Smog damage: from the heart to the brain

Nanoparticle pollutants don't just affect the lungs. They cause loss of sleep and appetite. They pose risks to pregnant women.

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SMOG ITALIAN CITIES 2020

SMOG DAMAGE

The list of harms caused by smog never ends. And studies continue to focus on the consequences of atmospheric particulate matter, whose smallest particles can penetrate deep into the airways. Not only lung damage, which has been recognized for several years now, but also serious diseases affecting the heart, brain, and even reduced sleep and appetite.

LUNG DAMAGE

Prolonged exposure to smog is particularly harmful to the lungs and according to a recent study could even cause cancerAlthough the risk is significantly lower than that associated with smoking, it should not be underestimated.

SMOG-RELATED DISEASES

Let's discover some of the main diseases associated with exposure to smog:

  • ictus
  • hypertension
  • heart failure
  • atrial fibrillation
  • bronchiti
  • asthma

HEART DAMAGE

Another consequence of both short-term and long-term exposure to smog is the increased risk of heart diseaseA study has highlighted a close correlation between smog and heart failure, also known as cardiac insufficiency, not to mention cardiac arrest, the risk of which increases due to fine particles.

SMOG AND THE BRAIN

Exposure to the smog, especially that from car engines, accelerates brain aging. A group of scientists from the Harvard Public School of Health reached these conclusions after a study involving 680 people between the ages of 51 and 97. Air pollution specifically affects the hippocampus, causing it to shorten and reduce its density. Put simply, smog has a negative effect on the brain, reducing our ability to concentrate and making us more stupid.

SMOG TAKES AWAY SLEEP

A DeprAir study, coordinated by Michele Carugno of the IRCCS Ca' Granda Foundation - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico in Milan, demonstrates that the polluted air It worsens appetite and sleep. This effect is linked to smog's negative impact on the entire nervous system, including an increase in depressive symptoms and mood disorders. Moreover, other American studies have already demonstrated the link between smog and insomnia.

SMOG DURING PREGNANCY

A Spanish study followed a thousand mothers and their children, finding that exposure to smog during pregnancy It has negative effects on the brain development of the fetus and then of the child after birth. Indeed, some parameters are altered, such as nerve connections, motor development, and cognitive development. And it is the fine particulate matter that reaches the placenta on the side facing the fetus. The placenta, the barrier between mother and fetus, may be unable to shield toxic substances such as nanoparticles.

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