Exposure to air pollution caused by ozone gas may lead to the onset of symptoms of depression in adolescents, according to a new study. 

Published in the journal ‘Developmental Psychology’, the one-of-a-kind study explores the link between ozone levels and the development of depressive symptoms in adolescents. 

Produced when certain pollutants such as vehicle exhaust react to sun exposure, ozone is a strong gas that may lead to illnesses, including respiratory viruses, asthma, and premature death caused by respiratory ailments.  

The study analyzed the correlation between ozone levels and the development of depression symptoms in adolescents. Symptoms of depression may include hopelessness, sadness, suicidal thoughts, sleep disturbances and lack of concentration during tasks. 

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“I think our findings really speak to the importance of considering air pollution’s impact on mental health in addition to physical health,” said Erika Manczak, lead researcher of the study and an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Denver.

“Our findings and other studies suggest that even low levels of ozone exposure can pose potentially serious risks to both physical and mental health,” she added. 

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The study was conducted by examining data from a previous study on early life stress. The sample size of the previous study was 213 adolescents in the San Francisco Bay area. 

The researchers further studied the mental health data of adolescents during a four-year period. They further examined air quality data.

The study found that adolescents living in areas of higher ozone levels displayed significant levels of symptoms of depression over time. 

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 “It was surprising that the average level of ozone was fairly low even in the communities with relatively higher ozone exposure. This really underscores the fact that even low levels of ozone exposure have potentially harmful effects,” Manczak said.

“I believe state and federal air quality standards should be stricter, and we should have tighter regulations on industries that contribute to pollution,” Manczak concluded.