Particulate Air Pollution and CNS Health

Abstract

A rich epidemiological literature base supports the association between exposures to inhaled particulate matter and decrements in cardiopulmonary health, particularly in susceptible individuals. Focus has recently been turned to the central nervous system (CNS) as a possible target for adverse effects and the mechanisms that may underlie these effects. This chapter reviews particle deposition in the respiratory tract following inhalation exposure and the fate of those particles, with an emphasis on the translocation of poorly-soluble ultrafine or nanoscale particles (<100 nm) to the brain. The consequences of accumulation in the CNS are then discussed based on evidence from animal studies of inflammatory and behavioral changes following controlled laboratory exposures. Lastly, findings of changes in human cognition and behavior following ambient particulate exposures are discussed.