Air pollution has been linked to increased hospital admissions for both mental and physical illnesses. Research published in the BMJ Open journal found that cumulative exposure to air pollution over several years is associated with a higher risk of hospital admissions for mental and behavioral disorders, as well as physical illnesses. This study analyzed data from the Scottish Longitudinal Study, which represents 5% of the Scottish population, and tracked health and hospital admissions for all causes, cardiovascular, respiratory, and infectious diseases, as well as mental illness/behavioral disorders.
The four key pollutants studied were nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter diameter of at least 10 μm (PM10), and small particulate matter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5). The researchers found that higher cumulative exposure to these pollutants was associated with a higher incidence of hospital admissions for all causes, and for cardiovascular, respiratory, and infectious diseases.
Notably, the study revealed that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was associated with a higher number of hospital admissions for mental illness/behavioral disorders, while sulfur dioxide (SO2) was mainly associated with hospital admissions for respiratory disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines implicate particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) and ≤10 μm (PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide in poor air quality.
To mitigate these effects, researchers recommend stricter environmental regulations, long-term planning, and shifting towards renewable energy. Specifically, policies aimed at making zero-emission zones more abundant, especially in busy and polluted cities, could improve air quality and lower hospital care burdens.
