Our team at the Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) Program at UT Health San Antonio wanted to share these important external articles and videos:
“Smog in our brains” from the American Psychological Association (APA).
According to the APA article: “Now, evidence is mounting that dirty air is bad for your brain as well. Over the past decade, researchers have found that high levels of air pollution may damage children’s cognitive abilities, increase adults’ risk of cognitive decline and possibly even contribute to depression.”
“How air pollution impacts our brains” from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
According to the Harvard article and video: “The air we breathe has a direct impact on our brain. Mounting evidence links air pollution exposure to increased risk for cognitive decline and neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Poor air quality — both indoors and outdoors — also profoundly impacts our mental health, increasing risk for anxiety and depression. With the World Health Organization estimating that 99% of the global population is exposed to unhealthy levels of tiny and harmful air pollutants, what can be done to improve air quality and brain health?”
“Air Pollution and Brain Health” from UC Davis.
According to the UC Davis article: “Air pollution may nevertheless result in a significant increase in disease burden because it affects large numbers of people. Reducing air pollution is clearly feasible, but will require compelling evidence of a cause-effect relationship between air pollution and neurological disease to motivate policy and law makers to change standards, as well as the identification of the sources of neurotoxic air pollution that can be controlled by regulation.”
Air pollution is a big issue for people who suffer from chemical intolerance (CI), said Dr. Claudia Miller, allergist/immunologist, professor emeritus, and leader of the TILT Program at UT Health San Antonio.
To learn more, Miller suggests studying the TILT Program’s TILT Tutorial for Exposed Communities and Individuals and TILT Tutorial on Autism/ADHD, as well as other peer-reviewed publications all of which are available and downloadable free of charge on our UT website: TILTresearch.org.
How can you find out if you have chemical intolerance?
Answer these three questions from the TILT Program on Chemical Intolerance:
- Do you feel sick when you are exposed to tobacco smoke, certain fragrances, nail polish/remover, engine exhaust, gasoline, air fresheners, pesticides, paint/thinner, fresh tar/asphalt, cleaning supplies, new carpet or furnishings? By sick, we mean: headache, difficulty thinking, difficulty breathing, weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, etc.
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse or allergic reactions to any drugs or medications (such as antibiotics, anesthetics, pain relievers, X-ray contrast dye, vaccines or birth control pills), or to an implant, prosthesis, contraceptive chemical or device, or other medical/surgical/dental material or procedure?
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse reactions to any foods such as dairy products, wheat, corn, eggs, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, or food additives (e.g., MSG, food dye)?
If you answer YES to any question, take the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) and share the results with your doctor!