A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND STUDY HINTS THAT EVEN brief air pollution exposure can impact the brain within hours. Traffic pollution impairs brain function.
While the environment around me has improved over time, I had exposure to poor air quality as a child. We have long known of an association between poor air quality and heart and lung problems, including the following conditions:
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Emphysema
- Respiratory infections
- Congenital disabilities
Moreover, exposure to air pollution can exacerbate several health problems, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (CPD) and diabetes. The elderly and the young are especially sensitive to such exposure.
Did you know that only 12 percent of the global urban population resides in cities meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines? Half of the world’s urban areas have air pollution at least 2.5 times the WHO recommendations.
“One must be a sea, to receive a polluted stream without becoming impure.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra
Pollution impairs brain function.
A new study from the University of British Columbia (Canada) reports this disturbing finding:
Traffic pollution can impair our brain function within hours of exposure. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) showed that exposure to diesel exhaust disrupts parts of the brain to interact with each other.
Publishing in Environmental Health, researchers demonstrated that only two hours of diesel exhaust exposure leads to a drop in the brain’s functional connectivity (brain network connectedness).
This study is the first to provide evidence of a connection between air pollution exposure and impaired cognition.
Scientists exposed 25 healthy individuals to filtered air or diesel exhaust at different times in a laboratory. They measured the subjects’ brain activity before and after each toxin exposure using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
The study authors analyzed changes in the brain’s default mode network (DMN). The network is a set of interconnected brain areas central to internal thought and memory.
The functional MRI showed that subjects had a decrease in functional connectivity in widespread regions of the default mode network after diesel exhaust exposure (compared with filtered air).
Decreases in brain connectivity have been associated with drops in working memory, behavioral performance, and decreased work productivity.
Pollution — Protect yourself.
Fortunately, the brain changes associated with brief exposure to diesel exhaust were temporary; the subjects’ connectivity returned to normal following the toxin removal.
The study did not examine whether brain connectivity impairment might be permanent if one is chronically exposed to diesel exhaust. How can you reduce your exposure?
Think twice if you are stuck in traffic with the windows rolled down. Ensure that your automobile air filter is in good condition. Finally, if you are walking or biking, if it is safe to do so, it might be wise to change to a less-trafficked route.
The current study examined the impact of traffic-related pollution on cognition. Other combustion products are problematic, too. In Seattle, forest fire smoke has increased in the summer season. I must ensure I have appropriate filters in my home before this summer.
How do you reduce your exposure to traffic pollution? I look forward to talking about indoor pollution soon.
Join Medium with my referral link – Michael Hunter, MD
Read every story from Michael Hunter, MD (and thousands of other writers on Medium). drmichaelhunter.medium.com.
Get an email whenever Dr. Michael Hunter publishes.
Get an email whenever Dr. Michael Hunter publishes. drmichaelhunter.medium.com.
The information I provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you seek medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. I am not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information in this blog.
Thank you for joining me in examining how traffic pollution impairs brain function. One more thing:
