A Breath of Concern: Air Pollution, Pregnancy, and the Developing Brain
Air pollution has long been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular disease, but over the past decade, neuroscience has begun uncovering another, less visible consequence: its effect on the developing brain. Increasing evidence now suggests that maternal exposure to fine particulate matter during pregnancy, particularly PM2.5, may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Across both human and animal studies, a consistent and biologically plausible...