Green spaces decrease psychiatric admissions associated with NO2 exposure

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The association between air pollution and decreased mental well-being has been established. The current study added to what is known about air pollution and mental health by showing that green spaces can help neutralize the adverse effects of air pollutants, especially NO2

Psychiatric hospital admissions (n=74 hospitals and 42,705 patients) as a function of daily average NO2 concentrations were determined between 2017 and 2019 in Wuhan, China, then compared to residential green spaces with 250 and 500 m buffers.

Short- and long-term exposure to NO2 was associated with an increase in psychiatric hospital admissions. A 10 µg/m3 increase in NO2 led to a 2.86% increase in psychiatric hospital admissions. Green spaces decreased the psychiatric admission rate, especially in residents with long-term exposure to NO2.