It is well known that particulate matter can cause respiratory diseases in particular and place a heavy burden on the cardiovascular system. According to the latest studies, fine dust particles can even reach the brain, just like exhaust fumes. This can impair mental performance in the short term. It is also suspected that these tiny particles can cause serious brain diseases such as dementia in the long term.
Particulate matter
Particulate matter (PM10) refers to dust with a particle size of less than ten micrometers. Particularly (ultra) fine particles with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) are dangerous to health. They can get into the finest branches of the lung tissue and even into the lymph- and bloodstream. Other substances can also accumulate on them and their chemical compounds can be carcinogenic. These pollutants are mainly produced by exhaust fumes from road traffic from combustion engines, heating systems, coal-fired power plants and industry.
In recent years, research has been carried out into the extent to which these tiny particles also impair the brain’s ability to think and can also trigger brain diseases. If these negative consequences can be proven in further studies, the particles will be even more dangerous to health than previously assumed.
German-Dutch study on mental performance
Research teams from the University of Rostock (Benjamin Aretz and Prof. Gabriele Doblhammer) and the University of Groningen, together with the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), have conducted a long-term study in the Netherlands on air pollution caused by particulate matter. A special focus of the study was the question of whether even low levels of exposure to ultrafine particulate matter can impair brain performance. Their study was one of the few research projects in which the effects of particulate matter on mental performance could be proven.
Long-term study with 50,000 people in the Netherlands
The long-term study by the German-Dutch team analyzed data from around 50,000 adults from three northern provinces in the Netherlands with generally very low levels of air pollution. During the study, which lasted around 10 years, the researchers analyzed the lung function and mental capacity of the participants. They also correlated these findings with their gender and age, previous illnesses and income.
Study result of the German-Dutch research team
The results of the joint research study confirmed the assumption that particulate matter can not only be absorbed into the human body via the lungs and olfactory nerves, but can also enter the central nervous system via the bloodstream. This even crosses the blood-brain barrier, which should protect the brain, so that particulate matter can greatly reduce mental performance. Ultra-fine dust of less than 0.01 micrometers can penetrate from the lungs into the blood and central nervous system, leading to inflammation, which is a potential risk for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
In the Dutch areas of the long-term study,the average fine dust concentration of 15 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air was still well below the European limit values of 25 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air. It has been proven that ten micrograms of PM2.5 more of fine particles, i.e. a deterioration in the air with fine dust, can already cause a 20 percent slower processing of the brain as a measure of performance. Ultra-fine dust particles of less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter can thus severely impair the ability to think.
Reduction in mental performance
The air polluted with particulate matter leads to reduced mental performance. This can lead to short-term or long-term problems.
These health complaints include in particular:
- Reduced attention
- Concentration problems
- Problems with orientation
- Speech disorders
- Memory loss
- Increased forgetfulness
Particulate matter damages children’s intellectual abilities
Researchers from Barcelona and Rotterdam were able to prove with their studies that the effects of particulate matter can already have a negative influence on children’s later cognitive performance.
Children, whose mothers lived in districts with high levels of air pollution in Rotterdam during pregnancy were examined for their cognitive performance at the age of 6 to 10 years. With an average of more than 20 micrograms of particulate matter per cubic meter of air, the children showed a thinner cortex in some areas of their cerebrum. This development was independent of socio-economic conditions or other influences. High levels of air pollution during pregnancy can already have a strong influence on the child’s later development and impair its later cognitive performance.
Schoolchildren were tested five times over four years by a group of researchers at 39 elementary school in Barcelona. In the tests, these children showed slower development of their working memory. This affected primary school children who attended schools in areas with higher levels of air pollution. The strongest influences on the children’s reduced abilities were the ultrafine particulate matter in the buildings and the increased concentrations of nitrogen dioxide outdoors.
Study analysis – ultrafine particulate matter as a dementia risk
The risk of dementia caused by particulate matter may be increasing. In 2023, an analysis of 16 studies published in the British Medical Journal (“BMJ”) indicated that even low concentrations of particulate matter, particularly ultrafine particles up to 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5), increase the risk of brain diseases such as dementia. To investigate this connection, the research team analyzed studies from Europe and North America in which participants were also actively tested. In addition to evaluating the health effects of PM2.5 particulate matter, other air pollution substances such as various nitrogen oxides and ozone (O3) were also included in their analyses. From the data obtained, they determined that a higher risk of dementia develops with increasing particulate matter pollution. The risk increases by four percent with an increase in the average annual PM2.5 concentration of 2 micrograms per cubic meter.
In the studies in which the participants were actively examined, the risk increased significantly by 42 percent on average for every 2 micrograms per cubic meter. The researchers also found a correlation between nitrogen oxides and the risk of developing dementia, but not with higher ozone levels. After evaluating all the study results, the research team came to the conclusion that even particulate matter below the applicable limit values can be very harmful to health.
WHO recommends lower limit values
Due to the health risks of particulate matter, the WHO recommends lower limit values for particulate matter and calls for a sharp reduction from the current 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air to just five PM2.5 per cubic meter of air as an annual average.
The current EU limit value is 25 PM2.5, which can be complied with in most large cities in the EU. However, these values in Europe are usually significantly higher than the WHO limit value recommendation. There are still too many health risks for the population due to excessive air pollution.
Measure fine dust pollution – at your premises or on your own initiative
Would you like to determine the fine dust pollution in your home or at the workplace?
A-dust (respirable fine dust) is considered to be particularly hazardous to health as it can penetrate the alveoli. It is therefore subject to strict limit values at the workplace.
Our sister company offers professional on-site measurements including advice and gravimetric analysis in accordance with IFA 6068 – all from a single source:
👉 To the service – Dust measurement & analysis
If you would like to carry out your own measurements, we will be happy to help you select suitable devices:
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Sources:
Image source: 123rf.com © hanoiphotography, image no. 141667563
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