Last Updated:January 19, 2026, 10:23 IST Doctors and studies flag rising anxiety, low mood and sleep problems during prolonged pollution spells Studies from China have shown that spikes in pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, NO₂ and SO₂ are linked to higher psychiatric outpatient visits, including for anxiety and depression. (AI-Generated Image) Feeling mentally fogged, unusually anxious or emotionally drained this week? You may not be imagining it. As Delhi-NCR continues to grapple with very poor to severe air pollution—with official data showing air quality lingering above safe limits and emergency curbs re-imposed—doctors warn that the impact is not limited to the lungs or heart. Mental health professionals told News18 that prolonged exposure to toxic air is increasingly linked to anxiety, low mood, sleep disruption, and cognitive fatigue—quietly adding to the growing health burden. The most reported symptoms during prolonged pollution episodes include anxiety, low mood, irritability, poor sleep, and a persistent sense of mental fatigue or “brain fog”. Research has linked exposure to fine particulate matter to changes in mood, attention, and emotional regulation, while …