[Relationships between air pollution and well-being]

In two longitudinal field studies, influences of ambient pollutant concentrations on psychological well-being (mood, perceived stress), neuropsychological function (concentration, reaction times) and physical state (physiological arousal, complaints) were investigated over a two-months period in samples of healthy and ill residents of differentially polluted areas. In both studies, results of multivariate time-series analyses yielded decrements of emotional well-being with increased sulfur dioxide levels. Chronically ill persons reported somatic complaints and respiratory symptoms with pollutants. Analyses of variance suggested a pollution-induced neuropsychological impairment in healthy residents of polluted areas but no effects on arousal.