Karmactive Staff
Air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of autism, affecting prenatal brain development—timing is key.
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Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides, common in urban air, might cross the placenta, impacting fetal brain development.
Professor Haitham Amal and his team identified that air pollutants may disrupt brain pathways critical during early childhood and prenatal stages.
Photo Source: Vozes do Arrastão
How exactly do pollutants impact the developing brain? The study cites nitrosative stress, neuroinflammation, and neurotransmitter disruptions.
It’s not just one pathway—epigenetic changes, hormone interference, and metabolic issues may all play roles in this link to ASD.
Photo Source: Janak Bhatta (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Small particles like PM2.5 have the potential to reach the developing brain, raising questions about air quality protection for pregnant women.
“Individuals with genetic susceptibility may be more vulnerable to pollution’s impact on brain development,” says Professor Amal.
As autism affects 1–1.5% globally, these findings highlight an urgent need for broader, pollution-focused neurodevelopmental studies.
Could preventive strategies protect vulnerable groups? Experts emphasize collaboration to understand how pollution and genetics intertwine in ASD risk.