Detecting pollution dust attacking the brain

Researchers have recently discovered tiny pollutant molecules inside brain tissue samples, suggesting that dust pollution not only attacks the lungs but also the nervous system.

The study was led by scientists at Lancaster University (UK) and published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Accordingly, they analyzed brain tissue samples from two groups of people, one living in Mexico City (Mexico) - a famous hot spot for pollution, and a group in Manchester (England).

On the brain tissue of both groups, the researchers found millions of magnetite particles . Based on the shape of magnetite particles, they can recognize what is natural magnetite and what is magnetite due to pollution (such as traffic smoke and coal burning).

Air pollution causes many health problems for people.According to WHO, this is also the reason why 3 million people die prematurely each year in the world - (Photo: GETTY IMAGES).

By comparing the numbers, they found that people in Mexico City had higher levels of magnetite due to pollution than the Manchester group.

These particles are very small, less than 200 nanometers in diameter, much smaller than human hair (at least 50,000 nanometers thick).

While larger polluted particles such as coal dust can get stuck inside the nose, smaller particles can enter the lungs, smaller particles can enter the blood.

Where can magnetite particles of extremely small size go? Researchers believe that they will come from the nose into the olfactory bulb, then through the nervous system into the brain's frontal shell.

According to the BBC, the researchers described the discovery as " terrifying" and posed a new series of questions about the health risks of air pollution.

For example, dust pollution may be one of the causes of diseases like Alzheimer's (dementia), although there is no evidence at present.

Previously, studies of air pollution mostly focused on the effects of dirt on the lungs and heart. This new study provides the first evidence that magnetite particles arising from pollution can also go deep into the brain.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) warning earlier this year, 3 million people die prematurely each year due to air pollution.