“Exposure in the Womb Can Change the Brain Forever,” Doctor Warns on Air Pollution

Air pollution has for a time been associated with respiratory and cardiac issues, but its silent impact on the developing brain is only now being understood with greater clarity. According to doctors and researchers, there are enough instances and studies to prove that prolonged exposure to poor air quality, especially high levels of PM 2.5, interferes with early brain development in serious and lasting ways. “The long-term neurological effects of bad air quality and air pollution have now been documented and very well studied. Among the pollutants, PM 2.5 particulate matter is the worst we have,” Dr Puja Kapoor, neurologist paediatrician and co-founder of Continua Kids, told Times Now. According to Dr Kapoor, if antenatal mothers who are in the third

trimester of pregnancy, that is, the last three months of pregnancy, and after the child is born till the brain matures (the first two years), are exposed to high particulate matter 2.5, then there are high chances that the child could develop neurological problems in the form of autism, developmental delay, and ADHD.

How does PM 2.5 affect brain cells?

Particulate matter 2.5 is very tiny and can easily enter your body through the lungs. It then goes to the blood-brain barrier, causing inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular damage, leading to impaired cognition, memory loss, and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, affecting brain structure, function, and development. It also causes mitochondrial dysfunction, which affects energy production in brain cells and neuronal damage that can lead to neuronal loss, reduced synaptic connections, and impaired nerve development.

Children are more vulnerable than adults

The developing brain is more prone to this damage. Even if whatever the requirement is to keep PM 2.5 down, children are still more vulnerable because they run, their metabolic rate is high, and their absorption capacity is higher. “They are more harmed by the same level of pollution compared to a developed brain,” said Dr Kapoor. “In adults, even if the concentration increases and penetrates, it does not harm much because the brain is already developed. But in a developing brain, PM 2.5 can cause a lot of changes because of its penetrability,” she added. Also, the levels that seem to be in the air may actually increase in the child’s body because children have a higher metabolic rate and increased absorption of particulate matter, leading to more damage as compared to adults. Today's evidence makes one thing clear: poor air quality is not just an environmental problem but a developmental one. Long-term exposure to high levels of PM 2.5 during pregnancy and early childhood can silently impact a child's neurological health in ways that may only become apparent years later. As research continues to highlight these risks, the need for clean air, improved awareness, and stronger preventative measures becomes even more urgent.