Smog vs. Psyche - how polluted air affects our mental health
"Smog" was one of the most popular words of 2018, and will continue to be so in the coming years, as Poland is unfortunately one of the most polluted countries in Europe and applies understated air quality standards. The problem of smog particularly intensifies during the winter heating season, and data on the degree of air pollution in individual cities is a regular feature of media news services.
Why is smog so dangerous to mental health?
SMOG .
(from smoke + fog or smoke + fog) is an atmospheric phenomenon that is caused by air pollution, primarily by so-called particulate matter. These are mainly dusts and gases from burning coal in stoves, car exhausts, industrial plants. Polluted air contributes to the development of many diseases, including various types of allergies, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, bronchial and respiratory diseases, contributes to cancer, causes fertility disorders in both men and women, has a negative impact on pregnancy and fetal development. About the harmfulness of air pollution on physical health we know a lot and it raises our greatest concern, we think less about its impact on our mood and mental condition. The impact can be
intermediate character.
, as smog restricts us from being outdoors, and breathing problems, scratchy throat or headaches cause mental discomfort.
Direct impact.
Smog is a reduction in our mental performance or damage to the nervous system. Equally damaging to our health are climate change - global warming and violent atmospheric phenomena (especially hot weather).
Children and teenagers
In recent years, a large group of mothers and children in Poland have been studied for the effects of air pollution on prenatal nervous system development. The results are in line with other global studies -.
Children of mothers exposed to air pollution during pregnancy have an intelligence quotient as much as 4 points lower.
compared to children in the control group. There is also an association between higher maternal exposure to air pollution and children's poorer psychomotor development, concentration and attention deficits, increased hyperactivity (ADHD), and difficulties with emotion control and poorer social competence. Environmental pollution
may also contribute to the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
, the etiology of which is still unclear. Some studies confirm that the association between maternal exposure to smog and the risk of autism was stronger during pregnancy than for both the pre-pregnancy and post-pregnancy periods. In contrast, during pregnancy, the strongest impact was observed in the third trimester. The study also confirms
Negative effects of air pollution on the functioning of the nervous system of children and adolescents.
. Breathing bad air can cause impairment in cognitive function, memory and intelligence (both verbal and non-verbal). In addition, higher air pollution translates into poorer performance on school tests and exams. Children raised in areas with poor air quality have higher levels of anxiety and are more likely to exhibit depressive behavior than their peers in areas with clean environments.
All this translates into later educational and professional success..
Adults and seniors
Long-term exposure to smog lowers our cognitive abilities, can lead to the appearance of anxiety or depressive symptoms (smog also exacerbates the effects of so-called seasonal depression in autumn and winter). The impact of smog is felt to a greater extent by women, the elderly and also children and adolescents. Studies conducted in European countries indicate that
In more polluted regions and periods of increased smog, doctors issued more prescriptions for psychiatric drugs!
There is also a statistically significant relationship between air pollution concentrations and the number of suicide attempts. Breathing smog also negatively affects our professional productivity and the quality of interpersonal relationships. An American study confirms the link between air pollution levels and crime rates - interestingly, the link was only for violent crime (aggression and antisocial behavior). In elderly people living in a polluted environment, it was observed
acceleration of the aging process of the nervous system.
, which is associated with poorer cognitive abilities and lower mental performance. Air pollution particles can accumulate in the human brain, likely contributing to the onset and development of neurodegradative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. High concentrations of pollutants
can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease by as much as 92%..
EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM ► Hyperactivity (ADHD). ► Cognitive impairment ► Increased incidence of depression and anxiety ► Greater propensity for aggressive behavior ► Greater risk of developing neurodegradative diseases ► Impaired capacity for interpersonal interaction ► Impairment of intelligence levels ► Difficulty focusing attention
Smog - and what's next?
In general, as air pollution increases, our satisfaction with life and personal happiness decreases. Therefore, it is worthwhile for us to do everything we can to reduce the formation of smog (e.g., environmentally friendly transportation) as well as to protect our bodies from its effects (e.g., wearing anti-smog masks, using air fresheners, seeking the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist if necessary). There are also more radical solutions like moving to places with healthier air.
This advantage is already being used by some cities of northern Poland.
trying to attract investors, students and employees from polluted Silesia and Warsaw (e.g., there was a high-profile promotional campaign by one of Gdansk's companies, which thus encouraged the relocation of IT professionals from Krakow). Will we see more migration in search of clean air in the coming years? Time will tell. Author:
Dorota Strzelec
Psychologist, career counselor, crisis intervener, coach, trainer
Usable sources of information:.
https://www.smoglab.pl
polskialarmsmogowy.pl
krakowskialarmsmogowy.pl - report "Impact of air pollution on health"
