S3 Ep2: Mind the Kids - Is air pollution harming our children’s minds?

Join host Mark Tebbs as he welcomes Dr. Silvia Alemany, a leading researcher in psychiatry and environmental health, for a compelling conversation about the hidden ways our surroundings shape children’s minds. 

In this Mind the Kids episode, ‘Is Air Pollution Harming Our Children’s Minds?’ listeners are taken on a journey through the latest research from Catalonia, Spain, where Dr. Alemany and her team explored how air pollution and the presence of green spaces around schools influence children’s emotional and behavioural well-being. This is evidence in the CAMH journal paper (and part of the CAMH Special Issue) ‘Associations between air pollution and surrounding greenness with internalizing and externalizing behaviors among schoolchildren’
Paper - https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12772
CAMH Special Issue - https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12720

Listeners will hear about the broader context of this research, including the global shift in focus from adult respiratory and cardiovascular health to the developing brains of children. Dr. Alemany shares the inspiration behind her work, the challenges of measuring environmental exposures, and the importance of considering both direct and indirect effects of greenness—whether through cleaner air, opportunities for physical activity, or simply the calming presence of nature.

The conversation also touches on the practical implications for urban planning and public health. Dr. Alemany emphasizes that while the effects observed are small, their significance lies in the widespread exposure of children to these environmental factors. She advocates for thoughtful city design, increased green spaces, and policies that reduce traffic near schools, all while ensuring that such changes do not exacerbate social inequalities.

For parents, the message is both reassuring and empowering: while environmental factors are just one piece of the puzzle in child mental health, small changes—like choosing routes to school with more greenery or supporting local green initiatives—can make a difference. Dr. Alemany also highlights the need for continued research, especially into how genetics and socioeconomic status may influence vulnerability to environmental risks.