They are everywhere. The tiniest of assassins, invisible to the naked eye. Lurking in the air we breathe, the water we drink, even the very soil we walk on. Stealthily sneaking into our brains, with every breath, every gulp, every step.
Welcome to the alarming world of neurotoxicity.
The dangerous effects of biological, chemical and physical compounds, such as carbon dioxide on our bodies are well known: Fatigue, lung damage, higher risks for cancer. However, a lesser-known consequence is the effects these toxins have on our nervous system.
Environmental neurotoxicity is a concept that is as dangerous as it sounds. It describes the detrimental effect environmental toxins have on our bodies, or, more concretely, our nervous system. More than 25 substances, including carbon monoxide, acetone, and dyes, can cause significant neurobehavioral damage to humans and animals exposed to them. A study from the 1980s even proved how exposure to low concentrations of environmental toxins led to subjects scoring lower on tests of mental development. Confusion, memory problems and speech impairment are only three of the many other results of how exposure to these substances can change a person’s whole life trajectory.
A study by scientists at UCLA Center for Health Policy Research confirmed the same alarming hypothesis. Increasing fine-particle pollution (these particles are about 30 times as small as the width of human hair) around teenage survey participants’ homes by only 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter decreased their IQ score by 1 point.
But how is it possible? How can the most minute of substances find a way into our brains and destroy them from within?
The brain does have a protective barrier, the blood-brain barrier, that stops most substances from entering it. However, if the toxins are fat-soluble, or resemble substances the brain would normally take in, they can still get through. Additionally, many nerve cells aren’t able to regenerate – meaning if they are attacked by the toxins, they can’t replace themselves.
Yet, not all of the known neurotoxic substances are banned or regulated. Regarding the severity of the issue at hand, a call to action is of utmost importance. The topic of environmental neurotoxins and their effects on our brains deserves much more public awareness than it is getting at the moment.
Reducing your exposure to air pollution might save your brain.
