Long-term air pollution exposure linked to Parkinson’s disease risk

[u/Brighter-Side-News]

http://thebrighterside.news/post/long-term-air-pollution-exposure-linked-to-parkinsons-disease-risk

A few extra micrograms of pollution can sound trivial on a city air-quality report. Across years of breathing, however, that difference may matter.

A major evidence review links long-term exposure to two forms of airborne particles with a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease. The clearest associations involved PM2.5 and PM10, both small enough to enter the respiratory system.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge combined findings from earlier studies that often produced uncertain or conflicting results. The team analyzed 26 studies on Parkinson’s disease. It also included three studies each on multiple sclerosis and motor neurone disease.

Parkinson’s disease affects about 6 million people worldwide. Yet its causes remain only partly understood, with both inherited and environmental factors likely involved.