A new scientific study has warned about the health impact – with the risk of dementia even being raised in the new research
A stark caution has been dished out to those who enjoy the ambience of candles in their homes after groundbreaking research revealed the potential health consequences. Birmingham University boffins have discovered unsettling links between low-level pollution, like that from candle fumes, and cognitive deficits which might even contribute to developing dementia.
The study highlighted significant cognitive impairment in subjects following exposure to candle smoke. The disturbing findings detailed that even temporary contact with particulate matter (PM) pollution could hinder one’s ability to process emotions or concentrate on tasks.
These revelations suggest that routine activities such as navigating the supermarket aisles could become more challenging. The research team observed participants exposed to either air tainted by candle emissions or pristine air, assessing mental functions beforehand and four hours post-exposure.
They evaluated a suite of cognitive aspects, including attention span, memory, emotion recognition, motor responses, and the ability to maintain focus.
Dr Thomas Faherty from the University of Birmingham issued a grave statement: “Our study provides compelling evidence that even short-term exposure to particulate matter can have immediate negative effects on brain functions essential for daily activities, such as doing the weekly supermarket shop.”
In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the Universities of Birmingham and Manchester have uncovered that air pollution has a detrimental effect on selective attention and emotion recognition, regardless of whether individuals breathe through their mouths or noses. The team believes that inflammation triggered by pollutants could be behind these cognitive impairments.
Interestingly, while these particular brain functions suffered, working memory seemed to withstand the impact of short-term exposure to pollution.
Professor Francis Pope of the University of Birmingham, who co-authored the study, warned of the broader implications: “Poor air quality undermines intellectual development and worker productivity, with significant societal and economic implications in a high-tech world reliant on cognitive excellence. Reduced productivity impacts economic growth, further highlighting the urgent need for stricter air quality regulations and public health measures to combat the harmful effects of pollution on brain health, particularly in highly polluted urban areas.”
Cognitive functioning, which includes a range of mental processes vital for daily activities, is crucial. Selective attention aids in decision-making and goal-oriented actions, such as prioritising items on your shopping list while resisting the urge to make impulse purchases.
Working memory acts as a temporary holding area for information, essential for tasks that require multitasking, like planning a schedule or managing multiple conversations. Socio-emotional cognition, the ability to detect and interpret emotions in oneself and others, guides socially acceptable behaviour.
While these cognitive skills are distinct, they work in tandem to ensure successful task completion in both professional and personal life. The study underscores the need for more research to comprehend how air pollution impacts cognitive functions and to investigate its long-term effects, particularly on vulnerable groups such as children and older adults.
Professor Gordon McFiggans of the University of Manchester remarked on a groundbreaking study: “This study shows the importance of understanding the impacts of air pollution on cognitive function and the need to study the influences of different sources of pollution on brain health in vulnerable older members of society.”
It’s the initial research that experimentally alters inhalation pathways of particulate matter (PM) air pollution, shedding light on its effects on cognitive health. The team highlights the urgency for more comprehensive studies on long-term consequences and potential safeguards.
Global data spotlights air pollution as the top environmental threat to human wellbeing, with it escalating premature deaths. Recognised are its harmful effects on the heart and lungs, alongside connections to neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases.
Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is mainly incriminated for adverse health outcomes, claiming around 4.2 million lives in 2015 alone. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises keeping 24-hour and yearly PM2.5 concentrations under 15 μg/m3 and 5 μg/m3, respectively, to safeguard public health.
