Correlation Found between Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollutants and Increased Risk of Depression and Anxiety.

A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry yielded some interesting results. This study of nearly 400,000 individuals, who had never been diagnosed with depression or anxiety, calculated the average levels of several ambient pollutants (PM 2.5, PM 10, NO2 and NO) that they were exposed to annually based on location data. They then monitored the participants over the course of nearly 11 years and monitored covariates. The results suggested that long-term exposure to these air pollutants, even in small quantities, was associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety. These results illustrate why it’s important to monitor the air that surrounds us not only for our respiratory health but mental health as well! You can read more about the study here: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2801116?_kx=