Recent wildfires in southern California are releasing significant amounts of smoke into Colorado, worsening air quality and potentially affecting residents’ health. A study from the University of Colorado Boulder highlights that this smoke may pose additional risks, particularly to young people’s mental health.
The research shows that exposure to wildfire smoke can increase the likelihood of mental health issues in youth. Harry Smolker, a research associate at CU’s Institute of Cognitive Science, explained that increased levels of fine particulate air pollution, which exceed EPA standards, correlate with higher symptoms of mental illness. These effects are observed both during the exposure period and up to a year later.
The study involved about 10,000 pre-teens participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Researchers used the participants’ addresses to assess the air quality in their areas, focusing on days when fine particulate matter exceeded 35 micrograms per cubic meter, a threshold considered unsafe by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Smolker emphasized the need to understand the impact of these extreme events on young people’s brains and behaviors. The study found that exposure to fine particulate matter, particularly particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5), can lead to both acute and long-term brain changes. These particles are small enough to cross the blood-brain barrier.
Parents in the study reported mental health symptoms in their children that they did not experience themselves. This suggests that PM2.5 exposure may have specific effects on youth, distinct from those on their parents.
The research also indicates that frequent exposure to high levels of particulate matter has a greater impact than annual averages or peak levels. Each additional day of exposure increases the risk of mental health issues, with a risk increase of 0.1 on a scale from 1 to 64 per day.
“This increase is relatively small but significant when accumulated over time,” Smolker noted.
The study also suggests that genetic factors may make some youth more susceptible to these risks. While particulate matter can come from various sources, wildfire smoke was identified as a major contributor in this study.
“Wildfire smoke events are becoming more frequent, and this study contributes to the growing evidence of their impact on health,” said Colleen Reid, Assistant Professor of Geography and co-author of the study.
