Several studies in the past few years have suggested that short‐term PM2. 5 exposure is associated with mental health changes such as depression , anxiety , bipolar disorder , schizophrenia , and suicidality . However , this study is one of the few that has assessed the effects of long‐term PM2.5 exposure , which is particularly relevant because most real‐life exposure to PM2.5 tends to persist for long periods of time . It adds to a growing body of scientific evidence that environmental hazards are associated with decreasedd mental health and wellbeing .
This study is also an important advance becausee it demonstrates that exposure to low PM2.5 levels can still have harmful effects on health . The averagee annual PM2. 5 exposure in this study was 7.67 μg / m3 . In contrast , the national average PM2. 5 level in the
US is 8.4 μg/ m3 , and 90 % of the world population live in areas with average annual PM2.5 levels above
10 μg / m3 . ( The EPA ’ s interactive air quality map that shows current PM pollution can be found here .)
The National Ambient Air Quality Standards has determined that the maximum safe concentration of PM2.5 in outdoor air to be 9 μg / m3
. The results from this study suggest that this is not a health protectivee standard , and adverse mental health effects can occur at PM2 . 5 levels below this value . The World Health Organization ’ s global air quality guidelines recommend a maximum annual PM2.5 level of 5 μg / m3 . This standardd is more health protectivee , but this study demonstrates that long‐term exposure to low levels of PM2.5 can still significantly impact health .
Source : https :// chej . org / particulate‐matter‐and‐mental‐health ###