children are being negatively impacted by something that they have absolutely no control over, they can’t even relocate themselves to avoid their environment; in other words, before they are even born, they are put at a disadvantage in the world.
What three points, details or references from the article did you follow up on to advance your understanding of the issued and actors described in the article?
I followed up on what education pregnant mothers receive about the impacts of air pollution on unborn children, what other illnesses air pollution brings about in children, and what other illnesses PAHs bring about in unborn children.
Samrin Ali
Full citation and link
Bakalar, Nicholas, “Air Pollution Takes Early Toll on Children,” The New York Times, April 2nd, 2015.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/air-pollution-takes-early-toll-on-children/?_r=0
What two (or more) quotes capture the message of the article?
“Air pollution can be bad for children – starting even before birth, a new study suggests.”
“The higher the exposure to PAHs, the more reductions the children had in the white matter surface of the left hemispheres of their brains. The amount of damaged white matter correlated directly with higher scores on measures of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other behavioral problems.”
What is the main point of the article, and how is it supported?
The main point of the article is that air pollution negatively impacts children, even before they are born. This argument is supported by the researchers discussed in the article, who investigated the exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), caused by “burning gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil and coal.” The researchers conducted the study on 40 mothers; they measured the PAH concentrations in their blood and urine while they were in their third trimester, and their children’s urine. The researchers continued to observe the children and gave them MRI exams until they were 7 to 9 years old. The results of the MRI showed that the more the children were exposed to PAHs, the less white matter surface they had in the left hemispheres of their brains. The researchers also found that the more damaged white matter, the higher scores on measures of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other behavioral problems.
What actors (individuals or organizations) are referred to? (Provide names and short descriptions.)
Researchers: conducted the study on the 40 pregnant women. Measured the PAH in their urine, as well as that in their children’s. They also monitored the children until they were 7 to 9 years old and performed an MRI on the left hemisphere of their brain.
Mothers: 40 subjects were used for the purpose of the research.
Children: The children of the 40 mothers were monitored until they were 7 to 9 years old. Researchers performed MRIs on them to see how the deduction in their white matter impacted their scores on measures of symptoms of ADHD and other behavioral issues.
What kind of causation or responsibility is argued or implied in the article?
The causation that is clearly argued in the article is that exposure to PAHs by pregnant mothers leads to the deduction of white matter in the left hemisphere of their children’s brain, which as a result, leads to higher chances of the children having ADHD or other behavioral issues.
The article implies causation when it states where PAHs come from, which is burning gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating oil and coal. Though the article does not directly place blame on the oil and coal industry, it seems that there was an implied blame there.
How (if at all) are health disparities or other equity issues addressed in the article or report?
The children represent the equity issues addressed in this article. These children are being negatively impacted by something that they have absolutely no control over, they can’t even relocate themselves to avoid their environment; in other words, before they are even born, they are put at a disadvantage in the world.
What three points, details or references from the article did you follow up on to advance your understanding of the issued and actors described in the article?
I followed up on what education pregnant mothers receive about the impacts of air pollution on unborn children, what other illnesses air pollution brings about in children, and what other illnesses PAHs bring about in unborn children.