PM2.5 Is Even Worse Than You Thought… It Also Harms Your Brain!

Created By RISC | 2 weeks ago

Last modified date : 2 weeks ago

PM2.5 Is Even Worse Than You Thought… It Also Harms Your Brain!

Thailand faces the challenge of PM2.5 air pollution at the start of every year. PM2.5 is a major cause of respiratory issues, from allergies and pneumonia to lung cancer. Protecting yourself can be tough. You need to wear a specialized mask outdoors and use air purifiers inside.

But an even more alarming issue is emerging. Recent research suggests that PM2.5 harms not only physical but also mental health.

A study by Susanna Roberts, published in 2019, on NO2 and PM2.5 air pollution in London studied how PM2.5 affect children under 12. Kids exposed to PM2.5 were at a significantly higher risk of developing depression by 18. The study hypothesized that the dust triggers neuroinflammation, affecting emotional regulation and increasing stress.

Another study, by Liuhua Shi in 2023, looked at dementia and long-term exposure to fine particles in the United States. The research found that prolonged exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk of dementia, particularly when the particles originate from agricultural activities or wildfires.

Studies suggest PM2.5 has severe health impacts on both physical and mental well-being. The risks extend beyond the general population to vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. We encourage you to protect yourself from air pollution.

Nattapat Tanjariyaporn, Senior Researcher in Brain Computer Interface, RISC​

References:
Exploration of NO2 and PM2.5 air pollution and mental health problems using high-resolution data in London-based children from a UK longitudinal cohort study (2019)
Incident dementia and long-term exposure to constituents of fine particle air pollution: A national cohort study in the United States (2023)