TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Environmental and health expert Gerardo Sanchez from the European Environment Agency (EEA) has unveiled the impact of air pollution on the mental health of the public. According to him, pollution is one of the triggers that exacerbate mental health issues, especially for those exposed during sensitive periods, such as childhood and pregnancy.
Sanchez explained the evidence linking air pollution to mental health problems. In the long term, exposure to fine dust particles and nitrogen dioxide is associated with the onset and worsening of depression symptoms. Short-term pollution peaks are also linked to the worsening of schizophrenia symptoms, and in some cases, with anxiety and bipolar symptoms.
Similarly, for noise pollution, Sanchez said there is moderate evidence to support the connection between busy traffic and the level of depression in society. In this case, noise-related stress and sleep disturbances are considered to play a key role.
Furthermore, evidence for other pollutants has also emerged but is less consistent. Sanchez cited contamination of chemical substances such as lead, which is also related to mental health problems. "Studies link lead and passive smoking with depression and schizophrenia, especially when exposure occurs before birth or during childhood," he said, as quoted from the EEA's official website.
The European Environment Agency has published evidence of the connection between pollution and mental health issues in a report entitled Pollution and Mental Health: Current Scientific Evidence. It states that although there is a growing link between pollution and mental health, science has not been able to establish a definitive cause-and-effect relationship for this issue.
Most current studies are still cross-sectoral, meaning they observe one population at a single point in time. There is an association but it has not been proven to be causal. "We need more long-term studies and developments that follow people over time to determine when and how pollution affects mental health," said Sanchez.
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