SALT LAKE CITY — The number of young people reporting mental illness has skyrocketed over the past two decades, and scientists are finding more factors that may be contributing to the problem, including air quality.
Recent Nationwide Survey It turns out that children’s mental health can worsen depending on the amount of wildfire smoke they inhale.
The researchers collected data from around 10,000 children of all ages, between the ages of 9 and 11, and found that smoke in the air generally led to increased symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The effects proved to be temporary, but could last for up to a year after the smoke has cleared.
The study also found that the longer children are exposed to pollution, the more likely they are to develop long-term cognitive and behavioral problems.
Scientists say this is PM2.5Pollutants released into the air through fuel and wood burning are so tiny they can seep into the bloodstream and travel to the brain, affecting its functioning.
Unfortunately, children in the Mountain West, like Utah, are more vulnerable than others to the effects of increased wildfires and air pollution in the region.
On Wednesday, the Wasatch Front was rated the second worst in the world for air quality as wildfire smoke drifted across the region.
“These children are more likely to experience these extreme events (here) and be exposed to very high levels of radiation,” said Harry Smolker, a research scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Smolker, who helped lead a study looking at how pollution affects children’s mental health, said the more PM2.5 particles a child inhales, the greater their risk of long-term effects.
“I think it highlights the importance of really understanding how environmental exposures are contributing to this surge in mental illness, especially among young people,” he said.
He said the risk was found to affect both men and women.
Scientists believe this is another reason why proper mitigation is essential, and Smolker said schools should seriously consider safety measures.
“When air pollution levels are very high, one of the best options is to not go outside,” he said. “If you have to go outside, wear a protective mask.”
Utah State Education Commissioner Ryan Bartlett said the state has guidelines for districts to follow, but it’s up to individual schools to make sure they adhere to them.
“One of the things we’ve done is issued a model health and wellness policy for the Utah State Board of Education in 2022 that provides guidelines and resources,” Bartlett said.
He said they are getting information from the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Smolker said one of the biggest things to consider installing is an air filtration system for the school.
“We should also give serious thought to air purification systems in schools and office buildings,” he said.
The Utah State Board of Education says it is offering air quality measurement systems to any high school that is interested, and it will also collect data to share with neighboring schools.
