Air pollution directly affects our health, however the effects on our sense of smell have not been vastly explored.

According to an article published this February in BBC News, the air we breathe may affect our sense of smell. This fact paves the way to explore the effects of different airborne pollutants in our olfactory system.

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Exposure to airborne pollution particles pM2.5 have been previously reported to olfactory dysfunction. Pollutants from vehicle emissions and industrial chemicals may have an effect on our olfactory receptors. There is an on-going theory that states that some pollutants may cause inflammation, passing from the olfactory bulb to the brain. In addition, previous studies from Lancaster University in the UK have suggested that metal particles at the nanoscale, have been found in brain tissues and match similarly those found next to busy roads of cities.