By now, almost all of us know the dangers of polluted air on people's physical health. Now it was found that air pollution, even just low levels of them, can increase children's chances of developing mental illnesses.
Young People Are More Vulnerable
The study, which was published in the journal BMJ Open, examined more than 500,000 people under 18 years old in Sweden's polluted areas. According to researchers, children and adolescents living in areas with high levels of air pollution have high risks of developing psychiatric disorders.
Frank Kelly, a professor at King's College London, said the research strengthens previous suspicions that children are more vulnerable to the negative effects of air pollution because their organs are still developing. Young people's active lifestyles also put them at risk. When a person is always outdoors, he/she has higher chances of being exposed to polluted air, The Guardian reported.
Kelly, however, also noted that Sweden's air pollution levels are not that high compared to other countries. Sweden's air pollution levels go below 15mcg/m3, an already low rate but researchers still found it to be harmful to people. The risks of mental illness could be amplified in countries with elevated air pollution levels like China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Previous Studies Found Harmful Effects Of Air Pollution On Mental Health
Past studies found an association between air pollution and autism spectrum disorders and learning and development disabilities in children. Anna Oudin, a professor at Umeå University in Sweden, said air pollution targets people's bodies and brains and causes inflammation. A variety of psychiatric problems can occur from inflammation, The Guardian noted.
Air pollutants such as NO2 and fine particulate matter are upping the risks of mental health problems like anxiety and depression, The Huffington Post wrote. Neighborhoods existing alongside industrial polluters have higher risks of developing physical and mental health disorders.
Beijing, one of the world's most polluted cities, has been making improvements in decreasing its air pollution levels thanks to a combination of energy structure optimization, coal-fired emission control, vehicle emission control and intensified air quality monitoring, according to China.org.cn. The cities of London, New York and Sydney are also seeing decreasing air pollution levels due to tougher government measures, a separate report from The Guardian stated.
Around 4 million people die from outdoor air pollution every year, the World Health Organization said. In the United Kingdom, air pollution is to be blamed for around 50,000 deaths annually. Air pollution also exacerbates people's risks of developing lung diseases, high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks, according to the U.S. News & World Report (via HealthDay).
