Breathing in polluted air for years might do more than just irritate your lungs. New data suggests a link between long-term exposure to outdoor pollutants and the development of Parkinson's disease, a condition that affects movement and coordination.
The analysis looked at how particulate matter (small particles in the air) and nitrogen dioxide impact health over time. For every 5 micrograms per cubic meter increase in particulate matter, the risk of Parkinson's disease rose by 10 percent. This risk was even higher in Asia, where researchers found the largest estimated risk for the condition.
While the link to Parkinson's is clear, the evidence for other conditions like multiple sclerosis and motor neuron diseases is currently very limited. Because of this small amount of data, no clear connection was found between air pollution and those specific diseases. Results can also vary depending on the setting, so these findings highlight a specific concern regarding Parkinson's disease.
