For the first time, a real-time cognitive ability test was conducted on young people. The study was published in Environmental Research Letters.
Polluted air from the street enters the premises. Often it is there that it affects people for the longest time. It is known that the degree of its effect is related to how the rooms are ventilated and whether the air is filtered in them. Previous studies have shown that high concentrations of small particles (less than 2.5 microns in diameter — PM2.5) can adversely affect the central nervous system, contribute to the development of dementia in the elderly.
In a new study, scientists from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health tested how the degree of air pollution in offices affects the thinking and ability to concentrate people who work in them .
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Scientists observed 300 office workers in six countries. Participants were between 18 and 65 years old, worked at least three days a week, and each had a permanent office space. The workplace of each person was equipped with sensors that recorded air pollution with PM2.5 particles, carbon dioxide concentration, air temperature and humidity in real time. Carbon dioxide in scientific work was a marker of the quality of ventilation.
All participants also had an app on their phones, with which they periodically took cognitive tests that assessed the speed of thinking, the ability to focus, and the state of working memory.
How to alleviate the health effects of air pollution
- N95 respirators may be used if air pollution is known to be in excess of legal limits. Before that, you need to learn how to use them correctly.
- Use your bike more often and walk. At the same time, try to bypass or bypass major roads and other sources of pollution. Using maps that show real-time air conditions in the city will make this easier.
- Close windows when using the machine, use a filtered ventilation system.
- Physical activity counters the effects of dirty air. Outdoor exercises are best done at the maximum possible distance from sources of pollution.
- At home, stoves that run on gas or electricity should be used for cooking. The kitchen should be well ventilated.
- For rooms, you can use air purifiers with HEPA filters. This recommendation is relevant for people who are especially susceptible to the effects of dirty air.
- Existing diseases of the respiratory system must be kept under control (take medication on time, get vaccinated against the flu, and so on).< /span>
- To alleviate the effect of polluted air on the lungs and heart, it is necessary to take preventive measures, for example, maintain a normal weight and physical activity, do not smoke.
- The diet should be balanced, contain fruits and vegetables.
Source
The study showed that the speed of thinking and the ability to concentrate slowed down, when the concentration of PM2.5 and carbon dioxide increased. The participants' working memory was affected only by carbon dioxide levels. As both scores increased, participants were slower and worse on the tests.
Lead author Joseph Allen noted that indoor ventilation and air filtration is currently a hot topic in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. New research highlights the importance of air purification in maintaining the cognitive abilities and productivity of workers, according to the specialist.
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“Data show that an increase in PM2.5 levels is associated with acute cognitive decline. This is the first time we have been able to detect such a short-term effect in young people. The study also confirmed how low ventilation affects cognitive function,” said Guillermo Cedeño Laurent, co-author of the study. According to Laurent, poor indoor air quality affects health and productivity more than previously thought.