High ozone levels are associated with increased risks of depressive symptoms in adolescents, even when they do not exceed legal thresholds.
- Fine particle pollution is responsible for 7 million deaths per year
- In areas with high ozone levels, there are more cases of depression among teenagers
Nine out of ten people worldwide breathe polluted air, according to theWorld Health Organization. It estimates that seven million deaths per year are linked to exposure to fine particles in the air. But these are not the only consequences of air pollution. According to work by theAmerican Psychological Association, it can have consequences on the mental health of the youngest.
Depressive symptoms correlated to place of life
This work was carried out thanks to a previous study on stress in young people: it gathered data on more than 200 adolescents, aged 9 to 13 years. The researchers compared this information with the addresses provided and the data on the air quality in these areas, provided by the California Environmental Protection Agency. Teenagers who lived in areas with relatively higher ozone levels showed a significant increase in depressive symptoms over time, even though ozone levels in their neighborhood did not exceed regional or national quality standards. air. These symptoms included persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, and suicidal thoughts. Gender, age, race, household income, parental education, or participants’ socioeconomic characteristics did not impact the data.
Time spent outdoors, a determining factor?
“We were surprised because the average ozone level was quite low, explains Erika Manczak, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Denver, in the United States. This really highlights the fact that even low levels of ozone exposure have potentially harmful effects.“Ozone, like other air pollutants, can increase levels of inflammation in the body, and thus contribute to the development of depression. According to the authors of this study, adolescents may be particularly susceptible to these effects. because they spend more time outdoors.”I think our results really speak to the importance of considering the impact of air pollution on mental health in addition to physical health.“, the main author.
A necessary improvement in air quality
The researchers point out that it is possible that other components of air pollution could be a factor. In any case, they consider it necessary to rethink the criteria. “I think state and federal air quality standards should be stricter and we should have stricter regulations on industries that contribute to pollution“, believes Erika Manczak. She puts forward some ways to contribute: limiting traffic during air pollution alerts or investing in clean and renewable energy sources.
