2-Hour Exposure to Traffic Pollution Decreases Brain's Functional Connectivity, Study Says

Traffic pollution has a negative impact on our brain's functionalities, according to a new study.

2-Hour Exposure to Traffic Pollution Impairs Brain Function

Researchers at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria examined the effect of traffic pollution on human brain function. They learned that a few hours of exposure to it could already impair the brain's activities, EurekAlert! reported.

A peer-reviewed study shows that the brain's functional connectivity drops after a two-hour exposure to diesel exhaust. The study is the first evidence showing that brain network connectivity can be altered by air pollution.

Senior study author Dr. Chris Carlsten, professor and head of respiratory medicine and the Canada Research Chair in occupational and environmental lung disease at UBC, said scientists thought brains are safe from the harmful effects of air pollution. However, the study showed otherwise, linking air pollution and cognition.

How Did The Traffic Pollution Experiment Go

The experiment involved 25 healthy adults. They were briefly exposed to diesel exhaust and filtered air at different times in a laboratory setting.

The researchers measured their brain activity before and after each exposure using magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). They then analyzed the changes in the brain's default mode network (DMN), a set of interconnected brain regions that plays a significant role in memory and internal thought.

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They noticed a drop in functional connectivity in widespread regions of the DMN when the participants were exposed to diesel exhaust compared to filtered air.

Dr. Jodie Gawryluk, a psychology professor at the University of Victoria and the study's first author, said altered functional connectivity in the DMN is associated with reduced cognitive performance and symptoms of depression. She said confirming that traffic pollution interrupts the same network was concerning.

She added that more studies are needed to understand the changes' impacts fully. However, she suggested that it may impair one's thinking or ability to work.

The study was published in the journal Environmental Health.

How to Protect Yourself From Air Pollution

Carlsten said air pollution is the largest environmental threat to human health. They are reportedly seeing its increasing impact across major organ systems.

He noted that the changes in the brain's connectivity following exposure to air pollution were temporary. It returned to normal after the exposure.

He suggests that one should be mindful of the air they breathe and minimize exposure to potentially harmful pollutants like exhaust from vehicles.

There's also an app called IQAir that offers real-time air quality information in the place you want to visit. The app also forecasts air pollution and weather data for over 10,000 cities worldwide.

Asthma+Lung UK also suggests reducing outdoor exercises and avoiding pollution hotspots like main roads and busy road junctions. For those who travel or commute, it's best to get to work a little earlier before the traffic rush when the levels of pollution build-up.