Breathing polluted air increases the risk of depression, study finds

The first research, published last week in the journal Jama Psychiatry, followed around 390 people for 11 years in the United Kingdom. The levels of pollution to which they were exposed were estimated according to the location of their home.

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The researchers studied the rates of fine particles (PM2,5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO) – pollution caused, in part, by fossil fuel plants and vehicle traffic. “Long-term exposure to multiple contaminants has been linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety“, concluded the scientists.

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The observed risk is non-linear, that is, it grows strongly above a relatively low concentration level and tends to stagnate afterwards. “Knowing that many countries’ air quality standards still vastly exceed the most recent 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations; stricter pollution standards or regulations should be established”, highlighted the study authors.

The second study, published in Jama Network Open, focused on the effect of fine particulate matter (PM2,5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) on people over 64. The objective was to study the consequences of atmospheric pollution in the development of a depression late.

These works used a Medicare database, public health insurance reserved for the elderly in the United States, and studied a population of 8,9 million people, of which 1,5 million suffer from depression.

“We observed statistically significant harmful associations between long-term exposure to high levels of air pollution and increased risk of late-life depression diagnosis,” the researchers noted. “Socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals had a much higher risk of depression in old age in this study,” they highlighted. “They are exposed to both social stress and poor environmental conditions, including air pollution.”

These works “add to the increasingly numerous elements that show that we should be concerned about the effects of pollution in mental health,” noted Oliver Robinson, professor of neuroscience and mental health at University College London, who was not involved in the research.

@curtonews Air pollution is linked to depression and anxiety – that's what new studies show. Stay tuned! 👀 #CurtoNews ♬ original sound – Curto News

(With AFP)

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