Childhood Exposure to Air Pollution May Impair Brain Function and Self-Control: Study

New Delhi: Children exposed to higher levels of air pollution during early and mid-childhood may experience weakened connections between crucial brain regions, potentially affecting their ability to think, process emotions, and control movements, a new study has found.

Published in Environment International, the study was conducted by researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Spain. The team analyzed neuroimaging data from 3,626 children and assessed their exposure to air pollutants—such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and nitrogen oxides (NOx)—at their residential locations from birth through early childhood.

The findings suggest that children exposed to higher levels of air pollution, particularly between birth and age three, showed reduced functional connectivity between the amygdala—a key brain structure involved in emotional processing—and various cortical networks associated with attention, motor coordination, and auditory processing. This reduced connectivity could have long-lasting effects on cognitive development and emotional regulation, according to the study’s authors.

“These associations persist throughout adolescence, which may indicate persistent disruptions in the normal development of brain networks due to pollution exposure,” said Monica Guxens, ICREA researcher at ISGlobal. “This could affect emotional processing and cognitive functions.”

The researchers also found that exposure to PM10 particles in the year preceding the brain imaging assessment was linked to decreased connectivity between the salience network and medial-parietal regions. These brain systems play critical roles in detecting environmental stimuli and in self-awareness and introspection.

Functional connectivity refers to how different regions of the brain communicate with each other during rest and activity. A weakening in this communication suggests the brain networks may not be working together as efficiently, potentially impacting a child’s overall cognitive and behavioral development.

While the study provides new insights into how environmental factors can influence brain development, Guxens emphasized the need for further research to confirm the findings and to better understand the mechanisms involved.

The study underscores the importance of minimizing children's exposure to air pollutants, particularly during the earliest and most vulnerable stages of brain development.