Volunteers in England breathe in pollutants like diesel and cleaning products in the name of science.
Thirteen brave souls are taking part in a scientific study at the University of Manchester that requires them to wear masks connected to an air chamber that carefully feeds them four different types of pollutants to inhale, the BBC reported. Sometimes they give them clean air.
The study aims to see what impacts the vapors have on the brain. While the effects of pollutants on the lungs and cardiovascular system are better known, fewer studies have focused on cognition.
According to the university, scientists asked for volunteers with dementia or Alzheimer’s in their family history to help understand the connection between pollution and the brain.
“Over the last 10 years, we have begun to see statistical associations between air pollution and a wide range of brain-related problems, from how children learn, the way their cognition changes, to mental health and increased of the risks of suffering from diseases. “Dementia,” Dr. Ian Mudway, an environmental toxicologist who led the study, told the BBC.
Volunteers are breathing in lungfuls of polluted air to test the impacts on the brain as part of a University of Manchester study. AFP via Getty Images Studies have linked indoor and outdoor air pollutants to various health problems, including an increased risk of heart and lung disease and changes in brain health, according to the University of Manchester. Florian Gaertner Dr. Ian Mudway, an environmental toxicologist at Imperial College London, is one of the scientists leading the study into the impact of pollutants on brain health. Gresham University
“What we’re trying to do in this study is conduct experiments to understand why there is an association, to find out what the underlying biological mechanisms are that link air pollution to adverse effects on the human brain,” he said.
Researchers create four different types of pollutants: diesel exhaust, wood smoke, cleaning products and cooking fumes.
A real engine is used for diesel exhaust and a pork chop is fried to get the cooking fumes.
Scientists are analyzing blood samples and cognitive tests taken before and after exposure.
Bryony Evans is one of 13 participants in a study looking at the effect of pollutants on the brain. bbc
“If you can get more data on these kinds of things, I think it’s really worth my time to help with a study like this,” said Bryony Evens, one of the participants.
Some research has suggested that indoor air pollution may be more harmful than outdoor air pollution.
Almost the entire world’s population (99%) breathes air that exceeds air quality limits and threatens their health, according to the World Health Organization.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn