Delhi Pollution: What Breathing In 400+ AQI Does To Your Mind And Mood | Explained | Health and Fitness News


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When AQI exceeds 400, pollutants like PM2.5, NO₂, and O₃ enter the bloodstream, causing brain inflammation, cell damage, and affecting mood and cognitive functions

Polluted air reduces oxygen levels, causing blocked noses and disrupted sleep, which exacerbates mood disturbances. (Representative/AP)

Polluted air reduces oxygen levels, causing blocked noses and disrupted sleep, which exacerbates mood disturbances. (Representative/AP)

The night of Diwali on October 20 saw intense fireworks and firecrackers, leading to a significant deterioration in Delhi’s air quality. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed the hazardous threshold of 400, resulting in persistent smog covering the city for two days. This severe pollution has affected the weather, making it feel strange and unsettling.

Science and medical research indicate that poor air quality has a profound impact on mental well-being. When the AQI exceeds 400, pollutants such as PM2.5, NO₂, and O₃ mix in the air in substantial amounts, causing inflammation in the brain and damaging cells. These pollutants can travel through the bloodstream, reaching the brain and affecting mood and brain functions.

High AQI levels disrupt brain chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, leading to depression, anxiety, and mood disturbances. Increased stress hormones like cortisol further contribute to sleep issues and emotional instability.

Studies show that high pollution levels elevate the risk of suicide, self-harm, and other mental health issues, particularly in children and young people whose brains are still developing.

What Happens To The Air When AQI Exceeds 400

When the AQI surpasses 400, the concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 particles in the air increases significantly. These tiny particles can pass through the lung membrane and enter the bloodstream, along with gases like nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide. They can cross the brain-blood barrier and directly impact brain neurons.

How High AQI Levels Affect The Brain

Various neuroscience studies from journals such as Harvard, Columbia University, and Lancet Neurology highlight the consequences of severe pollution:

  • Memory and alertness decline
  • Prolonged exposure to AQI above 400 leaves the brain feeling foggy
  • Concentration becomes difficult, and minor things are easily forgotten
  • Pollution lowers serotonin and dopamine levels, increasing sadness or irritability, causing fatigue, and reducing interest in activities

Can Extremely High AQI Cause Brain Inflammation?

PM2.5 particles activate inflammatory cytokines in the brain, leading to inflammation and raising the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

How Poor Air Quality Impacts Sleep

Polluted air reduces oxygen levels, causing blocked noses and disrupted sleep, which exacerbates mood disturbances.

How Air Pollution Affects Mood And Mental Health

A 2023 report by the World Health Organization and Yale School of Public Health found that during AQI levels between 300-500, cases of anxiety and depression increase by 15-20%. According to social media data, fatigue, anger, and sadness rise, with irritability and confusion particularly affecting children and the elderly.

A 2021 Chinese study in Beijing found that when AQI exceeds 400, the mood index of college students drops by an average of 30%.

The brain’s stress response activates, increasing cortisol and causing stress and anxiety, leading to restlessness, headaches, and fatigue. It can also increase heart rate and lead to restlessness, headaches, and fatigue, contributing to low mood and mental exhaustion. Reduced serotonin and dopamine levels may result in sadness, irritability, fatigue, and loss of interest in activities.

Long-Term Effects Of Prolonged Exposure

Prolonged exposure to high AQI levels has long-term consequences:

  • Gradual decline in brain function
  • Dominance of sadness and irritability
  • Accelerated brain ageing

A 2020 Harvard study revealed that in cities where the AQI stays above 300 for more than 60 days a year, brain capacity decreases, and lifespan is reduced by five years.

How To Protect Yourself When AQI Exceeds 400

When AQI exceeds 400, it is advisable to take the following precautions:

  • Avoid morning or evening walks
  • Keep windows airtight and closed
  • Meditate to reduce cortisol levels
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