The experiment was conducted on 25 healthy people at the most productive age – from 19 to 49 years (14 men and 11 women). They were allowed to inhale the exhaust fumes of a diesel engine and to speed up the negative process, the subjects were on an exercise bike at the time.
It is known that polluted air is very harmful to humans. It turned out that the damage it causes to the brain is much more serious than one might think.
All study participants were examined by MRI before and after the experiment. It turned out that exhaust fumes from diesel engines led to a short-term decline in cognitive functions. That is, it affected memory and psyche. In addition, this condition can lead to depression.
“The current study represents the first study of human exposure to diesel emissions using MRI. The study revealed an immediate decline in brain cognitive functions as a result of breathing polluted air. Since the brain changes we have identified could put people at risk for a deterioration in the quality of their professional activities, this is an important public health issue,” the researchers write.
To minimize the damage of exhaust fumes, avoid sports near roads, stay less in polluted places (parking lots, garages, tunnels).
You should also change the cabin filter in your car more often (preferably, if possible, coal), in the summer in the city it is preferable to use air conditioning (if any) rather than drive with the windows open.