The Guardian reports on a new study where researchers examined the brains of children and young adults from Mexico City who died suddenly. The researchers found tiny particles of air pollution in the brainstem of the young people who died, who were ages 11 months to 27 years. The particles matched the shape and chemical makeup of traffic air pollution which comes from burning fuel and from brake pads.
The Guardian article notes that the air pollution particles were associated with proteins that are similar to those found in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neuronal diseases. While this study was not able to prove so far that air pollution causes neurodegenerative diseases, it is significant that air pollution particles were found in the brains of very young people. It adds to the growing body of evidence of how much air pollution affects our brains. Air pollution has been shown to affect school performance and cognitive decline.
The Guardian quotes one of the researchers, Prof. Barbara Maher: “… even in the infants, there is neuropathology in the brain stem. We can’t prove causality so far, but how could you expect these nanoparticles containing those metal species to sit inert and harmless inside critical cells of the brain? …”
This study is preliminary, and not definitive proof. But finding air pollution particles and damage in the brains of infants and young people is very concerning.
We know that air pollution is so bad for our health, that exposure is pervasive, and that cleaning up the air causes immediate improvements in health. We also know that exposure to air pollution is not equitable and that Blacks and people of color are more exposed and suffer more health problems because of the exposure. This is a result of our country’s environmental racism and something we as a country need to address.
This study gives us even more reason to clean up our air. As individuals we can do everything we can to reduce energy use, and at the local, state, and federal levels we can implement policies that promote clean energy and clean transportation.
Read the news article in the Guardian here.
Read the scientific study here.
10/06/2020
