Researchers from the University of Cincinnati in collaboration with scientists from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital have found evidence linking children's mental health to their exposure to air pollution. The results of their study were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives states that a child's exposure to ambient air pollution leads to exacerbation of psychiatric disorder a day or two later.
This data was cross-referenced with the increase in the use of the emergency department of the hospital concerning children with various psychiatric issues. The study also states that children who come from disadvantaged neighborhoods are more likely to suffer from disorders such as anxiety and suicidality as effects of their exposure to air pollution. Patrick Ryan, PhD and Cole Brokamp, PhD are the primary authors of the study and both of them work as researchers of the Biostatistics and Epidemiology division of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
"This study is the first to show the close association between the daily exposure of children to the outdoor level of pollution and the increase in the symptoms of possible psychiatric disorders," said Dr. Brokamp. "Further research needs to be done to draw out a more substantial conclusion, but it could help put together prevention strategies for children, particularly those who already exhibit symptoms associated with psychiatric disorders."
The study also confirms the fact that children from disadvantaged neighborhoods who are more exposed to pollution and other environmental stressors exhibit frequent and severe psychiatric symptoms.
There are two other studies recently published that also cover concerns that link psychiatric disorders in children to exposure to air pollution.
A study led by Kelly Brunst, PhD and Kim Cecil, PhD published in the journal Environmental Research found a close association between anxiety and exposure to high traffic-related air pollution (TRAP). The study used neuroimaging to help establish the link between metabolic disturbances, TRAP exposure and general anxiety symptoms. The researchers found a higher level of myoinositol concentrations - a marker in the brain that indicates its neuroinflammatory response to an exposure.
Another study published in Environmental Research journal shows that a person's exposure to TRAP at an early age and all throughout childhood plays a significant role in cases of self-reported anxiety symptoms and depression among 12 year olds. Similar findings have also been reported among older patients.
However, despite these three studies, establishing a clear connection between TRAP exposure to the development and suffering of mental health issues among children still seems to be limited.
"Collectively, the studies serve as a contribution to the growing evidence linking pollution to mental health concerns among children," says Dr. Ryan. "More research as such must replicate these findings in order to uncover the mechanisms related to these associations."
