Air pollution influences children's emotional disorders, study finds

Barcelona, May 15 (EFE).- A study led by the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute and the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute shows that environmental pollution increases the risk of emotional problems (depression, anxiety, etc.) in children, while the presence of green spaces near them is beneficial.

This research was conducted with more than 4,000 children and adolescents of both sexes, ages 5 to 10, from schools and colleges in Catalonia. The results reinforce the need to implement strategies to improve air quality, especially in areas surrounding educational centers.

The work, published in the journal Child and Adolescent Mental Health, was made possible thanks to the support of the Marató de 3Cat and the Mental Health Department of CIBER (CIBERSAM), as well as the collaboration of the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center sponsored by the "la Caixa" Foundation.

13.4% of children suffer from mental problems

Emotional and behavioral problems are common in childhood: an estimated 13.4% of children and adolescents worldwide suffer from mental health problems.

These disorders can continue into adulthood and have a significant impact on individuals and their families, the study's researchers indicate.

Although genetics is important, the role of environmental factors in the development of mental health is widely accepted, as there is growing evidence that these factors, also present in the environment, play a fundamental role in brain health.

According to Dr. Silvia Alemany, a researcher in the psychiatry group at the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) and CIBERSAM, air pollution is one of the environmental factors that can affect the brain.

In this regard, he believes that although many studies have already been conducted on adults, "it is essential to study these effects in childhood, as this is a key stage of development and can have long-term consequences."

Nearly 4,500 children from 48 educational centers

To better understand the relationship between the environment and mental health in childhood, the VHIR and the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute (IRSJD) have coordinated a study with 4,485 children and adolescents from 48 public and private schools and institutes in Catalonia.

On the one hand, they studied their exposure to various air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, as well as the proximity of green spaces to schools.

Second, family questionnaires were used to assess each child's mental health, and the effects of exposure to pollution and proximity to green spaces were studied for periods ranging from one to four years before assessing emotional and behavioral problems.

The results showed that exposure to air pollution, especially PM10 particles, is associated with an increased risk of emotional problems such as anxiety and depression, effects that were observed after one year.

On the contrary, it was found that having green areas within a hundred meters of the school reduced aggressive behavior in children and adolescents, and these differences were observed even four years after exposure.

Green areas reduce stress

The research team notes that the beneficial effects directly derived from exposure to green spaces include reduced stress levels, but also the fact that they promote physical activity, social interaction, outdoor play, and reduced noise and pollution.

The study also analyzed whether sex, age, socioeconomic status, or genetic predisposition could influence these results, but no significant differences were found, indicating that these effects occur independently of these factors.

Protect mental health

The results of this study highlight the need to reduce pollution and increase green areas to protect the mental health of children and adolescents.

Dr. Rosa Bosch, coordinator of the SJD MIND Schools program at the IRSJD and co-author of the study, points out that "it is necessary to implement strategies to improve air quality and expand green spaces, especially in areas near schools." EFE

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