- New research shows children exposed to smoke from solid fuels such as coal and wood face lasting harm to brain health, with poorer cognitive performance persisting into adulthood.
- The study, based on data from more than 7,000 Chinese adults, found early-life indoor air pollution strongly linked to declines in memory and overall mental health later in life.
- Nearly 2.4 billion people worldwide still rely on solid fuels, exposing children to harmful pollutants during critical stages of brain development, particularly in low-income regions.
- Researchers identified both biological and socioeconomic pathways behind the effects, including poorer physical health, lower educational attainment and reduced income in adulthood.
- Supporting evidence from a 2019 U.K. study found indoor air can be far more polluted than outdoor air, with pollution levels spiking during everyday activities such as cooking and the use of wood-burning stoves.
New research has revealed that children who grow up in homes filled with smoke from solid fuels such as coal, wood and plant waste may face lasting harm to their brain health, with effects that persist well into adulthood.
The study, published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, found that early-life exposure to indoor air pollution is associated with significantly poorer cognitive performance later in life.
According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, indoor air pollution refers to the presence of harmful contaminants within the confines of homes, offices and other enclosed spaces. These contaminants, often odorless and invisible, can include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter, mold and other toxins, which can significantly degrade air quality and pose serious health risks to occupants.
Nearly 30% of the world's population, about 2.4 billion people, still rely on solid fuels for cooking and heating, exposing children to harmful smoke and fine particles during critical stages of brain development.
The findings highlight the long-term consequences of household air pollution, particularly in low-income regions where clean cooking fuels remain inaccessible to millions. It analyzed nationally representative data from more than 7,000 adults in China aged 45 and older, using advanced machine learning techniques to assess long-term outcomes.
In line with this, adults who had been exposed to indoor air pollution as children performed significantly worse on cognitive tests than those who grew up in cleaner environments. The strongest associations were found in episodic memory and overall mental health, suggesting that early exposure may accelerate age-related cognitive decline across multiple areas of brain function.
The study also examined why childhood exposure to air pollution might lead to poorer cognitive performance later in life, identifying both biological and socioeconomic pathways.
On the biological side, early exposure was linked to a higher likelihood of being overweight and experiencing limitations in daily activities in adulthood – factors that may undermine physical health and indirectly affect brain function over time.
Socioeconomic factors also played a role. Individuals exposed to indoor air pollution during childhood tended to achieve lower levels of education and income as adults, both of which are known risk factors for cognitive decline.
Certain groups appeared particularly vulnerable.
Men, smokers and regular alcohol users experienced stronger negative effects from early exposure, consistent with evidence that inflammation and stress, often worsened by tobacco and alcohol use, can intensify the neurological damage caused by air pollution.
Indoor air more polluted than outdoor air
The findings are supported by a 2019 snapshot study in the United Kingdom, which found that air inside homes can be significantly more polluted than outdoor air due to everyday activities such as cooking, burning candles and using wood-burning stoves.
The study, conducted by National Air Quality Testing Services, compared indoor and outdoor air quality at four homes in London, Liverpool, Lancaster and Pontypridd. It found indoor air was, on average, three-and-a-half times more polluted than nearby streets, driven largely by ultra-fine particles capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream.
Researchers said modern, well-insulated homes can trap pollution from both indoor sources and nearby traffic or trains, allowing particles to linger for hours.
The findings varied across locations. In south London, indoor pollution peaked at three times the outdoor level while a steak was being fried for dinner. In Pontypridd, the number of tiny particles per cubic centimeter inside a home reached 18 times the highest level measured outside. The most extreme result was recorded in Lancaster at 10:40am, when traffic outside was relatively light but indoor pollution soared to 563 times the outdoor level.
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