Top line
Long-term exposure to air pollution during and after pregnancy increases a woman’s chances of experiencing postpartum depression, a study published Wednesday suggests, confirming previous research suggesting that prolonged exposure to Air pollution negatively affects mental health.
Researchers suggest public health interventions could ease the burden of postpartum depression … [+]
Highlights
Women who were exposed to various forms of air pollution for a prolonged period before and after pregnancy are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression, according to a study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers analyzed more than 340,000 women who gave birth between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2016 and found that exposure to air pollution during pregnancy appeared to affect the risk of postpartum depression.
The researchers, who examined diverse mothers’ backgrounds, found that associations between air pollution exposure and postpartum depression were strong among mothers aged 25 to 34, mothers with higher education, African American or Hispanic mothers and underweight mothers.
Pollutants of particular concern noted by researchers include sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, ozone and black carbon (from car engines).
The researchers note that since they were able to focus on specific pollutants, public health interventions might be possible to ease the burden of postpartum depression, but they did not suggest specific interventions.
Large number
9. This is the percentage of mothers who suffer from postpartum depression, according to researchers.
Key context
Postpartum depression is one of the most common childbirth complications, researchers say, and includes severe mood swings, difficulty bonding with the baby, withdrawal from family and friends , despair and overwhelming fatigue, among other symptoms, beginning after birth and lasting up to a year. , according to the Mayo Clinic. Before Wednesday’s study, researchers linked prolonged exposure to air pollution to mental health problems. Previous studies have linked air pollution to higher cases of suicide, depression and schizophrenia. Earlier this year, researchers compared the records of some 9 million Medicare patients to air pollution levels in their ZIP codes and found a statistically significant association between exposure to high levels of air pollution and the onset of depression. A 2021 study found that patients with psychotic disorders and mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder and depression, who were highly exposed to air pollution were more likely to be hospitalized than those which were not. The finding led Dr Adrian James, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, to recommend improving air quality to reduce pressure on mental health services.
Further reading
Increased air pollution increases risks of serious mental illness, study finds (Forbes)
Current climate: study suggests link between air pollution and depression (Forbes)
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Image Source : www.forbes.com