Vitamin E reduces the extent of mouse brain damage induced by combined exposure to formaldehyde and PM2.5.

Exposure to specific air pollutants has been demonstrated to induce damage in the brain. However, these studies ignore the effects of a combination of contaminants, and there is a high likelihood that people will be exposed to a mixture of contaminants in daily life. Our previous study showed that co-exposure to formaldehyde (FA) and PM2.5 induced damage in the mouse brain at the safe exposure level for FA or PM2.5 exposure alone, and that oxidative stress and inflammation may be involved in the toxicity mechanisms. A universal strategy to protect people exposed to FA and PM2.5 is urgently needed. To explore whether an exogenous substance could counteract the negative effects of exposure to these pollutants, we administered vitamin E (Vit E) to the experimental animals. The results showed that administration of Vit E in tandem with the FA and PM2.5 co-exposure, reduced the extent of damage to the mouse brain. Down-regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation were proposed to explain the protective effects of Vit E. This research provides a universal strategy to effectively protect people who are exposed to FA and PM2.5 simultaneously.