A large number of studies have confirmed that air pollution can lead to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and the latest research has found that air pollution can also affect mental health. A recent research report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that people who live in air pollution for a long time, especially the elderly, are more likely to suffer from depression. The researchers reached the above conclusion by analyzing the health data of more than 8.9 million participants in the American medical insurance system from 2005 to 2016 and the environmental conditions in the region.
The American medical journal reports that long-term air pollution increases people’s risk of depression.
Researchers have found that suspended particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone pollution in the air will increase people’s risk of depression even at low concentrations. Qiu Xinye, the co-author of the above research report and a researcher at Harvard University, said that this shows that there is no so-called safety threshold for air pollutants, and efforts must be made to eliminate or minimize air pollution. Qiu Xinye also said that climate warming will aggravate ozone pollution. Studies have shown that ozone pollution has a greater impact on people suffering from depression than suspended particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide pollution in the air.
The study also found that people with poor social and economic conditions have a higher risk of depression after long-term exposure to air pollution. The analysis believes that this is related to the social pressure and bad air environment they are facing at the same time. In addition, people with basic heart or respiratory diseases, long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide pollution, the probability of depression in the elderly will be higher.
Researchers say that the respiratory system and nervous system of the elderly are fragile and vulnerable to air pollution, and the harm of depression in the elderly is more serious. Depression may affect the cognitive ability of the elderly, leading to other diseases and even death.
According to CNN, previous studies have found that air pollution may affect the central nervous system, induce inflammation and cause cell damage in the body. Another study shows that some air pollutants may cause the human body to release harmful substances and destroy the “blood-brain barrier” mechanism of the human body. After the “blood-brain barrier” mechanism is destroyed, harmful substances will enter the brain through the blood and cause damage, which will lead to depression and anxiety.