New Swedish study directly links air pollution from traffic to dementia

[eledille]

15 year study at Umeå University, 2000 participants, 300 cases of dementia in the study population. Published in Environmental Health Perspectives journal on July 31, 2015.

Those living in the most heavily polluted areas had 40 % increased risk of dementia. 16 % of the cases could be directly linked to car exhaust. :scared:

Comments from the scientists: "Unexpectedly strong link", "Dementia directly linked to air pollution", "More study needed"

Industry Today article (English)
Dagens Nyheter (Swedish)

 

[Freudianly]

Interesting study ! The finding is not surprising : nano and pico particles emitted by exhaust pipes easily pass through our brain's blood filter. That is why nano technologies are dangerous as well. Our DNA has not had the time to evolve to step up the guard against this new threat to our health in our environment.

 

[eledille]

40 % risk increase is shockingly high. I'm surprised it's that bad.

Seems like exhaust is the culprit. No mention of road dust. Updated the first post to emphasize this.

 

[Freudianly]

Also, nanotechnologies have been used in brakes for some years.

 

[deonb]

Interesting study ! The finding is not surprising : nano and pico particles emitted by exhaust pipes easily pass through our brain's blood filter. That is why nano technologies are dangerous as well. Our DNA has not had the time to evolve to step up the guard against this new threat to our health in our environment.

and

Also, nanotechnologies have been used in brakes for some years.

Taking an issue with the term "nano particle" or "nano technology" here.

It's akin to saying: "Don't put any chemicals in your body!", and then wondering why a person drops dead from dehydration.

Similarly, ocean spray and dust are both nano particles, and we've certainly evolved to live with those. For that matter, carbon 60 buckyballs has been naturally occurring long before people were on the planet (soot from forest fires).


If you have an issue with a specific particle, name the particle rather than just blaming everything that's small.

 

[Freudianly]

Alright. Here are a couple articles :
Nano air pollutants strike a blow to the brain | Science News for Students
Nanomaterials | Food Packaging Forum