A new study has found that long-term exposure to air pollution particles like PM2.5 can impair memory and cognition in people of all ages. The study was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives and was conducted by researchers at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC). The study comes at a time when the air quality in Delhi-NCR has deteriorated following Diwali celebrations.

On Saturday morning, there was a layer of haze in the air in the national capital with the air quality index (AQI) recorded in the ‘very poor’ category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 18 areas in Delhi recorded AQI levels above 300, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category.

AQI between 0-50 is considered “good”, 51-100 is “satisfactory”, 101-200 is “moderate”, 201-300 is “poor”, 301-400 is “very poor”, 401-500 is “poor”. Is considered “serious”. ” and above 500 is a “severe plus”.

Earlier studies have shown a link between poor air quality and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Fine particles can enter the brain through the bloodstream or the olfactory nerve. This causes inflammation and brain cell damage over time leading to cognitive decline. Additionally, children who are exposed to high levels of air pollution may suffer developmental delays, both physical and cognitive, and have an increased risk of conditions such as autism spectrum disorders.

A new peer-reviewed study based on 8,500 children found that air pollution caused by ammonium nitrate, which is typically the result of agricultural and farming operations, is associated with poorer learning and memory performance in children ages 9 to 10. Could be the reason.

The study’s findings state, “The specific component of fine particulate air pollution, or PM2.5, ammonium nitrate, is also implicated in Alzheimer’s and dementia risk in adults, suggesting that PM2.5 may lead to lifelong neurocognitive damage. “

For the study, the team used special statistical techniques to look at 15 chemical components in PM2.5 and their sources. They found ammonium nitrate as the prime suspect.

Ammonium nitrate is formed when ammonia gas and nitric acid produced from agricultural activities and fossil fuel combustion, respectively, react in the atmosphere.

Megan Harting, associate professor of population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), called for “more detailed research on particulate matter sources and chemical components.”

Understanding the nuances could help regulate air quality and decode long-term neurocognitive effects, Herting said.

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