Air pollution can put a strain on the psyche
People may be at higher risk for mental disorders when exposed to high levels of air pollution such as particulate matter and sulfur oxide, according to a study. Scottish scientists compared the possible factors with people's living environment.
People living in regions with high levels of air pollution are at higher risk of mental disorders, researchers from the University of St Andrews in Scotland have shown. Mary Abed Al Ahad and her team have used data from the UK household Longitudinal Study evaluatedwhich measures well-being with the twelve-point GHQ12 scale. The experts then compared this with people's living environment. This in turn was classified according to four criteria: Pollution with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and two different particle sizes of fine dust caused by industry, traffic, power plants and heating systems.
Data from over 60,000 subjects
The GHQ12 scale includes twelve questions about a person's experience of twelve symptoms related to psychological well-being. They relate to ability to concentrate, sleep habits, self-esteem, decision-making ability, stress levels, problem-solving ability, enjoying normal activities, being able to face problems, feeling unhappy and depressed, losing confidence; seeing oneself as worthless; and feeling somewhat happy. The researchers collected data from 60,146 people (older than 16 years) and 349,748 responses.
The relationship between air pollution and poor psychological well-being can be explained by four factors. The first lies in the biological mechanisms of air pollutants on the human central nervous system and neurobehavioral processes. Particulate matter is capable of triggering oxidative stress and producing inflammatory cytokines that infiltrate the blood-brain barrier and cause brain damage.
The second explanation lies in the aesthetic and odor nuisance of air pollution, which leads to avoidance behavior and inhibition of psychologically supportive outdoor activities and sports. This, in turn, causes decreased happiness and life satisfaction as well as increased stress, anxiety, loneliness, and ultimately poor psychological well-being.
Fear for your own health
The third explanation relates to experiential anxiety and worrisome feelings about physical health and the future. People living in highly polluted areas may experience stress and fear of physical illness, which is reflected in poorer psychological well-being. The last explanation manifests itself in the indirect effect of air pollution on psychological well-being.
Source: Press text.com
