Effects of Air Pollution: Increased Fatigue
Living in areas with high levels of air pollution can lead to increased fatigue, which individuals may mistakenly attribute to stress or a lack of sleep. Medical professionals have found that exposure to particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) can contribute to this feeling of tiredness. Alongside stress, these harmful substances can cause systemic inflammation that reduces hemoglobin levels, resulting in anemia and persistent fatigue.
Impact of Traffic-Related Air Pollution on Children’s Cognitive Abilities
Exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) has been found to have detrimental effects on the cognitive development of children. Prolonged inhalation of pollutants from TRAP can cause damage to the central nervous system, leading to the development of small vessel disease. A study conducted on Mexican children revealed that nearly 57 percent of those exposed to high levels of PM2.5, a common air pollutant, had white matter lesions, as compared to only eight percent of children residing in less polluted areas. These white matter lesions impair the transmission of messages within the brain, ultimately affecting cognitive abilities.