Decoding Physical and Cognitive Impacts of PM Concentrations at Ultra-fine Scales
The human body is an incredible and complex sensing system. Environmental factors trigger a wide range of automatic neurophysiological responses. Biometric sensors can capture these responses in real time, providing clues to the underlying biophysical mechanisms. Here we show biometric variables can be used to accurately estimate ultra-local particulate matter concentrations in the ambient environment with high fidelity (r2 = 0.91) and that smaller particles are better estimated than larger ones. Inferring environmental conditions solely from biometric measurements allows us to disentangle key interactions between the environment and the body. A deeper understanding of these interactions can have countless important applications in public health, preventative healthcare, city planning, human performance, and much more. By tapping into our body’s `built-in’ sensing abilities, we can gain insights to how our environment influences our physical health and cognitive performance.
