Environmental exposures and cognitive-psychosocial development of children in Asia: A scoping review

Introduction Children’s cognitive and psychosocial development is highly sensitive to environmental perturbations. In Asia, rapid urbanisation has intensified exposures to air pollution, environmental noise, and declining green space, and its impact on child development, yet the regional evidence base remains fragmented. Objective To systematically map empirical evidence (2015 - 2025) on the associations between ambient air pollutants, environmental noise, and green space with cognitive and psychosocial outcomes among children in Asian settings. Inclusion Criteria We included Peer-reviewed primary studies conducted in Asian countries; involving populations of early and middle childhood; with quantified exposure to air pollution (e.g., PM 2 . 5 , PM 10 , NO 2 ), noise, or greenspace (e.g., NDVI); that reported cognitive (e.g., IQ, executive function, attention) or psychosocial outcomes (e.g., behaviour, emotional symptoms); We included research articles in English language that are published between 2015 and 2025. Methods A scoping review was conducted using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Six bibliographic databases and Google Scholar were systematically searched. Dual-reviewer screening, charting, and narrative synthesis were undertaken. Methodological rigour was examined using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) without influencing inclusion. Results Twenty-three studies were included. Ambient air pollution and environmental noise were consistently associated with decrements in IQ, executive function, reaction time, behavioural regulation, and emotional well-being. Residential greenspace demonstrated neuroprotective and psychosocial buffering effects. Socioeconomic status, sex, and urbanicity moderated exposure-response relationships. Significant heterogeneity in exposure assessment and limited multi-exposure modelling were observed. Conclusion Environmental exposures in Asia exert measurable cognitive and psychosocial impacts on children. Exposome-oriented, longitudinal, multi-pollutant designs are required to advance causal inference and inform targeted environmental health policy.