New Mental Health Diseases and Conditions Study Findings Have Been Reported from Columbia University (Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure effects on trajectories of maternal and adolescent mental health).

A study conducted by Columbia University has found that exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) during pregnancy can have long-term effects on both maternal and adolescent mental health. The study measured PAH exposure through DNA adducts in maternal blood samples taken during the third trimester of pregnancy. It found that higher prenatal PAH exposure was associated with higher levels of maternal distress, which in turn influenced mental health outcomes for adolescents, including anxiety, depression, and externalizing problems. The study suggests that further research is needed to understand the social and biological mechanisms underlying the intergenerational transmission of the negative effects of pollution on mental health. [Extracted from the article]