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A new study has found that long-term exposure to air pollution may increase the risk of developing meningioma, a common and typically noncancerous brain tumour that forms in the lining of the brain and spinal cord. The research, published in the journal Neurology, analyzed data from nearly four million adults in Denmark over a 21-year period.
Researchers focused on several air pollutants, particularly those associated with traffic, such as nitrogen dioxide and ultrafine particles, which are prevalent in urban environments. The findings indicate that individuals with higher exposure to these pollutants had a greater likelihood of developing meningioma.
Ulla Hvidtfeldt, a doctoral student at the Danish Cancer Institute and one of the study’s authors, explained,
“Various types of air pollution have been shown to have negative effects on health, and ultrafine particles are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier and may directly affect brain tissue.”
The study followed adults with an average age of 35 and found that, during the observation period, 16,596 people developed a tumour of the central nervous system, including 4,645 cases of meningioma. However, the research did not find strong links between air pollution and more aggressive brain tumours like gliomas.
Hvidtfeldt emphasized the need for further research, stating,
“More research is needed to confirm these results, but if cleaning up our air can help lower the risk of brain tumours, that could make a real difference for public health.”
Disclaimer: The findings of this study show a correlation between air pollution and meningioma risk, but do not prove causation. More research is needed to establish a direct causal relationship and to understand the underlying mechanisms.
