Air Quality & Mental Health
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1 min read
We know air quality affects our physical health, but did you know it can also affect our mental health?
In a recent study, data from a Korean Health Community Survey was used to analyze the effects of local air quality over a 5-year timespan, ultimately analyzing over 124,000 subjects.
After interviewing text subjects and comparing their answers with the trends of air quality in their respective neighborhoods, the scientists found that long-term exposure to air pollution increased the risk of depression and thoughts of self-harm.
Other studies also associate low air quality with heightened anxiety, and children are found to be especially vulnerable due to their developing brains.
While more studies need to be done, it’s clear that the importance of air quality cannot be understated.
1 in 8 people across the globe live with a mental health disorder. 99% of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds the World Health Organization’s air quality standards. 1 in 3 Americans live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution. 72% of people in counties with the worst pollution (in the United States) are people of color.
Sources of Indoor Air Pollution
Did you know these pollutants may be in your home right now?
Vehicle Emissions: If you live near highways and heavy traffic areas, those exhaust fumes will find their way into your home.
Wildfire Smoke: Wildfire smoke can travel for hundreds of miles and carries high levels of particulate matter, including sulfuric acid, ammonium sulfate, organic chemicals, soot, metals, and pollen.
Secondhand Smoke: Smoke from cigarettes and cooking fumes contribute to low indoor air quality.
Pets: Playful pets release pet dander and pet fur into our air, as well as ammonia from litter boxes and potty accidents.
Plants: Pollen from indoor and outdoor plants can get stuck in your indoor air supply.
Dust & Fibers: They’re invisible until you see hundreds of them floating in a beam of sunlight, then it suddenly feels like they’re everywhere.
