Scientific findings reveal that exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide does not leave the child’s brain unaffected. However, it is difficult to pinpoint the long-term health effects of environmental exposure, since chronic exposures that lead to health consequences over time are often only measurable years later.

This study reveals that conception, pregnancy, infancy, infancy, and early childhood appear to be vulnerable periods of exposure to air pollution for the development of brain matter microstructure. The results thus show that exposure to particulate matter before birth and up to the age of 5 years influences the development of brain structures.

Sources pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36155148 and nzz.ch particulate matter brain development