Researchers from UQ and Carnegie Mellon University in the US found even short-term exposure to air-pollution can impact our brain performance and capacity to work.
The data found air pollution damaged cognitive function in working-age adults.
Using data from the brain training app Lumosity, researchers found “exposure to moderately high levels of fine particulate matter caused a player to drop by almost six points in a 100-point scale.”
Air-quality standards in Australia and around the world have been called to take into account “cognitive effects” and “downstream productivity impacts”.