Government of Delhi Demands Research on the Effects of Air Pollution in India

Digital Desk: The Delhi Health Department has stressed that although there is evidence that air pollution has an impact on mental health, leading to anxiety and other related problems, additional research focused on India is urgently needed to fully comprehend the issue.This statement was released in response to the National Green Tribunal's investigation, which was started in reaction to a TOI story titled "Are you feeling nervous? "Maybe toxic air is to blame," the publication said in October 2023.

In response, the Delhi administration listed a number of studies emphasizing the negative impacts of pollution on mental health and called for additional study that was specifically focused on India.

Understanding the ramifications for mental health is crucial because India's fast industrialization and urbanization have raised pollution levels. Through both direct biological effects and stress-related impacts, exposure to various environmental pollutants, such as air pollutants, heavy metals, and noise pollution, has been linked to an increase in mental health disorders like anxiety, mood disorders, and psychotic syndromes "said the Delhi government's Deputy Secretary of the Health and Family Department.

The research cited a number of studies published in different publications that showed people who lived in high-pollution areas had a higher risk of developing depression and were more likely to exhibit symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and restlessness.

"Air pollution exposure can increase stress hormone levels, which can impair cognition... According to a study that was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, people who live in highly polluted areas have a higher likelihood of receiving a psychosis diagnosis. The report also mentioned other factors that may exacerbate psychological distress and have an indirect impact on mental health, such as living in high-rise buildings, substandard housing, and loud outside noises.

It also made clear how much air pollution lowers people's subjective well-being, which in turn fuels anxiety, despair, and restlessness. Exposure to air pollution has also been linked to alterations in the nervous system, including oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, and increased inflammation.

The government stated that people who are exposed to pollution have changes in the brain regions responsible for controlling their emotions, citing a report from the World Economic Forum. Furthermore, studies show that kids and teenagers who are exposed to contaminated air have depressive symptoms and are more likely to act suicidally.

The government emphasized that a variety of mental health problems are closely associated with environmental contaminants in India, particularly air pollution. It also emphasized how the stress of the economy during hot weather exacerbates mental health issues in rural communities.

In addition, the government stressed the need for research to be done in India because much of the research that has been done so far has come from Western nations.