Neurotoxicity of air pollution: Role of neuroinflammation

Abstract Air pollution is associated with increased morbidity and mortality caused by respiratory and cardiovascular diseases; however, increasing evidence suggests that it may also negatively affect the brain and contribute to central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Air pollution is a mixture comprised of several components, including ambient particulate matter (PM), gases, organic compounds, and metals. A major contributor to ambient PM, particularly of ultrafine PM, is represented by traffic-related air pollution, in great part due to diesel exhaust. Human epidemiological studies and controlled animal experiments have shown that exposure to air pollution may lead to a variety of behavioral abnormalities. In addition, air pollution may contribute to the etiology of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are two cardinal components of important developmental disorders (e.g., autism) and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease—AD) and represent the main effects of air pollution in the CNS. Exposure to high air pollution is being suggested as a primary environmental etiological factor in autism and AD, and neuroinflammation may represent the key effects that link exposure to disease.