We
already have evidence that air pollution, damages the brain in both humans and
animals as noted in the article “Air
pollution may be making us less intelligent”, published December 19, 2018
by Barbara Maher, Phys.org.
Even
the tiniest, invisible particulates in pollution from traffic sources has been
noted to have the following effects in children who attend highly polluted
schools:
§ Dementia
§ Delinquent
behaviour in adolescents
§ Stunted
brain development
Aside
from damaging our lungs and heart, air pollution can potentially be making us
less intelligent, too as noted in the article “Air
pollution causes ‘huge’ reduction in intelligence, study reveals”,
published Monday 27 August 2018 by Damian Carrington and Lily Kuo, The UK Guardian.
A
recent study found that in elderly people living in China, long-term exposure to
air pollution may hinder cognitive performance in verbal and math tests:
§ Ability
to pay attention
§ Recall
past knowledge
§ Generate
new information
Men
and less educated people were especially at risk, the study revealed, though
the reason why is currently unknown.
As people age, the link between air pollution and their mental decline becomes stronger. But exactly what type of air pollution is associated with these ill-effects?
Air pollution and
cognitive decline - Metal-rich nanoparticles may be to blame
We
don’t yet know which aspects of the air pollution particulate contribute most
to reported brain deterioration.
However,
there’s evidence that nanoscale pollution particles might be a part of the
“cocktail” of air pollutants that vary in:
§ Size
§ Number
of particles
§ Composition
of particles
Nanoscale
pollution particles are around 2,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human
hair. Nanoscale pollution particles move around the body via the bloodstream
after being inhaled.
They
may even reach the brain directly through the olfactory nerves that give the
brain information about smell. These particles bypass the blood-brain barrier,
which protects the brain from harmful substances circulating in the
bloodstream. They are similar to those found everywhere in urban air pollution.
Air pollution and Iron
magnetite nanoparticles - Alzheimer’s disease and organ damage
Postmortem
brain samples from people exposed to high levels of air pollution while living
in Mexico City and Manchester, UK, showed the typical signs of Alzheimer’s
disease. These included:
§ Clumps
of abnormal protein fragments (plaques) between nerve cells
§ Inflammation
§ Abundance
of metal-rich nanoparticles (including iron, copper, nickel, platinum, and
cobalt) in the brain
Metal-rich
nanoparticles form from burning oil and other fuel, and wear in engines and
brakes were found in are found in these brain samples. Metal-rich nanoparticles
are toxic.
They
are often associated with other hazardous compounds, including PAC (poly-aromatic
hydrocarbons) that occur naturally in fossil fuels, and can cause:
§ Kidney
§ Liver
damage
§ Cancer
When
we inhale air pollution, it may activate the brain’s immune cells, the
microglia, which may constantly activate the killing response in immune cells.
This allows dangerous molecules, known as reactive oxygen species, to form more
often.
High
levels of these molecules could cause cell damage and cell death, an indication
that repeatedly inhaling nanoparticles found in air pollution may have a number
of negative effects on the brain, including chronic inflammation of the brain’s
nerve cells.
The
presence of iron particles, called magnetite found in air pollution may speed
up this process. These Iron magnetite nanoparticles are directly associated
with plaques in the brain and can also increase the toxicity of the abnormal
proteins found at the centre of the plaques.
Postmortem
analysis of brains from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease patients shows that
microglial activation is common in these neurodegenerative diseases.
So
what can be done about it?
Prevention Brain Damage
due to air pollution - Change your behaviour, exposure and use masks
The
latest study of the link between air pollution and declining intelligence as
well as air pollution and dementia, makes the case for cutting down air
pollution even more compelling.
The
Government needs to implement vehicle technology, regulation and policy as a
practical way to reduce the health burden of air pollution globally.
However,
there are some things we can do to protect ourselves.
§ Driving
less and walking or cycling more can reduce pollution.
§ Keeping
windows closed and recirculating air in the car
§ Planting
specific tree species that are good at capturing particulates along roads or
around schools
§ Keeping
your brain active and stimulated by doing cognitive puzzles
§ Eating
a good diet rich in antioxidants
§ Keeping
fit and active
Avoiding
travel during rush hours, driving your car more smoothly without fierce
acceleration or braking can reduce emissions. Using your car's AC (Air
Conditioning), while it may cost more, might help to reduce pollution exposure
during traffic jams as well!
Young
children are among the most vulnerable because their brains are still
developing, especially as schools are located close to major roads. So
substantially reducing air pollution by planting specific tree species that are
good at capturing particulates along roads as pointed out in my blog article
entitled “How
JA$9 Million to NEPA’s Jamaica Air Quality Management Programme is a start
towards Air Quality Monitoring” around
schools could help.
Indoor Air pollution –
Keep you space well ventilated
Wood-burning
stoves producing a large percentage of outdoor air pollution in the winter if
you are in the more northern climates. If you are in the Caribbean region, this
would correspond to the colder months.
If
you still use a wooden stove, dry, well-seasoned wood reduces pollution caused
by PHC (Poly-Hydrocarbon) pollution and an efficient ecodesign-rated stove is
essential if you don’t want to pollute the atmosphere around your home.
If
you live in a naturally-ventilated house next to a busy road, using living
spaces at the back of the house or upstairs will reduce your pollution exposure
daily. Indoor pollution can also cause health problems, so ventilation is
needed while cooking.
Open
fires, both indoors and outdoors, even on a regular LPG Stove, are a
significant source of particulate pollution, unless the stove use Hydrogen as a
source of fuel as explained in my blog article
entitled “UTECH
and Hydrogen as Cooking Gas – How Hydride Salts make Hydrogen Cooking Gas and
Fuel Cells possible”
Keeping
your brain active and stimulated, eating a good diet rich in antioxidants, and
keeping fit and active can all build up resilience, can all build up
resilience. Still, we are not totally
sure what the mechanisms are that these metal-rich nanoparticles cause damage
to our brains or whether it is reversible.
Hence
the best way we can protect ourselves is to limit exposure to pollution as much
as possible by wearing a N95 Mask.