The study also found that participants performed worse on cognitive tests when it came to evaluating emotional recognition after they were exposed to particulate matter.

Air pollution has been studied as a major risk factor for neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s and dementia, where cognition and memory are affected.

People's ability to interpret emotions or focus on performing a task is reduced by short-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) air pollution, potentially making everyday activities, such as the weekly supermarket shop,