This is demonstrated by a first-of-its-kind study that analyzed the effects of air pollution from automobile traffic on the human brain.
Smog, or rather dust and exhaust fumes that concentrate at street level, pose a serious danger to human health. According to data from the World Health Organization, they cause about 30,000 asthma attacks in children and as many acute bronchitis in young people under 15, and unfortunately cause 3,500 deaths each year. However, what was not known was that the consequences of smog are not limited to respiratory and cardiovascular problems alone, as noted by a Canadian research team which demonstrated how inhaling common levels of pollution from automobile traffic can compromise the functioning of the human brain within a few hours.
Research results, peer-reviewed and published in the journal Environmental health, show that just two hours of exposure to diesel engine exhaust is enough to cause a decrease in functional brain connectivity, a measure of how different brain areas interact and communicate with each other. The first study of its kind was carried out by researchers from the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria, providing the first evidence to support such an impact in humans.
The effects of car exhaust on the brain
For the investigation, the researchers designed a randomized, double-blind study involving 25 healthy adults who were exposed to car exhaust and clean filtered air at various times in a laboratory setting. For each, brain activity was measured before or after each exposure using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which analyzed the evolution of what is called Network in default mode (DMN), a network of interconnected brain regions, which play an important role in memory and internal thought. ” fMRI revealed that participants had reduced functional connectivity in these networks after exposure to diesel engine exhaust, compared to filtered air – explain the scientists – . And we know that the decrease in brain connectivity of such networks leads to many adverse effects on the human body, associated with reduced cognitive performance and symptoms of depression.”.
The changes observed in the brain were temporary and brain function returned to normal after exposure. However, as noted by the study’s lead author, Professor Chris Carlsten of the University of British Columbia’s Department of Respiratory Medicine, the effects could still be long-lasting when exposure is continuous. ” People should be aware of the air they breathe and take appropriate steps to minimize their exposure to potentially harmful air pollutants such as automobile exhaust, thinking twice when stuck in the traffic with the windows down. – specified the expert – . It’s also important to make sure your vehicle’s air filter is working properly, and if we’re walking or cycling along a busy road, consider taking a detour to a less busy route.”.
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