A baby’s exposure to air pollution while in the womb is associated with the development of certain mental health problems once the infant reaches adolescence, new research has found. The University of Bristol-led study, published in JAMA Network Open today [28 May], examined the long-term mental health impact of early-life exposure to air and noise pollution.
Growing evidence suggests that air pollution, which comprises toxic gases and particulate matter, might contribute to the onset of mental health problems. It is thought that pollution could negatively affect mental health through various pathways, including compromising the blood-brain barrier, promoting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and directly entering the brain and damaging tissue.
Despite youth being a key period for the onset of these problems, relatively few studies have investigated the associations of air and noise exposure during early life with mental health. In this new study, researchers sought to examine the long-term impact of air and noise pollution exposure during pregnancy, early childhood, and adolescence on three common mental health problems: psychotic experiences, depression, and anxiety.
To investigate this, the team used data from over 9,000 participants from Bristol’s Children of the 90s birth cohort study, which recruited over 14,000 pregnant women from the Bristol area between 1991 and 1992. By linking participants’ early childhood data with their mental health reports at ages 13, 18, and 24 years, researchers were able to map outdoor air and noise pollution in South West England at different time points.
Researchers found that even small increases in fine particulate matter during pregnancy and childhood were associated with more psychotic experiences and depression symptoms in teenage years and early adulthood. These associations persisted after considering various risk factors, such as family psychiatric history, socioeconomic status, and other area-level factors.
The team found that every 0.72 micrograms per cubic meter increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy and childhood was associated with increased odds for psychotic experiences and depression. In contrast, higher noise pollution exposure in childhood and teenage years was subsequently associated with more anxiety symptoms.
Dr Joanne Newbury, the study’s lead author, stated, “Childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood are critical periods for the development of psychiatric disorders. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting a detrimental impact of air pollution on mental health. Given that pollution is a preventable exposure, interventions to reduce exposure could potentially improve mental health.”
“It is important to emphasize that these findings do not prove a causal association. However, recent studies have shown that low emissions zones appear to have a positive impact on mental health,” Dr. Newbury added.
The research, which involved researchers from King’s College London, University College London, and Cardiff University, was funded by various organizations, including the University of Bristol, Wellcome, ESRC, MRC, NIHR, and NERC.
A baby’s exposure to air pollution while in the womb is associated with the development of certain mental health problems once the infant reaches adolescence, new research has found. The University of Bristol-led study, published in JAMA Network Open today [28 May], examined the long-term mental health impact of early-life exposure to air and noise pollution.
Growing evidence suggests that air pollution, which comprises toxic gases and particulate matter, might contribute to the onset of mental health problems. It is thought that pollution could negatively affect mental health through various pathways, including compromising the blood-brain barrier, promoting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and directly entering the brain and damaging tissue.
Despite youth being a key period for the onset of these problems, relatively few studies have investigated the associations of air and noise exposure during early life with mental health. In this new study, researchers sought to examine the long-term impact of air and noise pollution exposure during pregnancy, early childhood, and adolescence on three common mental health problems: psychotic experiences, depression, and anxiety.
To investigate this, the team used data from over 9,000 participants from Bristol’s Children of the 90s birth cohort study, which recruited over 14,000 pregnant women from the Bristol area between 1991 and 1992. By linking participants’ early childhood data with their mental health reports at ages 13, 18, and 24 years, researchers were able to map outdoor air and noise pollution in South West England at different time points.
Researchers found that even small increases in fine particulate matter during pregnancy and childhood were associated with more psychotic experiences and depression symptoms in teenage years and early adulthood. These associations persisted after considering various risk factors, such as family psychiatric history, socioeconomic status, and other area-level factors.
The team found that every 0.72 micrograms per cubic meter increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy and childhood was associated with increased odds for psychotic experiences and depression. In contrast, higher noise pollution exposure in childhood and teenage years was subsequently associated with more anxiety symptoms.
Dr Joanne Newbury, the study’s lead author, stated, “Childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood are critical periods for the development of psychiatric disorders. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting a detrimental impact of air pollution on mental health. Given that pollution is a preventable exposure, interventions to reduce exposure could potentially improve mental health.”
“It is important to emphasize that these findings do not prove a causal association. However, recent studies have shown that low emissions zones appear to have a positive impact on mental health,” Dr. Newbury added.
The research, which involved researchers from King’s College London, University College London, and Cardiff University, was funded by various organizations, including the University of Bristol, Wellcome, ESRC, MRC, NIHR, and NERC.
