Coal fly ash consists of inhalable particulate matter with varying concentrations of neurotoxic metals. Children living near coal-fired power plants with coal fly ash storage facilities may be exposed to coal fly ash when it escapes as fugitive dust emissions into surrounding communities. Previous research on outdoor particulate matter air pollution of similar aerodynamic diameter (PM10) suggests exposure may be associated with impaired cognitive control. The purpose of this research was to investigate sex-differences in the association between exposure to indoor PM10 and cognitive control among children (n = 221), ages 6-14 years, living near coal-fired power plants with fly ash storage facilities. In an ongoing community-based study, we measured indoor PM10 concentrations in participants' housing units and used performance measures from the BARS (Behavior Assessment and Research System) Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Selective Attention Test (SAT) to assess neurotoxic effects on cognitive control. In adjusted negative binomial regression models, we found children living in housing units with higher indoor PM10 concentrations had a higher risk of commission errors on the CPT (incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.22 per interquartile range difference (IQR = 0.72 μg/m3) in natural log-transformed PM10 concentrations; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.46) and SAT (IRR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.01, 1.28). Furthermore, child sex modified the association between PM10 concentration and CPT commission errors. Among females, higher PM10 concentration was associated with higher risk of CPT commission errors (IRR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.06, 1.82), but we found no association among males (IRR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.79, 1.30). We found no association between PM10 concentrations and CPT or SAT response latency. Our results suggest females living near coal-fired plants with coal fly ash storage facilities may be more susceptible to impaired cognitive control associated with particulate matter exposure. Children living near coal-fired power plants with coal fly ash storage facilities who are exposed to particulate matter may have an increased risk of impulse control problems.

中文翻译：

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生活在燃煤电厂附近的儿童（6-14岁）的室内颗粒物暴露与认知控制之间的关联性别差异。

粉煤灰由可吸入的颗粒物和不同浓度的神经毒性金属组成。居住在有粉煤灰储存设施的燃煤发电厂附近的儿童，由于逃逸的粉尘排放到周围社区而可能会暴露于粉煤灰中。先前对类似空气动力学直径（PM10）的室外颗粒物空气污染的研究表明，暴露可能与认知控制受损有关。这项研究的目的是调查居住在带有粉煤灰存储设施的燃煤电厂附近的儿童（n = 221）的6-14岁儿童室内PM10暴露与认知控制之间的性别差异。在一项正在进行的基于社区的研究中，我们测量了参与者的室内PM10浓度。住房单位，并使用BARS（行为评估和研究系统）连续性能测试（CPT）和选择性注意测试（SAT）中的性能指标来评估神经毒性对认知控制的影响。在调整后的负二项式回归模型中，我们发现居住在室内PM10浓度较高的住房中的儿童在CPT上存在佣金错误的风险较高（发生率比（IRR）= 1.22 /四分位间距差（IQR = 0.72μg/ m3））在自然对数转换后的PM10浓度中； 95％CI = 1.01、1.46）和SAT（IRR = 1.14； 95％CI = 1.01、1.28）。此外，儿童性别改变了PM10浓度与CPT佣金错误之间的关联。在女性中，较高的PM10浓度与较高的CPT佣金错误风险相关（IRR = 1.39； 95％CI = 1.06，1.82），但我们发现男性之间没有关联（IRR = 1.01； 95％CI = 0.79，1.30）。我们发现PM10浓度与CPT或SAT反应潜伏期之间没有关联。我们的结果表明，居住在带有粉煤灰储存设施的燃煤电厂附近的雌性动物更容易受到与颗粒物暴露相关的认知控制的损害。生活在带有粉煤灰存储设施的燃煤发电厂附近的儿童中，接触颗粒物的儿童可能会增加冲动控制问题的风险。