Air Pollution Can Affect Your Ability to Stay Focused

India’s air pollution crisis has reached unprecedented levels, as revealed in SAFAR's white papers. The study established a direct link between air pollution and declining life expectancy, reported HT. While Delhi emerged as the most polluted capital globally, other metropolitan centres experiencing worsening air quality include Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai placing undue strain on public health.

A 2023 study by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago found that prolonged exposure to toxic air can shorten lifespans by up to 12 years.

The analysis identifies the transport sector as a major contributor to air pollution, significantly elevating particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) levels. Industrial emissions, road dust and municipal waste also play significant roles. In cities like Chennai, unique factors such as the burning of incense sticks and tobacco, exacerbate the problem, contributing 23.7% of PM2.5 and 19.1% of PM10 emissions.

This conclusion coincides with another study which states that even short-term exposure to air pollution can have an adverse effect on health.

Read More: Story in Numbers: How Air Pollution Affects Businesses

The Cognitive Costs of Air Pollution

A global study, published in the journal Nature Communications of February 6, found that a person’s ability to focus on routine tasks can be affected by short-term exposure to air pollution.

Researchers analysed data from cognitive tests completed by 26 participants before and after they were exposed either to high levels of particulate matter (PM) by exposing them to smoke from a candle or clean air for one hour.

The Nature Communications study found that even brief exposure to high concentrations of PM negatively affected participants’ selective attention. It also impaired their emotional recognition. This could affect an individual’s ability to concentrate on tasks, avoid distractions and behave in a socially appropriate way.

Additionally, participants performed worse on cognitive tests evaluating emotional recognition after being exposed to PM air pollution. However, the participants’ working memory was not affected, indicating that some brain functions are more resilient to short-term pollution exposure than others.

The study is part of a larger project that aims to test the impact of various sources of pollutants, with the goal of informing future policy and public health measures.