IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-56508-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Acute particulate matter exposure diminishes executive cognitive functioning after four hours regardless of inhalation pathway

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas Faherty

    (Earth and Environmental Sciences)

  • Jane E. Raymond

    (School of Psychology)

  • Gordon McFiggans

    (Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences)

  • Francis D. Pope

    (Earth and Environmental Sciences)

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution can impact brain function after a delay period. It is unknown whether effects are predominantly due to the olfactory or lung-brain pathways. In this study 26 adults (Mage = 27.7, SDage = 10.6) participated in four conditions. They were exposed to either high PM concentrations or clean air for one hour, using normal inhalation or restricted nasal inhalation and olfaction with a nose clip. Participants completed four cognitive tests before and four hours after exposure, assessing working memory, selective attention, emotion expression discrimination, and psychomotor vigilance. Results showed significant reductions in selective attention and emotion expression discrimination after enhanced PM versus clean air exposure. Air quality did not significantly impact psychomotor vigilance or working memory performance. Inhalation method did not significantly mediate effects, suggesting that short-term PM pollution affects cognitive function through lung-brain mechanisms, either directly or indirectly.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Faherty & Jane E. Raymond & Gordon McFiggans & Francis D. Pope, 2025. "Acute particulate matter exposure diminishes executive cognitive functioning after four hours regardless of inhalation pathway," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56508-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56508-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56508-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-56508-3?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matthew Botvinick & Leigh E. Nystrom & Kate Fissell & Cameron S. Carter & Jonathan D. Cohen, 1999. "Conflict monitoring versus selection-for-action in anterior cingulate cortex," Nature, Nature, vol. 402(6758), pages 179-181, November.
    2. Harvey, Lewis O., 1992. "The critical operating characteristic and the evaluation of expert judgment," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 53(2), pages 229-251, November.
    3. Jennifer A. Ailshire & Philippa Clarke, 2015. "Fine Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Cognitive Function Among U.S. Older Adults," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 70(2), pages 322-328.
    4. Tyler A. Jacobson & Jasdeep S. Kler & Michael T. Hernke & Rudolf K. Braun & Keith C. Meyer & William E. Funk, 2019. "Direct human health risks of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(8), pages 691-701, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Thomas Faherty & Huda Badri & Dawei Hu & Aristeidis Voliotis & Francis D. Pope & Ian Mudway & Jacky Smith & Gordon McFiggans, 2024. "HIPTox—Hazard Identification Platform to Assess the Health Impacts from Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollutant Exposures, through Mechanistic Toxicology: A Single-Centre Double-Blind Human Exposure Trial Pr," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(3), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Chu, Genyun & Fan, Yingjie & Zhang, Dawei & Gao, Minglin & Yu, Jianhua & Xie, Jianhui & Yang, Qingchun, 2022. "A highly efficient and environmentally friendly approach for in-situ utilization of CO2 from coal to ethylene glycol plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    3. Keita Kamijo & Seongryu Bae & Hiroaki Masaki, 2016. "The Association of Childhood Fitness to Proactive and Reactive Action Monitoring," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(3), pages 1-13, March.
    4. Samantha Huang & Stephanie Rossi & Matti Hämäläinen & Jyrki Ahveninen, 2014. "Auditory Conflict Resolution Correlates with Medial–Lateral Frontal Theta/Alpha Phase Synchrony," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(10), pages 1-13, October.
    5. Lin, Boqiang & Ma, Ruiyang, 2022. "Green technology innovations, urban innovation environment and CO2 emission reduction in China: Fresh evidence from a partially linear functional-coefficient panel model," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    6. Pal, Saheb & Ghosh, Indrajit, 2023. "Dynamics of a coupled socio-environmental model: An application to global CO2 emissions," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 478(C).
    7. Zan-Zan Liu & Hui-Jie Qu & Zhuo-Ling Tian & Meng-Jian Han & Yi Fan & Lie-Zhong Ge & Yu-Feng Zang & Hang Zhang, 2017. "Reproducibility of frequency-dependent low frequency fluctuations in reaction time over time and across tasks," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(9), pages 1-13, September.
    8. Ogwu Stephen Obinozie & Eze Afamefuna A. & Uzoigwe Joshua C. & Orji Anthony & Maduka Anne Chinonye & Onwe Joshua Chukwuma, 2023. "Global Warming and Atmospheric Carbon: Is Carbon Sequestration a Myth or Reality?," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 33(1), pages 28-56, March.
    9. Akram Abdul Hamid & Jenny von Platten & Kristina Mjörnell & Dennis Johansson & Hans Bagge, 2021. "Determining the Impact of High Residential Density on Indoor Environment, Energy Use, and Moisture Loads in Swedish Apartments-and Measures for Mitigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-27, May.
    10. Santarnecchi, Emiliano & Emmendorfer, Alexandra & Pascual-Leone, Alvaro, 2017. "Dissecting the parieto-frontal correlates of fluid intelligence: A comprehensive ALE meta-analysis study," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 9-28.
    11. Grand, James A. & Golubovich, Juliya & Ryan, Ann Marie & Schmitt, Neal, 2013. "The detection and influence of problematic item content in ability tests: An examination of sensitivity review practices for personnel selection test development," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 121(2), pages 158-173.
    12. Samantha J Brooks & Jonathan Cedernaes & Helgi B Schiöth, 2013. "Increased Prefrontal and Parahippocampal Activation with Reduced Dorsolateral Prefrontal and Insular Cortex Activation to Food Images in Obesity: A Meta-Analysis of fMRI Studies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(4), pages 1-9, April.
    13. José Adães & José C. M. Pires, 2019. "Analysis and Modelling of PM 2.5 Temporal and Spatial Behaviors in European Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-26, October.
    14. Kep Kee Loh & Ryota Kanai, 2014. "Higher Media Multi-Tasking Activity Is Associated with Smaller Gray-Matter Density in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(9), pages 1-7, September.
    15. Eirini Dimakakou & Helinor J. Johnston & George Streftaris & John W. Cherrie, 2018. "Exposure to Environmental and Occupational Particulate Air Pollution as a Potential Contributor to Neurodegeneration and Diabetes: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-35, August.
    16. Cláudia Jardim Santos & Inês Paciência & Ana Isabel Ribeiro, 2022. "Neighbourhood Socioeconomic Processes and Dynamics and Healthy Ageing: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-26, May.
    17. Yifan Wu & Shihong Zeng & Zhen Zhong, 2023. "Study on the Emission Reduction Effect of Green Technology Innovation," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 13(6), pages 1-14.
    18. Christina Wierenga & Amanda Bischoff-Grethe & A James Melrose & Emily Grenesko-Stevens & Zoë Irvine & Angela Wagner & Alan Simmons & Scott Matthews & Wai-Ying Wendy Yau & Christine Fennema-Notestine &, 2014. "Altered BOLD Response during Inhibitory and Error Processing in Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(3), pages 1-13, March.
    19. Nchofoung, Tii N. & Asongu, Simplice A., 2022. "ICT for sustainable development: Global comparative evidence of globalisation thresholds," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(5).
    20. Mora-Quiñones, Camilo & Fransoo, Jan C. & Velázquez Martínez, Josué C. & Escamilla, Rafael & Cárdenas-Barrón, Leopoldo Eduardo, 2024. "Assessing the impact of loading-unloading zones in emerging markets: Evidence from Mexico," Other publications TiSEM 357a63f0-867e-439b-ab7d-b, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56508-3. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.