Air Pollution Worsens Anxiety Disorders, Increases Rate of Schizophrenia Relapse February 19, 2026

Health Policy Watch

“Physicians can work as advocates for their patients’ health. They can use their influence as trusted professionals to promote policies that will decrease air pollution and increase access to mental health resources,” said Laura Dagley, a nurse who wrote the report.

“We have learned from research that air pollution itself has physiological impacts on the brain and other organs in the body, but what I learned from my time working with these communities is the mental health implications from the erosion of their sense of place and home,” Dagley added.

“Many felt they were living in sacrifice zones, or that their lives were not considered important enough by industry or politicians to care about the health impacts.”