A new study, which investigated the relationship between air pollution levels and the cognitive performance of students in Brazil, found that an increase of 10 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m3) of particulate matter on the day of the nationwide university exam decreases students’ scores by 6.1 points.

Consistent with previous research, the results suggest that air pollution adversely impacts males to a greater extent than females. The impact also appears to be greater for people from poorer households.