A new study led by USC researchers finds a direct link between ammonium nitrate pollution and impaired learning and memory in children, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive air quality measures.
In a significant breakthrough, researchers led by the University of Southern California (USC) have discovered a troubling link between certain types of air pollution and cognitive development in children. The study, involving 8,500 children across the United States, suggests that air pollution predominantly stemming from agricultural emissions adversely affects learning and memory functions in 9- and 10-year-olds.
The team focused on ammonium nitrate, a component of fine particle air pollution, or PM2.5. This pollutant is also known for its association with Alzheimer’s and dementia in adults, suggesting widespread neurocognitive risks.
“Our study highlights the need for more detailed research on particulate matter sources and chemical components,” senior author Megan Herting, an associate professor at USC’s Keck School of Medicine, said in a news release. “It suggests that understanding these nuances is crucial for informing air quality regulations and understanding long-term neurocognitive effects.”
PM2.5 comprises a mix of dust, soot, organic compounds and metals, with particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. These tiny particles can penetrate deeply into the lungs, enter the bloodstream and even bypass the blood-brain barrier, posing severe health threats.
While past research, including a 2020 study by Herting and her colleagues, looked at PM2.5’s overall impact on children’s cognition without significant findings, this new study utilized advanced statistical techniques to dissect the effects of 15 different chemical components within PM2.5.
Ammonium nitrate, primarily produced by agricultural activities and fossil fuel combustion, emerged as a significant factor impairing cognitive functions.
“No matter how we examined it, on its own or with other pollutants, the most robust finding was that ammonium nitrate particles were linked to poorer learning and memory,” Herting added. “That suggests that overall PM2.5 is one thing, but for cognition, it’s a mixture effect of what you’re exposed to.”
For future research, the team aims to explore how these chemical mixtures influence individual brain development from childhood through adolescence.
The findings, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, provide a crucial call to action for policymakers and scientists. They underscore the urgent need to refine air quality regulations and address specific pollutants to safeguard cognitive health across all ages.
As more is discovered about the environmental factors affecting brain development, the hope is that tailored interventions can mitigate these impacts, ensuring healthier futures for today’s children.