A recent study in JAMA Network Open looked at air and noise pollution exposure from prenatal exposure to age 12 yo, and found increased risk for 3 common mental health problems: anxiety, depression, and psychotic experiences.
Prenatal exposure to PM2.5 was linked to increased risk for depression and psychotic experiences for teens and young adults. Early childhood exposure to PM2.5 was linked to increased risk for psychotic experiences.
Noise pollution in childhood and adolescence was linked to increased risk of anxiety, both for teens and young adults.
This study adds to what we know about air pollution: we need to reduce air pollution exposures so people can thrive when they’re children and when they’re adults. It also shows the lasting impact of prenatal exposures, with mental health problems showing up many years after birth. It also provides evidence that EV cars and buses could help reduce anxiety for children and teens. It means that EV school buses have even more ways they improve health and safety for students: less pollution and less noise!
During this study, the air pollution levels for annual PM2.5 were 13.3μg/m3 in pregnancy, and decreased over time to 10.7μg/m3 at age 12. The previous U.S. standard for annual PM2.5 was 12.0, and this spring it was reduced to 9.0. This study helps reinforce that the standard of 9.0 will really benefit health and well-being. In addition, 2/3 of the children in this study were exposed to high or very high level of noise pollution, and 1/5 of them were exposed to very high noise pollution.
This was a study where pregnant women and their children were followed during pregnancy and until the children were young adults, age 25. It included 9,000 people followed all the way from birth until age 25.
Read a news article about the study here.
Read the scientific study here.
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07/16/2024 AKMB
