Air Pollution Alters Teen Brain Development Below EPA Limits

Exposure To Common Air Pollutants May Alter Brain Development In Adolescents, Study Warns

An OHSU study reveals everyday air pollution subtly alters adolescent brain structure, impacting mood and memory. Findings suggest even "safe" levels pose long-term risks to child development.

Exposure to multiple ambient air pollutants changes white matter microstructure during early adolescence with sex-specific differences - Communications Medicine

Air pollution is ubiquitous, yet questions remain regarding its impact on the developing brain. Large changes occur in white matter microstructure across adolescence, with notable differences by sex. We investigate sex-stratified effects of annual exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) at ages 9–10 years on longitudinal patterns of white matter microstructure over a 2-year period. Diffusion-weighted i…

Early exposure to air pollution could affect brain development and mental health later in life: new research

The effects of childhood exposure to poor air quality may be small for the individual, but at a population level, they could have major consequences on the workforce.

Exposure to common air pollutants alters adolescent brain development, study finds

Physician-scientists at Oregon Health & Science University warn that exposure to air pollution may have serious implications for a child's developing brain.

An integrated framework to better assess air pollution health risks

A research team affiliated with UNIST has unveiled an integrated air pollution analysis framework that enables more precise assessment of exposure risks from carcinogenic air pollutants commonly emitted from industrial complexes. The approach is expected to help identify exposure "blind spots" often overlooked by conventional assessments and provide a scientific basis for strengthening environmental management policies in industrial areas.

Smog in the brain: Dirty air speeds Alzheimer’s decline

Scientists have discovered that even short-term exposure to polluted air can speed up Alzheimer’s, worsening toxic protein buildup in the brain and accelerating memory loss. The research connects fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from sources like smoke and traffic directly to faster cognitive decline.