The changes in the brain, however, were found to be temporary, and participants’ connectivity returned to normal after the exposure to pollution stopped

Common levels of traffic pollution can impair human brain function, a new study published in the Environmental Health reveals.

The first of its kind study conducted at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Victoria provides the first evidence from a controlled experiment of altered brain network connectivity induced by air pollution.

“For many decades, scientists thought the brain may be protected from the harmful effects of air pollution,” said the senior author of the study, Dr. Chris Carlsten who teaches at the UBC. “This study — provides fresh evidence supporting a connection between air pollution and cognition.”

Dr. Jodie Gawryluk, a psychology professor at the University of Victoria and the study’s first author, said it was possible that traffic pollution may impair a person’s thinking or ability to work. He, however, granted that more research was needed on the subject to arrive at firm conclusions.

However, the changes in the brain were found to be temporary, and participants’ connectivity returned to normal after exposure to pollution stopped.

Dr. Carlsten speculated that the effects could be long lasting where exposure is continuous. He urged people to be mindful of the air they’re breathing and take appropriate steps to minimize their exposure to potentially harmful air pollutants like car exhaust.

“It’s important to ensure that your car’s air filter is in good working order, and if you’re walking or biking down a busy street, consider diverting to a less busy route,” Dr. Carlsten said.

While the current study only looked at the cognitive impact of traffic-derived pollution, Dr. Carlsten said that other products of combustion were likely a concern.

“Air pollution is now recognized as the largest environmental threat to human health and we are increasingly seeing the impacts across all major organ systems,” Dr. Carlsten said. “I expect we would see similar impacts on the brain from exposure to other air pollutants, like forest fire smoke. With the increasing incidence of neurocognitive disorders, it’s an important consideration for public health officials and policymakers.”

Also read : How to protect yourself from air pollution? – In Conversation with Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya