Dirty air diminishes both body and brain

A man and woman are seen along a foreshore as the sun sets with smoke haze.

Image: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

Image: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images

We all know that polluted air can make it harder to breathe, but did you know that it also makes it harder to think? Even work?

By Suzanne Parker

According to a study conducted by UQ environmental economist and 2023 Westpac Research Fellow Dr Andrea La Nauze and co-author Associate Professor Edson Severnini from Carnegie Mellon University, exposure to air pollution particles impairs both our memory and our ability to solve problems and learn new tasks – all vital for a productive workplace.

The effects are greatest for people in their prime working age (20–49) and those of lower cognitive ability.

Dr La Nauze discovered this after analysing millions of Lumosity brain-training game results across 7 different functions – memory, verbal ability, attention, flexibility, maths ability, speed, and problem-solving – and examining whether outcomes were affected by where players lived and how much pollution was in the air at the time.

“We found that exposure to moderately high levels (above 25µg/m3) of fine particulate matters (PM2.5) caused a player to drop by almost 6 points in a 100-point scale,” says Dr La Nauze.

“This is equivalent to a person under 30 having their cognitive function decline by the same amount as ageing by 15 years.”

Chart showing results by age category of Lumosity brain-training games

The impact of air pollution on brain-training games results.

The impact of air pollution on brain-training games results.

Cognitive functions are the skills we use to process, store and use information – whether making a cup of tea or self-regulating – and economists are just beginning to realise that changes in these functions can impact workforce productivity.

It appears that occupations relying on memory function are likely to be most affected.

“Worsening pollution has severe health and economic impacts and costs Australians billions of dollars annually,” says Dr La Nauze.

"Although Australia’s air is pretty clean by international standards, the average Australian is still exposed to higher levels of air pollution than the latest World Health Organization recommendations.”

But the threat of bushfires doesn’t help.

A bushfire rages causing smoke to pollute the air.

Image: LukaszDesign/Adobe Stock

Image: LukaszDesign/Adobe Stock

So, what can we do to stave off a future ‘brain drain’ crisis?

Dr La Nauze believes that a combination of individual and policy measures could combat the effects of poor air quality.

“You can alter your exposure in small ways by staying indoors, using air filtration or moving to a less-polluted suburb,” she says.

“Fundamentally though, it comes down to government policy: reducing vehicle emissions, targeting sources of air pollution such as bushfires, and revising air-quality standards.

“Air-quality standards in Australia and around the world should take into account the cognitive effects and their downstream productivity impacts.”

Although Dr La Nauze is not a climate or environmental scientist, she is aware that climate change will only increase the risk of extreme drought, flood and fires; and, as an economist, she is interested in the broader impacts of pollution exposure that aren’t as well studied. She thinks a lot will depend on policy that targets pollution from transportation.

“Australian cars and trucks are heavily polluting compared to countries at similar stages of development,” she says.

“Tougher emission standards, and more electric vehicles with no tailpipe emissions will lower our exposure to the PM2.5 found in air pollution.

Electric vehicle at UQ Lakes

Electric vehicle parked next to UQ Lake, St Lucia

Electric vehicle parked next to UQ Lake, St Lucia

“Electric vehicles, in combination with renewable electricity, will be key to decarbonising transportation in Australia.”

Dr La Nauze has recently launched the new UQ CHARGE-EV project, which will inform electric vehicle (EV) owners, policymakers and industry to support the development of an EV transition that benefits consumers and the grid.

She is also conducting research through her Westpac scholarship on the benefits of using low-cost home monitors to measure people’s exposure to pollution, improve estimates of the costs, and explore ways to address air quality.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, more than 3,000 Australians are dying every year because of air pollution – and climate change is exacerbating this.

Dr La Nauze hopes that insights from her research will reverse this trend and change the way all Australians think – and act – for the environment and our physical and mental health.

An image of clean blue skies.

Image: sumroeng/Adobe Stock

Image: sumroeng/Adobe Stock