The idea that the act that keeps the living body alive may be a cause for disease, on hindsight seems like something right out of a conspiracy theorist’s diary. However, recent studies has shown correlation between young adults who’ve been exposed to polluted air during the first years of their life and mental illnesses like schizophrenia and depression.
The research drawn from US (EPA), show air pollution’s role in developing several psychiatric disorders. The Data from Denmark’s National pollution register especially indicates, a developing brain during the first 10 years are potentially at more risk to these effects. The research was conducted through more than 151 million claims made by individuals as well as 87 different air quality measurements.
Computational biologist Atif Khan explains “The physical Environment- in particular air quality – warrants more research to better understand how our environment is contributing to neurological and psychiatric disorders”. It’s a modern-day issue that requires much focus given the recent tragedy in the Amazonian fires; the lungs of the earth now endangered even more so than it was before puts these undermined issues into the spotlight.
The question arises as a local, how a country producing a lower rate of air polluting substances as ours would be affected by events that require a concentrated level of air pollution. It is unfortunate to know research shows that the effects of pollution could be felt throughout the globe putting not only the epicenters such as the alleged Chinese factories within central china but also environmentally fragile nations as us.
In contrast however Skeptics like Prof. Loannidis states “despite analyses involving large datasets the available evidence has substantial shortcomings and a long series of potential biases may invalidate the observed associations. More analyses by multiple investigators, including contrarians, are necessary”.
In conclusion, it seems highly unlikely that a dystopian future where we will need air filtering masks will come to pass. However, the issue is noteworthy and food for thought.
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