Air pollution is not only harmful to our physical health, but also to our mental health. This is what a study led by Mary Abed Al Ahad, lecturer in population and health geography at the University of Saint Andrews in Scotland, reveals. This is a relatively new area of research, few studies have been conducted. However, it is a hot topic, directly linked to climate change
introduced the scientist.
Psychosis, stress, depression…
According to his research, exposure to air pollution, particularly nitrogen dioxide (NO2), increases the risk of hospitalization for “illnesses such as psychosis, stress, depression, but also cognitive disorders. »
To demonstrate this, the researcher studied the levels of four pollutants – nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), PM10 particles and PM2.5 particles – between 2002 and 2017, which she cross-referenced with health data from 202,237 people, aged 17 and over, living in Scotland. Some potentially influential factors, such as lifestyle, could not be taken into account, but “there is definitely a link between significant exposure to air pollution and mental health problems
she assures.
According to her, two phenomena can explain it. The first is biological : certain pollutants create what is called oxidative stress, which can cause neurological damage and promote the development of mental illnesses. The second is psychological : living in a polluted area, sometimes with visual and olfactory signs, exacerbates the feeling of worry about one's state of health.
Previous research indicates that there may also be repercussions on children's cognitive development, making them more vulnerable. The scientist hopes that all of this data will allow the implementation of more ambitious public policies in terms of environment and health.
