The Link Between Indoor Air Quality & Mental Health
The link between poor air quality and poor physical health is well-researched and well-known. There’s a direct pathway from polluted air to diseases such as cancer, with a host of studies going back decades establishing a cause and effect relationship. There are fewer studies linking poor quality with mental health issues though. That was, until just recently.
Research is now looking at how the air we breathe impacts brain function and mental health, and initial findings show a strong correlation between poor air quality and poor mental health. In fact, it’s thought that poor air quality, even when the exposure is considered short-term, can lead to ongoing mental health issues, a lowered quality of life, increased feelings of anxiety, bouts of depression, and even suicide.
What impacts Indoor Air Quality?
Kiwi homes still have log burners that need to be opened, gas cookers used without the extraction fan being turned on, and potential poisonous mycotoxins in the air from any mould. The air we count on to survive can carry the unintended consequences of our actions, with product and lifestyle choices impacting air quality.
To start with, there are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from any paints and adhesive used indoors. You might think that once the ‘paint smell’ goes, so do the VOCs. However, that’s not the case and repainting the laundry will mean VOCs could be dissipating into the air for up to 6 months. So if like most Kiwi families, there’s a list of home upgrades to be followed - the ‘room a year’ could mean 50% of the year is impacted by painting nasties.
Then there’s household products, such as cleaning products and pesticides. In fact, those scented candles and air fresheners we all use to make the house smell nice might make us happy with vanilla scented smiles at the time, but prolonged use and exposure could be harming our mental health. The issue is fragrances often introduce pollutants along with the pleasant smell. So your vanilla aroma comes served with a side of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and free radicals - all toxic and hazardous. And that’s before we get to those ‘fresh linen scents’ that might also include ethanol, isopropanol, dipropylene glycol and lots of other airborne attackers.
As previously mentioned, log burners and gas cookers can cause issues too. There’s something immediately mentally warming about a proper fire, but it could be a smokescreen for depression as the resultant poorer indoor air quality impacts the mind. Meanwhile, cooking with gas is often preferred to electric but it comes at a price for air quality. And let’s face it - that extraction fan isn’t always used when the gas is on, especially if Shortland Street has a killer storyline to follow (generally every holiday period then!).
Then there’s the family pet and…other members of the family! Biological contaminants. Dander (a nicer way of saying dead skin) from pets typically contains a protein that’s an asthma trigger for many. As for that sibling who always turns the temperature setting to maximum, when humans get hotter we emit more ammonia into the atmosphere. We could also go into detail about human trace gas emissions but let's just say that when Uncle Ken visits and says ‘pull my finger’ - don’t.
If this also sounds like pretty much everything we do indoors can impact air quality - it’s because that’s generally the case. And it can all impact mental health.
The Consequences of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Poor indoor air quality can have a pronounced impact on children, as their brains are still developing and growing. Exposure can be manifested in personality disorders, bipolar disorders, and even schizophrenia, with continued exposure to poor air quality causing an elevated risk.
As occupants move into adolescence, signs of mental illness become more observable, with half of adults with mental illness showing symptoms by the age of 11. Unfortunately, if this is the case and chronic mental health issues are present, then sufferers typically face a premature death by 15-20 years, caused by linked conditions such as cancer and obesity.
Of course, poor indoor air quality is not solely responsible for such alarming outcomes. But indoor air quality is a relevant aetiological factor. For example, fine particles in the air (PM2.5) can travel into the respiratory tract and looking beyond the obvious physical impact, is the mental impact. A study looking into air quality in the USA and Denmark found pollution exposure has a direct impact on the occurrence of bipolar disorders.
In adults, the evidence found shows exposure to air pollutants can lead to anxiety and depression, or in extreme cases, even neurocognitive disorders such as dementia. Which raises another issue - air pollution is known to inhibit cognitive development, which is why the Government has provisions for access to fresh air in schools, knowing the positive effects include the ability to learn.
There can be no disputing poor indoor quality plays a significant role in the physical and mental health of occupants. Until now, studies have focused on the physical consequences but there is a solid body of work showing the link to negative consequences for mental health too. Sadly, it all stands to reason as physical and mental health are almost invariably linked in some way.
When it comes to air quality, it means ventilation is essential. The United States Environmental Protection Agency tells us that adults currently spend 90% of their time inside, and indoor air quality is typically three times worse than outdoors.
So what do we do about it? Well, we should talk. Our ventilation products can bring the fresh air inside and help limit the impact of poor indoor air quality. We know looking at air ducting might not make everyone smile as it’s not a trendy product - but it really might help people keep the smiles on their faces.