If mental health is like this in Rome (and not only) it is also the fault of pollution
We knew that pollution is partly responsible for respiratory problems, heart attacks, strokes and lung tumors but a recent study conducted on the inhabitants of Rome also demonstrated the link with some damage to mental health such as anxiety and depression. All the details
If we imagined that traffic and non-running public transport could cause stress, now a study conducted in Rome has also shown that there is a link between pollution and damage to mental health such as anxiety and depression. This is stated by research published in Environment International .
WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE STUDY
“Recent studies have linked air pollution to the development of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety and psychotic episodes. However, all these associations have been studied mainly in small groups, making the results difficult to generalize,” Dr Federica Nobile of the epidemiology department of the Lazio Regional Health Service told the Guardian .
The research, led by Nobile, however, studied the association of different air pollutants and road traffic noise with the incidence of different categories of mental disorders from 2011 to 2019 on over 1.7 million people aged 30 and over. about who live in Rome.
The inhabitants of the capital, among other things, as specified by Dr. Ioannis Bakolis of King's College London, who did not participate in the study, are exposed to fine particles (PM2.5) three times more than recommended by the Organization World Health Organization (WHO): “Reducing air pollution according to WHO guidelines could not only improve brain health, but also reduce demand on already overburdened post-pandemic psychiatric services.”
HOW THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED
Their medical records were then analyzed for eight years, investigating the emergence of new cases of mental health problems, including those admitted to hospital or those with new repeat prescriptions of antipsychotics, antidepressants and mood stabilizers.
This information was then compared with information about air pollution and traffic noise where people lived, as well as other social factors that can affect mental health, including poverty, unemployment, education and marital status.
THE RESULTS
The analysis found that people living in areas with greater particle pollution are more likely to develop schizophrenia spectrum disorders, depression and anxiety disorders. In particular, the effects were greatest in the 30-64 age group, except for depression.
The confirmation came by looking at the data on drug prescriptions and, in addition to particle pollution, associations were also detected with carbon black and ultrafine particles.
Bipolar, personality and substance use disorders did not show clear associations.
“Our finding highlights the crucial importance of implementing rigorous measures to reduce human exposure to air pollutants. These are crucial not only to safeguard against physical ailments, but also to preserve mental well-being,” Professor Francesco Forastiere of the National Research Council (CNR) and Imperial College London told the Guardian .
By reducing Rome's average particle pollution by 10%, the British newspaper writes, these common mental health conditions could be reduced by 10-30%.
NOT JUST MENTAL HEALTH
But mental problems are not the only health side effect of pollution. As the Guardian recalls, "seventy-one years ago, the great London smog of 1952 caused the deaths of around 12,000 people, mainly due to respiratory problems, heart attacks and strokes", to which over the years lung cancer and a greater risk of dementia in later life.
Furthermore, in the past, Forastiere had also warned of the dangers of pollution linked to underweight newborns and the greater likelihood of developing respiratory infections, asthma and developmental delays.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/sanita/se-a-roma-e-non-solo-la-salute-mentale-sta-cosi-cosi-e-anche-colpa-inquinamento/ on Fri, 01 Dec 2023 11:47:41 +0000.