Investigating how childhood air pollution exposure affects adult mental health.
Official title: Long-term Effects of Developmental Air Pollution Exposure on Adult Mental Health: Sensitive Periods, Neural Correlates, and Genetic Risk Factors
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11030316 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how breathing in tiny air pollution particles when you were a kid might affect your mental health as an adult, and it’s for anyone interested in understanding how our environment and genes can shape our well-being over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 7, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $195,625 |
| NIH project number | 5R21ES035826-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11030316 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who were exposed to air pollution during their childhood and are currently experiencing mental health challenges.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to air pollution during their developmental years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to explore the long-term effects of exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) during childhood on mental health in adulthood. It will identify critical developmental periods when exposure may have the most significant impact and examine the neural mechanisms involved. Additionally, the study will assess how genetic factors may influence individual susceptibility to these effects. By analyzing data from over 700 participants tracked since childhood, the research seeks to uncover the biological pathways linking air pollution to mental health disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and prevention strategies for mental health issues linked to environmental factors.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been significant research on air pollution's effects on physical health, this specific focus on mental health outcomes is relatively novel and underexplored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smolker, Harry R — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Smolker, Harry R
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.