Most people, at some point in their lives, experience a traffic jam. Living in Hoboken and looking at the New York City skyline, Stevens students hear the horns and speeding cars of traffic jams daily. However, most cars and other vehicles in those traffic jams are not electric, meaning they expel greenhouse gasses from the exhaust pipes. Car exhaust contains varying gasses, water vapor, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Although it is well-known exposure to gas from car exhaust can be damaging, as seen in this article, a new study shows that damage can occur within hours, the time of a typical New York bumper-to-bumper traffic jam.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria published the report of their study on January 14, 2023. The experiments took place in the University of British Columbia’s Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory, located at Vancouver General Hospital, equipped with an exposure booth where researchers can accurately mimic various pollutant types and diffusion levels to represent real-life environmental levels. 25 healthy adult volunteers were exposed to diesel exhaust and filtered air for control data. All exposure tests were carefully planned to ensure the safety of the volunteers. Throughout the study, the researchers conducted 100 MRI scans immediately before and after being exposed to the exhaust, which allowed the researchers to examine the effect of diesel gas on the brain. In particular, they studied the brain’s default mode network, a series of connected segments of the brain that are the main functional areas of memory, rational decision-making, and internal thought.
The results and conclusions of the study concerned the researchers. The MRI scans following the diesel exposure show significantly reduced connectivity within the default node network. Dr. Jodie Gawryluk, a psychology professor at the University of Victoria and the study’s first author of the study says, “We know that altered functional connectivity […] has been associated with reduced cognitive performance and symptoms of depression, so it’s concerning to see traffic pollution interrupting these same networks.”
In light of their study, the researchers addressed some possible ways to avoid traffic-related exhaust and its adverse effects. The most straightforward tactic suggested was to be cognisant of the air you breathe. Senior study author Dr. Chris Carlsten, professor, head of respiratory medicine, and the Canada Research Chair in occupational and environmental lung disease at the University of British Columbia explains that “people may want to think twice the next time they’re stuck in traffic with the windows rolled down […] It’s important to ensure that your car’s air filter is in good working order, and if you’re walking or biking down a busy street, consider diverting to a less busy route.”
The study only examines the effects of traffic-related exhaust. However, researchers are worried about other types of air pollution. Dr. Carlsten explains, “Air pollution is now recognized as the largest environmental threat to human health and we are increasingly seeing the impacts across all major organ systems.”
Be First to Comment