POLLUTION

Performed Poorly In a Math Test? You Might Have Air Pollution to Blame, Shows Finnish Study

Students move through the dense fog on a cold winter morning, in New Delhi (Piyal Bhattacharjee/BCCL) — Representational image
(Piyal Bhattacharjee/BCCL)

Remember the good old days of blaming a bad maths test on a sudden, convenient case of diarrhoea, or perhaps delirium-inducing fever? Yeah, today's students might have a more insidious culprit to blame for shaky performance: air pollution. No, really. A Finnish study has just revealed a surprising link between smog and lower marks, particularly in mathematics.

Researchers at the University of Oulu dug into data from over 370,000 exams taken by 172,414 students between 2006 and 2016. They compared student performance with air quality measurements near exam venues, uncovering a concerning trend: a slight increase in PM2.5 levels led to a dip in maths scores by about 0.13 percentage points.

This may seem negligible, but consider this: in a high-stakes exam, even a fraction of a point can determine your future path. The study highlights how air pollution, often seen as an environmental issue, can have real, immediate consequences for individual lives and educational opportunities.

What's even more surprising? This effect was seen in Finland, a country known for its relatively clean air. Our heart truly goes out to the students trying to make it in a place like Delhi. This suggests that even low levels of PM2.5 can have a negative impact, and reducing air pollution remains crucial, even in countries that meet international standards.

But why maths? The research suggests that PM2.5 exposure can impair cognitive function, particularly tasks involving critical thinking and memorization, skills heavily relied upon in mathematics exams. This raises concerns about the potential impact on other subjects requiring similar skills, like science or logic-heavy sections of language tests.

The study's lead author, Marko Korhonen, emphasises the potential consequences: "If exam results significantly influence a student's future options, then exposure to air pollution during exams could have a decisive impact on their educational path."

While the effects of air pollution on our physical health is well documented, the present research serves as a wake-up call, urging us to consider the broader impact of air pollution on individuals and society. It highlights the need for stricter air quality regulations, cleaner technologies, and green spaces in our communities. After all, a clear mind shouldn't be a luxury, it should be a right, especially when it comes to shaping the future of young minds.

The findings of this study have been detailed in Economics Letters and can be accessed here.

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