Fine particulate matter exposure and pediatric mental health outcomes: An integrative review

Introduction: Climate change is expected to worsen air pollution globally, which contributes to a multitude of negative health outcomes in humans.

Aim: The purpose of this integrative review is to examine the relationship between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5 ) and mental health outcomes in children and adolescents.

Methods: This review utilized Whittemore and Knafl's methodology for conducting an integrative review. After a thorough search of the literature, 17 articles were selected for this review and evaluated utilizing the Johns Hopkins Evidence Based Practice Appraisal Tool.

Results: Of the 17 articles, all were quantitative observational study designs. The studies were then synthesized into four outcome themes. These themes included emergent and general psychiatric outcomes, neurodevelopmental disorders, stress and anxiety, and depression.

Discussion: The strongest evidence supports a possible correlation between PM_2.5 exposure and adolescent mental health outcomes, although there were some studies that contradicted these associations. While research on this topic is in its early stages, more needs to be conducted to determine causality with any of the associations presented to improve generalizability of the findings.

Implications for practice: Nurses must be aware of and part of the solution to address climate change and resulting air pollution, as it is a potentially significant threat to children's mental health in the 21st century.