It may shock you, but as per a new research by the University of Rochester, environmental pollution may lead to such changes in brain that increases the chances to develop autism or schizophrenia.

The new research has been able to demonstrate the biological mechanism explaining how pollution can make people vulnerable to autism and schizophrenia.

Lead researcher Deborah Cory-Slechta said generally, effect of air pollution is more focused on the cardiopulmonary system. But the research is an indicative of the fact negative things are happening in the brain as well. These changes may add risks for neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.

As part of the research, the team carried out different experiments to assess the effects of air pollution on different groups of young mice. It is quite a crucial time for their brain's development. Each group of mice was exposed to different levels of air pollution that is present in rush hours of traffic.

After four hours of pollution exposure on two to four days periods, mice that were exposed to pollution showed marked changes in the behaviour when compared with mice living in an environment with filtered air.

"We see changes in learning produced by these exposures in males and females, and in levels of activity, and we saw deficits in memory in both males and females", affirmed Cory-Slechta.

Cory-Slechta said they also assessed impulsive-like behaviours in males and there also, they noticed differences. It shall be noted that the effects were long lasting ad researchers reported behavioral differences between two groups of mice even after 10 months of initial pollution exposure.

When the brains of the mice exposed to pollution were assessed, researchers noticed inflammation and enlargement of the ventricles. Researchers said they have focused on the effects of exposure to lesser-known superfine particles.