Abstract
Particulate air pollution (PM) is a mixture of heterogenous components from natural and anthropogenic sources and contributes to a variety of serious illnesses, including neurological and behavioral effects, as well as millions of premature deaths. Ultrafine (PM0.1) and fine-size ambient particles (PM2.5) can enter the circulatory system and cross the blood–brain barrier or enter through the optic nerve, and then upregulate inflammatory markers and increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain. Toxic and neurotoxic metals such as manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and barium (Ba) can adsorb to the PM surface and potentially contribute to the neurotoxic effects associated with PM exposure. Epidemiological studies have shown a negative relationship between exposure to PM-associated Mn and neurodevelopment amongst children, as well as impaired dexterity in the elderly. Inhaled PM-associated Cu has also been shown to impair motor performance and alter basal ganglia in schoolchildren. This paper provides a brief review of the epidemiological and toxicological studies published over the last five years concerning inhaled PM, PM-relevant metals, neurobiology, and mental health outcomes. Given the growing interest in mental health and the fact that 91% of the world’s population is considered to be exposed to unhealthy air, more research on PM and PM-associated metals and neurological health is needed for future policy decisions and strategic interventions to prevent public harm.
Highlights
Air pollution continues to pose a global environmental health risk that affects both the development and worsening of many health issues including cardiovascular disease, pulmonary illnesses, cancer, and central nervous system disorders [1]
Exposure associated with impaired motor performance and altered basal ganglia in children PM2.5 exposure associated with decrease in children’s fractional anisotropy Si exposure associated with increase in mean diffusivity Zn exposure associated with increase in mean diffusivity Ba exposure associated with increase in ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 Al exposure associated with increased urinary neural marker vanillylmandelic acid
As particulate air pollution continues to pose health risks throughout the world [46], and published studies in both humans and animal models have demonstrated a negative association between airborne metal inhalation and brain health, including neurodevelopmental outcomes, motor performance, spatial learning and memory, and alterations in brain structure and chemistry, more research studies are needed in this relatively unexplored scientific field
Summary
Air pollution continues to pose a global environmental health risk that affects both the development and worsening of many health issues including cardiovascular disease, pulmonary illnesses, cancer, and central nervous system disorders [1]. According to the 2017 Global Burden of Disease Study, 4.9 million deaths and 1.4 billion disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2017 were attributed to air pollution [1,2]. Particulate air pollution, composed mainly of organic and elemental carbon, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, inorganic compounds, nitrates, sulfates, and other organic materials (like polychlorinated biphenyls from industrial manufacturing), is a major component of air pollution and is of great research interest due to its well-documented associations with serious short- and long-term adverse health effects [1,3,4,5,6,7]. Major sources of PM include combustion of fossil fuels, traffic, and industrial and agricultural processes [1,4]
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