Impact of Air Pollution on Adolescent Brain Development

A new study suggests that air pollution alters the structure of the adolescent brain, affecting frontal and temporal regions critical to decision-making, language, emotional regulation, and social behavior, even at pollution levels deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency.

This finding highlights the urgent need for environmental policies aimed at reducing air pollution to protect public health, particularly among vulnerable populations. The report emphasizes the significant implications for adolescent health and development in relation to environmental factors.