PM 2.5 dust can penetrate into the bloodstream, lowering immunity and impairing oxygen delivery to various organs, increasing the risk of heart diseases such as acute myocardial infarction and arrhythmia.
Aside from dust entering the bloodstream and causing chronic inflammation, these substances can reach the brain.
Furthermore, PM2.5 dust can enter through the olfactory nerve above the nasal cavity, directly reaching the brain and causing brain inflammation. This can lead to various serious brain diseases, potentially resulting in paralysis or death. The severity depends on the amount of dust exposure and the duration of exposure.
In children, it can decrease IQ, slow down development, and increase the incidence of attention deficit disorder by nearly 70%.
In adults, it is found to affect the brain or increase the incidence of various brain diseases such as:
- The white matter of the brain (white matter – the brain matter composed of numerous nerve fibers) of those living in high PM2.5 areas is less compared to those in low PM2.5 areas.
(Research using MRI or magnetic resonance imaging was conducted on the brains of 1,403 women. Decreased brain matter was found in the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and corpus callosum, which is a group of nerve fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres.) - Alzheimer’s dementia increased by 3 times.
- Stroke and cerebral hemorrhage increased by about 15%, with each increase of 10 μg/m3 in PM2.5 levels increasing the risk of stroke by approximately 13%.
- Parkinson’s disease risk increases by about 30%.
- For those with migraines, headaches can become more severe.
Brain and Neurology Center
Bangkok Hospital Chiang Mai
References
The association between PM2.5 exposure and neurological disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Total Environ
Air pollution and your brain: What do you need to know right now. Primary Health Care Research & Development
