Air pollution linked to symptoms of depression in adolescents, study suggests

Exposure to ozone gas air pollution has been linked to symptoms of depression in adolescents, according to a new study.

The research by the American Psychological Association found that while ozone – a gas produced by pollutants reacting to sunlight – is linked to physical ailments like asthma and respiratory viruses, it could also be linked to depression symptoms such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, lack of concentration, disturbed sleep and suicidal thoughts.

“I think our findings really speak to the importance of considering air pollution’s impact on mental health in addition to physical health,” said lead researcher Dr Erika Manczak, an assistant psychology professor at the University of Denver, in the US.

The research analysed data from a previous study on early life stresses of 213 participants aged 9 to 13 in San Francisco, US, and compared data about their mental health over a four-year period with data from the California Environmental Protection Agency about the air quality for their home addresses.

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It found that adolescents who lived in areas with higher ozone levels showed a significant increase in symptoms of depression over time, despite the ozone levels in their neighbourhoods not exceeding state or national air quality standards.

The findings weren’t impacted by the participants’ sex, age, race, household income, parental education or socioeconomic characteristics of their neighborhoods, and the research was published online in Developmental Psychology.

“It was surprising that the average level of ozone was fairly low even in the communities with relatively higher ozone exposure,” Dr Manczak said. “This really underscores the fact that even low levels of ozone exposure have potentially harmful effects.”

Ozone and other air pollutants can increase inflammation in the body, which has been linked depression and this new study suggests adolescents may be especially sensitive to this due to spending more time outdoors.

The results of the study are not definitive due to the small sample size and the of other influences, but it does show a link to ozone levels and depression among young people.

Dr Manczak added that ozone levels could be contributing to health disparities due to air pollution disproportionately affecting marginalised communities and suggested communities should consider ways to reduce ozone exposure, such as holding youth sporting events indoors when necessary, limiting driving during peak hours and investing in clean and renewable energy sources.

“I believe state and federal air quality standards should be stricter, and we should have tighter regulations on industries that contribute to pollution,” Dr Manczak said. “Our findings and other studies suggest that even low levels of ozone exposure can pose potentially serious risks to both physical and mental health.”