Can Ambient Air Pollution Affect the Brain?

Research suggests that exposure to ambient air pollution is associated with adverse health effects. In urban areas, air pollution is a mixture of gaseous pollutants and particulate matter that derives from sources mostly related to burning fossil fuels. When inhaled, small-particle air pollution of <10 μm in diameter can travel through the circulatory system and ultimately damage the heart, lungs, and brain. As people live longer and the population shifts to urban metropolitan areas, we need to understand the health risks from environmental exposures and the potential impact on cognitive impairment.

To examine the adverse effects of ambient fine particulate matter <2.5 μm in diameter (PM_2.5) on brain volume in older women, researchers prospe…