Citation

Shaw S, Van Heyst B. Atmosphere (Basel) 2022; 13(6).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publications Institute)

DOI

10.3390/atmos13060967

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are gaseous pollutants contributing to pollution in their primary form and are also involved in reactions forming ground‐level ozone and fine particulate matter. Thus, NOx is of great interest for targeted pollution reduction because of this cascade effect. Primary emissions originate from fossil fuel combustion making NOx a common outdoor and indoor air pol-lutant. Numerous studies documenting the observed physical health impacts of NOx were reviewed and, where available, were summarized using risk ratios. More recently, the literature has shifted to focus on the mental health implications of NOx exposure, and a review of the current literature found five main categories of mental health‐related conditions with respect to NOx exposure: common mental health disorders, sleep, anxiety, depression, and suicide. All the physical and mental health effects with available risk ratios were organized in order of increasing risk. Mental health concerns emerged as those most influenced by NOx exposure, with physical health impacts, such as asthma, only beginning to surface as the fourth highest risk. Mental health conditions occupied seven of the top ten highest risk health ailments. The results summarized in this narrative review show that there are clear positive correlations between NOx and negative physical and mental health manifestations, thus strengthening the argument in support of the reduction in ambient NOx levels. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Language: en

Keywords

mental health; Mental health; Health; ambient air; health impact; pollution control; air quality; Physical health; air pollution; Health risks; health risk; ozone; Ambients; Health impact; concentration (composition); atmospheric pollution; particulate matter; physical health; Air quality; Fossil fuels; correlation; Nitrogen oxides; emission inventory; Fine particulate matter; Fog; Gaseous pollutants; Ground-level ozone; nitrogen oxides; Nitrogen oxides concentration; NOx; Pollution reduction; Risk ratio; risk ratios