Air pollution, including traffic pollution, has been linked to a range of negative health effects, including damage to lung and heart function. A new study has found that exposure to traffic pollution may also be linked to damage to brain function, specifically to the hippocampus, which is a region of the brain that plays a critical role in memory and spatial navigation.
The study, which was conducted in China, found that individuals who lived in areas with higher levels of traffic pollution had smaller hippocampi and scored worse on memory and cognitive tests than those who lived in areas with lower levels of pollution. This is not the only study that has found such correlation, but more studies are needed to confirm this association and understand the underlying mechanism.
It is important to note that air pollution, including traffic pollution, is a public health concern and various measures are taken by countries to reduce it, such as implementing emission standards for vehicles, promoting the use of public transportation and encouraging the use of electric vehicles.
