Short-term and cumulative exposure to air pollution is associated with increased migraine activity

Air pollution is associated with increased migraine activity, according to a study published April 15, 2026, in Neurology^®the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Both short-term and cumulative exposure to air pollution as well as climatic factors such as heat and humidity were associated with increased migraine activity.

The study does not prove that air pollution causes migraine attacks. shows only a correlation.

These results help us better understand how and when migraine attacks occur. They suggest that for people with migraine susceptibility, environmental factors may play two roles: medium-term factors such as heat and humidity may modify the risk for attacks, while short-term factors such as increases in pollution levels may trigger attacks.

Ido Peles, MD, author of the study of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Be’er Sheva, Israel

The study involved 7,032 people with migraine living in Beer Sheva in the Negev desert and were followed for an average of 10 years. The researchers looked at daily exposure to air pollution from traffic, industry and dust storms, as well as weather conditions. They then looked at how often and when they had to visit the hospital or a primary care office with an acute migraine and compared that with pollution and weather conditions that day and up to seven days earlier, as the effects of pollution can take a few days to affect the body.

They also looked at cumulative exposure to air pollution and migraines. As another measure of migraine activity, the researchers checked pharmacy records to see how many doses of migraine medications called triptans the participants needed.

During the study, 2,215 people, or 32%, had at least one hospital or clinic visit for an acute migraine. A total of 47% of subjects had purchased triptan medication during the study, with an average use of two tablets per month and 2.3% of subjects using 10 or more tablets per month.

The researchers found an association between air pollution and migraine hospital or clinic visits. On the day with the highest number of hospital or clinic visits, air pollution levels were higher than the average amount during the study period. On that day, the particulate level is 10 or PM₁₀which includes dust, was 119.9 microns per square meter (μm/m³), compared to an average of 57.9 over the course of the study. For PM_2.5which includes particles from vehicle exhaust and fuel burning from power plants and other industries, the level that day was 27.3 µm/m^3, compared to an average of 22.3 over the course of the study. For nitrogen dioxide or NO₂a gas mostly from traffic emissions, the level that day was 11.2 parts per billion, against an average of 8.7.

The day with the fewest hospital or clinic visits also had lower than average pollution levels.

After adjusting for other factors that could influence the risk of migraine attacks, such as gender and socioeconomic status, the researchers found that people with short-term exposure to high levels of NO₂ they were 41% more likely to go to the hospital or clinic for a migraine than people not exposed at high levels. People exposed to high levels of solar radiation, or the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, were 23% more likely to seek help for migraines than those not exposed to high levels.

Individuals with cumulative exposure to high levels of NO₂ were 10% more likely to have high use of antimigraine medications than those without high cumulative exposure. People with cumulative exposure to high levels of PM_2.5 they were 9% more likely to make high use of drugs.

The researchers found that climatic conditions played a role in the effects of the pollution. High temperatures and low humidity enhanced the effect of NO₂while cold and wet conditions intensified the effect of PMs_2.5.

“These findings highlight opportunities to predict what care will be needed,” Peles said. “As climate change increases the frequency of heat waves, dust storms and pollution episodes, we will need to incorporate these environmental risk factors into our guidance for people with migraine. When periods of high risk are predicted, doctors may advise people to limit their outdoor activity and use air filters. attacks”.

A limitation of the study is that air pollution exposure was measured from monitoring stations and did not take into account individual behaviors such as time spent indoors, use of air conditioners or air filters, type of work and daily activities.

In addition, since information on migraine activity was collected through hospital and clinic visits and pharmacy data, the findings mainly reflect people with severe migraine and may not apply to people with migraine episodes or people who are self-medicating.

The study was supported by Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.