Scientists recently found that exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy and childhood is linked to long-term changes in the brain's white matter microstructure, affecting cognitive development in adolescence. The study, which involved more than 4,000 participants, found that pollutants such as PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are associated with delayed development of white matter integrity. And the effects of exposure during pregnancy and childhood can persist into adolescence. Some effects of pollution on brain development may diminish with age, but many remain long-term. They also found that exposure to certain pollutants, such as fine particulate matter (PM2,5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), during pregnancy and childhood is associated with differences in brain white matter microstructure, and some of these effects persist throughout adolescence. These are the main findings of a study conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). The results, published in the journal Environmental Research, emphasize the importance of addressing air pollution as a public health issue, especially for pregnant women and children.