Standing in traffic pollution for just 2 hours can lead to brain damage: study

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The constant exposure to Environmental pollution is the cause of thousands of premature deaths in the world and now a group of scientists found that the Traffic pollution can damage the brain human in a few hours.

Research conducted at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria (Canada) has shown that Usual levels of traffic pollution can damage brain function human in a matter of hours.

According to the study, just two hours of exposure to exhaust fumes from diesel engines cause a decrease in the functional connectivity of the brainthat is, the way in which the different areas of the brain interact and communicate with each other.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Health, provides the first human proof, from a controlled experiment, of the altered brain network connectivity induced by air pollution.

“This study, the first of its kind in the world, provides new evidence supporting a connection between air pollution and cognition”said Dr. Chris Carlsten, lead author of the study, professor and chief of respiratory medicine and holder of the Research Chair of Occupational and Environmental Lung Diseases at the University of British Columbia.

For the experiment, the researchers briefly exposed 25 healthy adults to exhaust fumes diesel and filtered air at different times in a laboratory setting. Brain activity was measured before and after each exposure by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

the researchers analyzed the changes in the network of default modes (DMN) of the brain, a set of interconnected brain regions that play an important role in memory and internal thinking. fMRI revealed that the participants had decreased functional connectivity in large regions of the DMN after exposure to diesel exhaust, compared to filtered air.

“We know that the alteration of functional connectivity in the DMN has been associated with lower cognitive performance and symptoms of depression, so it is worrying to see traffic pollution disrupting these very networkssays Dr. Jodie Gawryluk, a professor of psychology at the University of Victoria and first author of the study.

How to take care of yourself?

Notably the changes in the brain were temporary and the participants’ connectivity returned to normal after exposure.

However, Dr. Carlsten speculated that the effects could be long-lasting when the exposure is continuous. He said that people should be aware of the air they breathe and take appropriate measures to minimize your exposure to potentially harmful air pollutants, such as car exhaust.

“People should think twice the next time they find themselves in traffic with the windows rolled down”, says Dr. Carlsten. “It’s important to make sure your car’s air filter is in good working order, and if you’re walking or biking down a busy street, consider diverting to a less traveled route.”

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