Exploring the Link Between Environmental Pollution and Epilepsy

Abstract

Environmental pollution is a highly challenging global problem, and its impact on neurological disorders, including epilepsy, poses a significant threat to the worldwide healthcare system and economies. The most frequent pollutants which contaminate the air, water and soil are particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ground-level ozone (O3), heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. Environmental pollution causes 6.7 million premature deaths annually, and 89% of fatalities occur in low-middle-income countries. About 68% of outdoor air pollution-related premature deaths were due to ischemic heart disease and strokes. Neurological disorders are increasingly recognised as significant causes of death and disability worldwide. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects 50 million people worldwide. However, its exact causal relationship with environmental pollution is still poorly understood. Therefore, this review examined the association between environmental pollutants and the incidence, prevalence, and progression of epilepsy and the pathophysiological mechanisms involved between air pollution and epilepsy. This review explores evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies, identifying the significant pollutants implicated in epilepsy and elucidating their neurotoxicity pathways.