High Air Pollution Linked to Psychotic Experiences in Teenagers

According to a study teenagers living in areas of high air pollution are more likely to have psychotic experiences.

Air pollution linked to psychotic experiences. 

(Photo: iStock)

A study has found that psychotic experiences are more likely in teenagers who live in areas of high air pollution. Psychotic experiences are more common in adolescents than in adults, but those who show such symptoms earlier on are more likely to develop serious mental illnesses later.

According to an article by the Medical Xpress, the study published in JAMA Psychiatry suggests that the teenagers exposed to high amounts of air pollution are more likely to have psychotic experiences like hearing voices and paranoia. This has been linked to high concentration of nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides and small particulate matter.

Studies have suggested that toxic air maybe one of the reasons why young people living in cities and other urban areas are more susceptible to psychotic experiences. According to an article by The Guardian, studies attribute the causes of psychotic experiences to other things including, alcohol and drug consumption, family income and psychiatric history, etc.

Nitrogen dioxide emitted from diesel vehicles are one of the major reasons for psychotic experiences. Besides causing the obvious respiratory illnesses, air pollution also reaches the brain and is linked to causing depression, dementia, etc.

According to researchers, teenagers exposed to small particulate pollution (PM2.5) are 45 percent more likely to have symptoms of psychotic experiences and these were more common in teenagers living in areas which come under the 25 percent most polluted areas.