A growing number of studies point out that there is a certain connection between air pollution and mental health disorders in different age groups.
Research so far has focused on the impact of air pollution in adults. In recent years, two new studies conducted by scientists have discovered similar links between "air pollution and children".
The first study analyzed data from more than 6,800 children who visited the psychiatric and psychiatric emergency in 5 years. It was found that short-term exposure to air pollution will aggravate children's mental and psychological illness after 1 to 2 days.
"This study demonstrates the first link between daily outdoor air pollution levels in children and increased symptoms of mental and mental illness such as anxiety and suicide," said Dr. Cole Brokamp, lead author of the study and a researcher in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology.
"We need more research to confirm these findings, which may bring new prevention strategies and methods to children with symptoms associated with mental and mental illness."
The study also found that children living in poor communities have the worst mental and psychological conditions, especially related to anxiety disorders and suicide disorders.
"The fact that children living in highly impoverished communities experience greater health effects of air pollution may mean that pollutants and community stressors have a synergistic impact on the severity and frequency of mental and psychological symptoms," Dr. Brokamp added in a press statement.
Of course, this study is based on the conclusions drawn by the social phenomena and research objects in the United States. It is different from the actual social situation in China. Its conclusions may not be completely applicable to our country, but we can still learn from some of these ideas and concepts to promote the research and progress of the connection between "air pollution and mental health" in our country.
In addition, a study found a link between "traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure" and children's mental health.
TRAP mainly refers to the air pollution caused by exhaust gas and non-exhaust gas generated by motor vehicles through combustion and non-combustion. Exposure to TRAP can lead to a series of adverse health outcomes in humans, such as adverse pregnancy outcomes, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, , respiratory diseases, etc. The accuracy of TRAP exposure assessment directly affects the accuracy of its health impact assessment.
Researchers used neuroimaging technology to track the link between TRAP, brain metabolic disorders and symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in children. Neuroimaging results show that the culprit of this connection is the brain's inflammatory response to air pollution.
A related study found that early exposure to TRAP was associated with higher self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms in 12-year-old children. Because these results rely on self-report, they are less reliable than other studies, but still add to the overall assessment of how air pollution affects children’s mental health.
"In general, these studies contribute to increasing evidence that exposure to air pollution in early life and in childhood may lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health problems during adolescence," said Professor Rong Xinqi, a psychologist at the new concept.
Only time will prove how these changes will affect overall health outcomes, but evidence to date suggests that higher levels of toxins circulating in the air we breathe may make already challenged mental health conditions darker.
Of course, these studies and findings add to the conclusions of previous studies and allow us to further understand the specific links between air pollution and mental health, thereby finding more and better coping methods and strategies.
