Air pollution has been convincingly linked to respiratory illnesses, while run-off from industries has not only diminished water quality but dirtied supply with so-called “forever chemicals” that have been shown to have adverse effects on organs and reproduction.
Contaminants likely have a less well-known effect, with the European Environment Agency warning of “links… to mental health issues” while advocating for city dwellers to increase their time spent in the countryside to offset the potential effects of pollution.
And while more work is needed to confirm “a clear causality link,” the EEA says there is a “significant correlation between exposure to pollution and mental health issues.”
The reasons for mental health decline, be they psychological or lifestyle, are “not yet completely understood,” according to the EEA, explaining why pollution is being looked at as a likely contributor to Europe’s “significant increase in the prevalence and incidence of mental health disorders.”
“Long-term exposure to poor air quality is linked to an increased prevalence or risk of new onset depression,” the agency says, while also pointing out the dangers of exposure to lead, second-hand smoke, endocrine disruptors and other chemicals early in life.
In early 2024, the American Medical Association published research linking pre-birth and early-life air and noise pollution exposure to “psychotic experiences, depression, and anxiety” among adolescents and young adults.
The EEA called for wider recognition of “the positive effects of nature-based solutions on mental wellbeing” as a potential counter to pollution.
The EEA report follows the recent publication of research by McGill University in Canada saying spending time in nature has a “restorative” effect prompting changes in the brain that “calm stress, restore attention and quiet mental clutter.”