A recent review published in the British Journal of Psychiatry suggests that poor air quality has various negative impacts on mental health.
Air pollution impacts mental health
Led by Professor Kam Bhui from the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry, researchers in the BioAirNet program conducted an analysis of previous studies that examined the effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution on individuals throughout their lives, from birth and pregnancy to adolescence and adulthood.
Exposure to air pollutants has been linked to various mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, psychoses, and potentially neurocognitive disorders like dementia. Children and adolescents, in particular, may be at risk due to exposure during critical stages of mental development, increasing the likelihood of severe impact and future mental health problems.
Other factors that contribute to this risk include poverty, overcrowding, a lack of green spaces, poor housing, and individual vulnerabilities such as limited access to caregivers, safe spaces, or support.
According to Professor Bhui, mental health and air pollution are challenges the world is grappling with currently and in the foreseeable future. As a result, this makes studying the connection very important. Bhui added that the review demonstrated that there is growing evidence of the connection between poor mental health and air quality, including a link to certain mental disorders.
Most notable pollutants include bioaerosols, and these particles form part of a complex set of risk factors, including individual vulnerabilities, deprivation, and geography.
More research is necessary to study the link between pollution and mental health
Further research is required to comprehend the complex connections and underlying causes of various health conditions, particularly regarding the impact of particulate matter and bioaerosols. The current knowledge gaps also extend to understanding the mechanisms through which these elements contribute to and exacerbate health issues. Limited research has been conducted on indoor air quality and its effects on health, as well as on the specific role of bioaerosols in this context.
Little attention has been given to the impact of air pollutants on mental health, despite the existing association between poor air quality and physical health issues, including certain cancers.
