Air Pollution Risks

Studies have found that exposure [blank] air pollution is linked to a greater risk of depression and suicide. While the effects on the body from breathing dirty air are well-established, an emerging body [blank] research has suggested pollution may also affect mental health. Isobel Braithwaite at University College London and her colleagues looked in detail at 25 studies published up to late 2017, for a meta-analysis on the links between the two. They found that someone living [blank] at least six months in an area with twice the World Health Organization's recommended limit for fine particulate matter, PM2.5, would have roughly a 10 percent increased risk of developing depression as a person living [blank] an area that met the limit. The WHO's guideline is that PM2.5s shouldn't exceed 10 micrograms per cubic metre of air (μg/m3) on average over a year. This is the average level in the UK. In London, the average figure is higher at 13.3μg/m3, and in Delhi it is around 133μg/m3.