On World Mental Health Day, we look at the impact of exposure to air pollution on mental health. Particulate matter is known to reach every organ in the body, so it should not be surprising that it can lead to mental illness. However the exact mechanisms and impacts are less well understood and scientists are calling for greater research into this.

What do we know?

Studies have focused on particular groups to track changes in measures of mental ill health. For example, higher levels of perceived stress have been seen in older men and and a statistically significant higher risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms have been identified in older adults. Meanwhile, emergency hospital visits increased during higher pollution episodes for youths with diagnosed mental illnesses, and one study showed likelihood of hospitalisation to increase by at least 11% as a result of modest increases in exposure. And long-term effects for children stand out too: early-life exposure to nitrogen oxides is significantly associated with general psychopathology as they enter adulthood.

An individual's response to changes in air pollution levels, can vary considerably, which may provide some insights into long-term risk of anxiety and depression. For example, adolescent girls at risk of anxiety disorders have higher stress responsivity to elevated levels of fine particulate matter.

Larger cohort studies have also looked at the connection with specific conditions. This study showed an increased risk of schizophrenia, depression and anxiety when individuals were exposed to higher levels of particulate matter. And this highly cited review concludes there is an increased risk of new depressive symptoms. We also know that air pollution is strongly linked to dementia and cognitive decline.

What can we do?

We can reduce the pollution we emit: as we move into colder months in the northern hemisphere, the temptation for wood burning fires and greater use of vehicles can compound with atmospheric effects that keep pollution trapped. So reducing our exposure to this pollution is key: using tools like AirTrack to plan our outdoor activities.

The theme of #WorldMentalHealthDay is workplace mental health. At Air Aware Labs we are offering our products through employee wellbeing platforms. No longer is workplace support for mental health limited to counselling and mindfulness - crucial though these are. We are delighted to work with providers who see the challenges and solutions in a holistic way.

Although the studies above remove confounding factors, we should also remember that the more direct physical impacts of air pollution - such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases - also bring mental health challenges. So finding ways to reduce our exposure to air pollution is vital on so many levels.

‍