Certain levels of air pollution deemed secure previously could cause quite a few diseases and hinder brain development in children, researchers say.
A latest longitudinal study, published within the journal Environment International, noted that even lower levels of pollution can interfere within the connections between brain regions, which might pose a serious threat to cognitive development.
The study authors, from the University of Southern California (USC), used brain scan data from over 9,000 participants within the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, the biggest nationwide study for youth brain health in the US.
They present in some areas of the brain, there was a rise within the variety of connections in comparison with what is taken into account normal, while other brain regions exhibited fewer connections.
How pollution affects brain development?
The connection between different regions of the brain is crucial for its development and day-to-day functioning. Communication plays a significant part in various facets, starting from how the brain collects information and the way we expect and feel.
A lot of these connections are forged early, between the ages of nine and 12. They play a big role in kid’s cognitive and emotional brain development.
“Air quality across America, regardless that ‘secure’ by EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] standards, is contributing to changes in brain networks during this critical time, which can reflect an early biomarker for increased risk for cognitive and emotional problems later in life,” study senior creator Megan Herting, an associate professor of Population and Public Health Sciences at USC, told Earth.com.
Herting and her team examined the connection between air pollution and brain development by tracking functional MRI scans from 9,497 participants aged 9-10. A subset of this group was chosen for extra scans two years later to look at changes in brain connectivity over time.
Researchers focused on specific brain networks, including the salience, frontoparietal and default-mode networks, in addition to the amygdala and hippocampus.
The scientists used EPA data, including levels of positive particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ground-level ozone (O3), to map air pollution at each participant’s residence and see how they relate to changes in brain connectivity over time.
The study revealed that higher exposure to PM2.5 caused increases in connectivity between brain areas, while increased exposure to NO2 decreased connectivity. Exposure to O3 was related to more connections inside the cortex but fewer connections with other essential brain regions.
“On average, air pollution levels are fairly low within the U.S., but we’re still seeing significant effects on the brain. That is something policymakers should keep in mind once they’re enthusiastic about whether to tighten the present standards,” study lead creator Devyn Cotter said.
The study emphasizes the necessity for regulators to contemplate brain health together with respiratory and cardiometabolic health while setting air quality standards.
Published by Medicaldaily.com