PTI
Short-term exposure to air pollution can cloud judgment, affect emotional intelligence and focus, and make routine activities more challenging, according to a new study.
Researchers, including those from the University of Birmingham, UK, compared the performance of 26 adults divided into two groups—one exposed to high levels of air pollution using candle smoke and the other to clean air.
The team found that brief exposure to high levels of particulate matter (PM) pollution could impair higher-order cognitive functions, including self-control and sustained attention, which are critical for work and daily life.
Air pollution has been identified as a major risk factor for neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, in which cognition and memory are affected. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 air pollution has also been linked to poor learning and memory in children.
However, the study, published in Nature Communications, showed that “even short-term exposure to particulate matter can have immediate negative effects on brain functions essential for daily activities, such as doing the weekly supermarket shop,” said co-author Thomas Faherty from the University of Birmingham.
For the study, participants’ cognitive abilities, including attention and emotion recognition, were tested before exposure to polluted air and again four hours later.
“Results showed significant reductions in selective attention and emotion expression discrimination after enhanced PM exposure versus clean air exposure,” the authors wrote.
Working memory, which serves as a temporary workspace for storing and manipulating newly acquired information, was also measured but found to be unaffected.
The researchers suggested that brain inflammation triggered by pollution could be responsible for deficits in attention and emotion recognition. They also noted that certain cognitive functions might be more resilient to short-term pollution exposure.
Cognitive functioning, including attention and self-regulation, is crucial for accomplishing everyday tasks at work and beyond. For example, selective attention—focusing on what is important while ignoring distractions—supports decision-making and goal achievement. Similarly, recognizing one’s own and others’ emotions aids in socially appropriate behavior.
“Poor air quality undermines intellectual development and worker productivity, with significant societal and economic implications in a high-tech world reliant on cognitive excellence,” said co-author Francis Pope from the University of Birmingham.
“Reduced productivity impacts economic growth, further highlighting the urgent need for stricter air quality regulations and public health measures to combat the harmful effects of pollution on brain health, particularly in highly polluted urban areas,” Pope added.
