Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37403494›Full record

ArticleBJPsych open2023

Air quality and mental health: evidence, challenges and future directions.

Kamaldeep Bhui, Joanne B Newbury, Rachel M Latham, Marcella Ucci, Zaheer A Nasir, Briony Turner, Catherine O'Leary, Helen L Fisher, Emma Marczylo, Philippa Douglas and 8 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BJPsych open, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 41 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
41citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

41 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
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  5. Revisiting 'environmental effects': Directions for multidisciplinary investigations of air quality and psychopathology.Clinical psychological science : a journal of the Association for Psychological Science · 2026
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
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  14. Review
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. BJPsych open · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Kamaldeep BhuiDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK; Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Medical Sciences Division, Wadham College, University of Oxford, UK; World Psychiatric Association Collaborating Centre, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK; East London Foundation NHS Trust, UK; and Oxford Health NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9205-2144
Joanne B NewburyCentre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK; and MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK.
Rachel M LathamSocial, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3632-4640
Marcella UcciUCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, University College London, UK.
Zaheer A NasirSchool of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, UK.
Briony TurnerNational Centre for Earth Observation, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK.
Catherine O'LearyNational Centre for Earth Observation, Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, UK.
Helen L FisherSocial, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; and ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health, King's College London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4174-2126
Emma MarczyloRadiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, UK Health Security Agency, UK; and Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, UK.
Philippa DouglasRadiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, UK Health Security Agency, UK; Environment Agency, UK; Chief Scientist's Group, Environment Agency, UK; and Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, UK.
Stephen StansfeldCentre for Psychiatry, Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8716-3897
Simon K JacksonSchool of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Plymouth, UK.
Sean TyrrelSchool of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, UK.
Andrey RzhetskyDepartment of Medicine, The University of Chicago, USA; Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, USA; and Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology, The University of Chicago, USA.
Rob KinnersleyChief Scientist's Group, Environmental Agency, UK.
Prashant KumarGlobal Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, UK.
Caroline DuchaineDepartment of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Bioinformatics, Université Laval, Canada; and Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Université Laval, Canada.
Frederic CoulonSchool of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4384-3222

Funding

Economic and Social Research Council ES/S012567/1UK Research and Innovation EP/T003189/1UK Research and Innovation EP/V052462/1UK Research and Innovation EP/W001411/1UK Research and Innovation NE/V002171/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPoor air quality is associated with poor health. Little attention is given to the complex array of environmental exposures and air pollutants that affect mental health during the life course.

aimsWe gather interdisciplinary expertise and knowledge across the air pollution and mental health fields. We seek to propose future research priorities and how to address them.

methodThrough a rapid narrative review, we summarise the key scientific findings, knowledge gaps and methodological challenges.

resultsThere is emerging evidence of associations between poor air quality, both indoors and outdoors, and poor mental health more generally, as well as specific mental disorders. Furthermore, pre-existing long-term conditions appear to deteriorate, requiring more healthcare. Evidence of critical periods for exposure among children and adolescents highlights the need for more longitudinal data as the basis of early preventive actions and policies. Particulate matter, including bioaerosols, are implicated, but form part of a complex exposome influenced by geography, deprivation, socioeconomic conditions and biological and individual vulnerabilities. Critical knowledge gaps need to be addressed to design interventions for mitigation and prevention, reflecting ever-changing sources of air pollution. The evidence base can inform and motivate multi-sector and interdisciplinary efforts of researchers, practitioners, policy makers, industry, community groups and campaigners to take informed action.

conclusionsThere are knowledge gaps and a need for more research, for example, around bioaerosols exposure, indoor and outdoor pollution, urban design and impact on mental health over the life course.

Indexed as

Air qualitymental healthpolicypollutionresearch

Identifiers

PMID37403494
PMCPMC10375903

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.