New study links air-pollution to autism, schizophrenia and other mental disorders

A study from University of Rochester medical school in New York State gives new evidence of the link between air-pollution and mental disorders including autism and schizophrenia. The findings were published in the Journal Environmental Health Perspectiveson Thursday.

During the study researchers exposed certain mice to air-pollution and then gave them behavioural tests. The researches said that the mice who were exposed to pollutants had tell-tale changes in their brains.

The study found that the mice who breathed polluted air did worse on tests of mental functioning then the mice that breathed clean air. Researchers also found that when they tested their memory those who had breathed polluted air did worse than those who had breathed clean air.

Lead researcher Debra Corey-Slechta said that they found the brains of the pollution breathing mice had lateral ventricles that were 2 to 3 times the normal size. She said “it is an indicator of poor development. It is a prognosis for poor development of children with behavioural, IQ, cognitive, and other kinds of deficits that will persist.” In humans the enlargement of the Lateral ventricles is associated with autism, schizophrenia and other mental disorders.

Lead research Debra Corey-Slectha said her research may help explain why a number of other studies have shown link between air-pollution and autism.