Air Pollution at School: Does Bad Air Quality Affect Focus?

Your dorm neighbor’s loud music, your growling belly, or the stress of exams might be making it hard to study, but there’s something else potentially hurting your focus that you’re not even aware of: air pollution. “But what on earth does low air quality have to do with studying?” you’re asking. Great question! Let’s explore the relationship between air pollution and focus to better understand how airborne contaminants could hurt your concentration.

Your Brain on Air Pollution

Studying for that next big college exam doesn’t strictly come down to discipline and willpower (although those play a big role, of course!). Information published in Current Environmental Health Reports shared that exposure to traffic-related air pollution is associated with a negative impact on mental development and behavioral functions. These include how well you pay attention, your IQ, memory, and academic performance. It’s even been linked to a higher prevalence of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder.

Other information shared in The Lancet: Planetary Health echoed similar findings, saying that even low levels of exposure to outdoor air pollution are linked to significantly hampered cognitive performance. This was noted particularly when it came to semantic fluency (essentially, the ability to quickly come up with words).

The relationship between air pollution and focus (cognition, in general, really) could be even more dire for children. Research from the Keck School of Medicine at USC found that even levels of specific pollutants that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has deemed safe are still linked to changes in brain functioning over time. Their data spanned more than 9,000 participants, making it the largest national study of youth brain health. Researchers found that exposure to air pollutants can change the connectivity between different regions of the brain in children. These connections play a role in everything we do, 24/7. They noted that especially between the ages of nine and 12, damage to these connections can lead to abnormal development both emotionally and cognitively. 

Productivity also takes a hit if you’re exposed to too much air pollution. Research has found that on days with higher air pollution, call center employees took fewer calls and more breaks.

Other Variables That Could Have an Impact

It’s not only age that could be another question mark. Gender and education level might also be involved in how your focus is impacted by air pollution. Researchers at Peking University in Beijing, China, as well as Yale University in the US, found that not only does air pollution lead to lower verbal scores as we age, but it might be more severe for men, especially if they’re less educated. This could be because older men with less education were also more heavily impacted by constant, long-term exposure to air pollution.

Here’s another way to visualize just how badly air pollution can affect your focus and other cognitive functions: One study found that if you’re under the age of 30, exposure to moderately high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has the same impact on your cognitive function as aging by 15 years.

So, if you’re a student and living in a high-pollution area, this could be linked to your struggle with focus, concentration, memory, performance, IQ, and more. It doesn’t end here, either. Air pollution impacts mental health, too.

How Students Can Improve Focus Amid Exposure to Air Pollution

Reducing air pollution is no individual person’s responsibility—it’s everyone’s responsibility. Here are a few ways you can get started while also reducing your own exposure to contaminants in the air.

• Check the air quality daily: You can use airnow.gov for this. If your local outdoor air quality isn’t good, there are a few things you can do. Try to avoid going outside, and keep the windows and doors to your home closed as much as possible. If you have to go out, wear a mask. Once you’re home for the day, change your clothes and shower—contaminants can stick to your clothes, skin, and hair.

• Improve the indoor air quality: Particularly if you live in a small space (like a dorm room), you need to be extra mindful of how you might be contributing to indoor air pollution. Avoid smoking, and be mindful of contaminants your cooking might be producing. Clean weekly, especially within high-traffic areas. Avoid burning paraffin candles and opt for soy or beeswax. Check the labels of the cleaning products you use—ironically, they can release toxins like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.

• Use an air purifier with a medical-grade HEPA 13 filter: You won’t be able to completely prevent indoor air pollution. Depending on the square footage of your house, apartment, or dorm, you’ll need a whole-home air purifier or a mini air purifier. Change the filters when indicated so that the device can continue running optimally. You should use a purifier that monitors the air quality in real time and runs as needed.

• Mind your general health: This is especially critical for college students, who might be under extreme stress while living in cramped quarters. Think of clean air as one of several pillars of good health. The others are nutrition, hydration, sleep, physical activity, and stress management. One can’t work well without the others. For example, if you’re exhausted and stressed, your body will be more susceptible to the negative impact of air pollution. Approach your wellness holistically and look after your mind, body, and soul.

Study Hard, Improve Air Quality, and Boost Your Focus

We don’t always think much of air pollution because we often cannot see it. But that doesn’t mean it’s not there! If you’re struggling to concentrate and your studies are suffering, follow the tips we’ve provided to improve your air quality and, hopefully, your grades.

Learn more about the Sans air technology.