Environmental Toxins Pose a Looming Threat to Human Health, Experts Warn
A growing body of research suggests that even seemingly low levels of environmental pollutants can lead to a gradual loss of brain cells, resulting in memory loss, motor dysfunction and other cognitive impairments.
According to Dr. Eva Schäffer, a neurologist at the University of Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel, while lifestyle and genetics also play a significant role in brain health, the evidence is increasingly clear that environmental toxins can play a decisive role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
Studies have linked pesticides from golf courses to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, a condition characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. Meanwhile, a study of coastal residents found a higher incidence of cognitive problems, which may be linked to the presence of microplastics in the water.
Dr. Lilian Calderón-Garciduenas, a toxicologist from the University of Montana, has conducted numerous studies in Mexico City, where she has found alarming evidence of the impact of pollutants on the brain, even in children and adolescents. Exposure to fine particulate matter, for instance, has been linked to brain changes characteristic of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s in young people.
“The assumption that age is the main factor in neurodegeneration is no longer tenable” Calderón-Garciduenas writes in a recent academic article. “The changes begin early in childhood and are irreversible.” The toxic effects of small particles and fat-soluble pollutants can be explained by their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and travel along nerve fibers into the brain.
More than 90 percent of the world’s population lives in areas where air pollution exceeds the recommended limits set by the World Health Organization. In light of these risks, Dr. Schäffer recommends washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption, as well as maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise. A healthy lifestyle, she suggests, can make the brain more resilient to the effects of environmental toxins.