Can brief exposure to pollution affect brain functioning? Study reveals shocking results

Pollution can affect us in more ways that we can fathom. According to a recent study led by Thomas Faherty, Jane E. Raymond, Francis D. Pope (University of Birmingham) and Gordon McFiggans (University of Manchester), even brief exposure to particulate matter can impair brain function, that can affect the way we focus, eliminate distractions or behave in socially acceptable ways.

The study, published in Nature Communications, observed the effect of pollution in human behavioural pattern. The researchers noticed that exposure to polluted air for even 60 minutes can demonstrate reduced performance related to selective attention and emotional recognition.