Air pollution linked to greater risk of hospital admission for mental illness

Exposure to air pollution is linked to an increased risk of hospital admission for mental illness, according to the most comprehensive study of its kind.

- Andrew Gregory

The research, involving more than 200,000 people in Scotland, found an increase in exposure to nitrogen dioxide in particular was associated with a higher number of people being admitted to hospital for behavioural disorders and mental illnesses.

Previously published research on the health effects of long-term exposure to air pollution tended to look into deaths rather than hospital admissions, and physical, rather than mental, ill health, the researchers said. The new study found air pollution was linked to increased risks of hospital admission for mental health, as well as physical illness.

Stricter environmental restrictions would benefit millions of people and curb the impact on secondary care, the researchers suggested.

The study lead, Dr Mary Abed Al Ahad of the University of St Andrews, said policies to tackle air pollution and a shift to renewable energy could in the long term help to ease the burden on hospitals of people who had physical and mental illnesses.