Polusi udara merupakan masalah lingkungan yang sangat mungkin mempunyai dampak biologis. Paparan polusi udara dilaporkan mengganggu perkembangan dan plastisitas sistem saraf pusat, terutama pada anak-anak. Polutan dapat merusak sistem saraf pusat melalui berbagai jalur inflamasi dan stres oksidatif, yang mengaktifkan mikroglia, sekresi berbagai faktor proinflamasi, mengakibatkan gangguan neurodegeneratif. Pajanan polutan kronik juga bisa merusak swar darah otak dan mengganggu homeostasis otak, selain dilaporkan mengganggu berbagai fungsi sistem saraf pusat dan menimbulkan gejala gangguan mental, terutama pada anak-anak yang sistem saraf pusatnya masih dalam masa perkembangan.Air pollution is an environmental problem with a possible biological consequence. It has been reported to disrupt central nervous system development and plasticity, particularly in children. Pollutant can damage central nervous system through inflammation and oxidative stress, which would activate microglia and induce the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors, resulting in neurodegenerative disorders. Chronic pollutant exposure might also disrupt the blood brain barrier and impair brain homeostasis; was also reported to disrupt numerous central nervous system functions and cause mental symptoms, especially in children with developing brain.