Pollution affects mental health and increases depression

Pollution affects mental health and increases depression

A new study has revealed a link between air pollution and mental ill health in humans, showing that exposure to low-quality air can cause depression and anxiety.

Researchers tracked cases of depression and anxiety in nearly half a million adults in the United Kingdom over a period of 11 years, finding that the more air pollution, the more cases of depression and anxiety, according to what was reported by the “Guardian”.

The researchers also found that those living in areas with higher pollution were more likely to have seizures even when air quality was within official limits.

More stringent standards or regulations

Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Psychiatric Association, the researchers, from the universities of Oxford, Beijing and Imperial College London, said their findings suggest the need for stricter standards or regulations to control air pollution.

The researchers added that they hope policymakers will take their findings into account.

Anna Hansel, a professor of environmental epidemiology at the University of Leicester, who was not involved in the research, said the study was additional evidence to support lowering legal limits on air pollution.

"This study provides further evidence of the potential effects of air pollution on the brain," she added.

The findings come as ministers in Britain face criticism for passing new legally binding air quality guidelines that allow more than twice the levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) compared to equivalent targets set by the World Health Organisation.

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