A study published in BMJ Open has highlighted a concerning link between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and an increased risk of hospital admissions for various physical and behavioral illnesses.

Conducted by Mary Abed Al Ahad, Ph.D., from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, the research analyzed data from 202,237 individuals participating in the Scottish Longitudinal Study. This data was linked to yearly concentrations of four pollutants—nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter with diameters ≤10 μm (PM10), and ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5)—calculated at a 1 km² spatial resolution using residential postcodes for each year between 2002 and 2017.

The findings revealed that elevated exposure to NO2, PM10, and PM2.5 corresponded with higher rates of hospital admissions for all causes, including cardiovascular, respiratory, and infectious diseases. These associations remained significant even after adjustments for residential area and cumulative exposure over time. Specifically, fully adjusted models showed a 4.2% increase in respiratory hospital admissions per 1 μg/m³ increase in PM2.5 and a 1.2% increase per 1 μg/m³ increase in NO2. The study also found links between SO2 exposure and respiratory hospital admissions, while NO2 exposure was associated with increased hospitalizations for mental and behavioral disorders. The results underscored a positive correlation between average cumulative exposure to air pollution and higher hospital admission rates.

The authors emphasized the importance of implementing stricter environmental regulations, long-term planning, and a transition to renewable energy sources to mitigate the health burden of air pollution in Scotland. They argued that such policies could ultimately reduce hospital care demands over time, highlighting the critical need for proactive interventions to address the adverse effects of ambient air pollution.