Need2Know - Air Pollution and Mental Health

Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Outdoor and indoor air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases and are important sources of morbidity and mortality. At the same time, the connection between air pollution and mental health is a growing area of research and advocacy. WHO data show that almost all of the global population breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits and contains high levels of pollutants, with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures. Air quality is closely linked to the earth’s climate and ecosystems globally, and air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate.

Here is what you “need to know” from the current evidence base