Breathing dirty air even for an hour could have long-term harmful effects on the brain, according to a new study.
A team of researchers at Zuyd University in Holland has carried out a study and found that nanoparticles present in exhaust fumes, which reach the brain when inhaled, play a major role in altering the way the human brain functions.
According to lead researcher Paul Borm, "We can only speculate what these effects may mean for the chronic exposure to air pollution encountered in busy cities where the levels of such soot particles (nanoparticles) can be very high.
It is conceivable that the long-term effects of exposure to traffic nanoparticles may interfere with normal brain function and information processing."
The researchers came to the conclusion after they analysed the brain functions of a group of 10 volunteers who were asked to spend an hour in a room filled either with clean air or exhaust from a diesel engine.
All the participants were wired up to a device called electroencephalograph that records the electrical signals of the brain.
The team monitored them during the period of exposure and for an hour after they left the room.
After about 30 minutes, the brains of those in the exhaust rooms displayed a stress response on the EEG, which is indicative of a change in the way information is being processed in the brain cortex.
This effect continued after they were no longer in the room, the researchers found.
The results of the study have been published in the latest edition of the Particle and Fibre Toxicology journal.
