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

On Saturday morning, a layer of smog covered the air with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national Capital registering a ‘very poor’ category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 18 areas in Delhi reported AQI levels above 300, which falls under 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 “severe” and above 500 is a “severe plus”.

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

The new peer-reviewed study based on 8,500 children found that air pollution caused by ammonium nitrate which is usually a result of agricultural and farming operations can lead to poor learning and memory performance in children between 9 and 10 years of age.

The findings of the study say, “The specific component of fine particle air pollution, or PM2.5, ammonium nitrate, is also implicated in Alzheimer’s and dementia risk in adults, suggesting that PM2.5 may cause neurocognitive harm across the lifespan.”

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 a prime suspect.

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

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

Understanding the nuances can help in regulating air quality & decoding long-term neurocognitive effects, Herting said.

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