Early exposure to air and noise pollution could be linked with later mental health problems

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-05-29 01:00

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Early exposure to air and noise pollution could be linked to a range of mental health issues in adolescence and young adulthood, according to international researchers. The team looked at data from 9,065 participants and found that higher exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in pregnancy and childhood was associated with increased psychotic experiences. Exposure during pregnancy was also associated with higher rates of depression, and higher noise pollution exposure in childhood and adolescence was also associated with increased anxiety. While the findings can’t show cause and effect, the team says the data builds on evidence associating air and noise pollution with mental health, and highlights the role of early-life pollution exposure in youth mental health problems.

News release

From: JAMA

Air and Noise Pollution Exposure in Early Life and Mental Health From Adolescence to Young Adulthood

JAMA Network Open

About The Study: Early-life air and noise pollution exposure were prospectively associated with three common mental health problems (psychotic experiences, depression, and anxiety) from adolescence to young adulthood in this longitudinal cohort study. There was a degree of specificity in terms of pollutant-timing-outcome associations. Interventions to reduce air and noise pollution exposure (e.g., clean air zones) could potentially improve population mental health. Replication using quasi-experimental designs is now needed to shed further light on the underlying causes of these associations.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University of Bristol, UK

Funder: The UK MRC andWellcome Trust (grant 217065/Z/19/Z) and the University of Bristol provide core support for the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). This research was funded in whole, or in part, by grant 218632/Z/19/Z from theWellcome Trust. This research was specifically funded by grants from the UK MRC to collect data on psychotic experiences, depression, and anxiety (MR/M006727/1 and G0701503/85179 to Prof Zammit); and a grant from the Natural Environment Research Council to facilitate linkage to geospatial and natural environment data (R8/H12/83/NE/P01830/1 to Mr Boyd). Dr Newbury is funded by Sir HenryWellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship 218632/Z/19/Z from theWellcome Trust and grant COV19/200057 from the British Academy. Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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