A new study has found that breathing polluted air may increase the risk of developing meningioma, a common type of brain tumour. Meningioma is usually noncancerous and grows in the lining of the brain and spinal cord.
The research was published in the journal Neurology. While the study doesn’t prove that air pollution directly causes meningiomas, it does show a clear connection between long-term exposure to certain air pollutants and the risk of getting this brain tumour.
The researchers studied nitrogen dioxide and ultrafine particles—pollutants mostly found in areas with heavy traffic. These are common in cities and can stay in the air for long periods. Scientists say that ultrafine particles are so small they can cross the blood-brain barrier, which means they might directly harm brain tissues.
Ulla Hvidtfeldt, a doctoral student at the Danish Cancer Institute in Copenhagen, said the findings add to growing evidence that air pollution affects more than just the heart and lungs. “Long-term exposure to polluted air may also impact the brain,” she said.
The study looked at data from nearly 4 million adults in Denmark. These participants, who had an average age of 35, were observed for 21 years. During this period, 16,596 people were diagnosed with central nervous system tumours, and 4,645 of them had meningiomas.
The researchers found that people who lived in areas with more traffic pollution were more likely to develop meningioma. However, they didn’t find a strong connection between air pollution and more dangerous brain tumours like gliomas.
Experts say more studies are needed to confirm these results. But the idea that cleaner air could lower the risk of brain tumours could have a big impact on public health.
This study is another reason why reducing air pollution is important—not just for better breathing but also for protecting our brain health. Cleaner cities might mean fewer cases of brain-related health problems in the future.
Also Read: US Sees Highest Measles Cases Since 1992, CDC Reports
