Researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Manchester found that just 60 minutes of exposure to particulate matter (PM) can impair an individual's ability to focus on tasks and recognize emotions, making daily activities more challenging. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
The study involved 26 adults aged between 19 and 67 years, who were exposed to high concentrations of PM2.5—particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter—commonly found in polluted urban environments. Participants were placed in controlled environments where they either inhaled polluted air or clean air. Before and after exposure, they underwent tests measuring cognitive abilities such as working memory, selective attention, emotion recognition, psychomotor speed, and sustained attention.
Results showed that exposure to polluted air led to reductions in selective attention and emotion recognition compared to those who breathed clean air. "Participants exposed to air pollution were not as good at avoiding distracting information," said Dr. Faherty from the University of Birmingham, as reported by Diario de Sevilla.
Selective attention—the ability to focus while ignoring distractions—is crucial for everyday tasks such as prioritizing items on a shopping list or filtering out distractions in a noisy office. The impairment of this function can make individuals more susceptible to impulse buying and less productive at work. Emotion recognition, the ability to interpret facial expressions, was also affected, potentially impacting social interactions and cooperation with others.
The study suggests that some cognitive functions are more vulnerable to short-term pollution exposure, while others may be more resilient. Working memory, for instance, did not show changes after exposure to polluted air.
Air pollution is a major environmental risk factor for public health worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, exposure to PM2.5 particles leads to approximately 4.2 million premature deaths per year globally. These particles are released from sources including vehicles, industrial facilities, and residential fireplaces, and are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
"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 professor Francis Pope from the University of Birmingham.
The researchers suggested that inflammation in the brain triggered by pollution could be responsible for the deficits in focusing and recognizing emotions. However, the exact mechanisms behind these effects remain unclear, and further research is needed to understand the pathways through which air pollution affects cognitive functions, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.