Is rush hour traffic stealing your vision?

I remember flying into LA or NYC as a kid and not being able to see the ground. That’s how bad the air pollution was back then.

And while it’s not like that today, rest assured—the threat of air pollution is still very much alive and well. In fact, according to one recent study, it might even be driving one of the world’s leading causes of blindness…

Car exhaust ages your eyes

Taiwanese researchers have linked long-term exposure to pollutants from car exhaust with a higher risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This condition impacts the part of your retina called your macula—and as the name suggests, it’s a common cause of vision loss in older people.

Researchers examined more than a decade’s worth of data from nearly 40,000 people over the age of 50—most of whom lived in at least moderately urban areas—to establish this connection.

Over the study period, roughly 1,500 subjects went on to develop AMD. And after calculating average annual exposure to nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide—and then accounting for factors like age, sex, income, and underlying illness—researchers found that subjects with the highest exposure to these traffic pollutants were nearly twice as likely to develop the eye disease.

Ultimately, the highest rate of new AMD diagnoses was among people living with the greatest exposure to carbon monoxide—which is the same killer chemical found in cigarette smoke. And that’s pretty scary, when you consider just how many of us are exposed to these air pollutants every day, simply by being city-dwellers.

True, we may not be dealing with the smog of the ‘70s anymore. But make no mistake—many parts of the world are. And with the dismantling of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) here in the U.S., it might not be long until we’re right back where we started, too.

Pollution sets your brain on fire

I hate to say it, but the news here only gets worse. Because another recent study linked poor air quality with higher rates of psychiatric disorders, too.

Researchers uncovered an association between air pollution and increases in bipolar and major depression among adults in both the U.S. and Denmark. (The trend was particularly strong in the latter population, where early childhood exposure more than doubled risk of schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders.)

And it’s no wonder, really. We’re finally beginning to understand just how toxic pollution is to brains—especially brains that are still developing.

It’s a threat that impacts all of us. After all, those tiny particles go straight from your nose and lungs to your brain, where they generate brain inflammation—a key factor in both depression and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

So while these latest findings may only be observational (that is, they show a correlation, but not a cause), I think we all know what’s to blame.

Our bodies are exposed to more chemicals now than ever before in human history. Those chemicals have to be doing something to us—and you can guarantee it’s not anything good. But as long as the people in charge can continue to plausibly deny it, don’t expect much to change.

You should, however, take any and all steps you can to protect yourself and your family. And you can start by reading the April 2019 issue of my monthly newsletter, Logical Health Alternatives (“Staying healthy in a polluted world: How to protect yourself against the dangerous toxins you come face-to-face with on a daily basis”), which included a comprehensive plan to safeguard your body against dangerous toxins.

Subscribers have access to that article and more in my archives. So if you haven’t already, as always, consider signing up today.

P.S. Earlier this year, I had the privilege of participating in a groundbreaking documentary series. It reveals a hidden system within the body that has the power to treat a range of chronic conditions—including AD. And now, for a limited time, you can access it for FREE. Click here to register today!

Sources:

“Vehicle exhaust pollutants linked to near doubling in risk of common eye condition: Long term exposure to highest levels linked to greatest risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among over 50s.” Science Daily, 08/20/2019. (sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190820200458.htm)

“Is pollution linked to psychiatric disorders?” Science Daily, 08/20/2019. (sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190820141604.htm)