A Link Between Air Pollution And Depression Risk In The United States

Описание: Exposure to Multiple Fine Particulate Matter Components and Incident Depression in the US Medicare Population

PMCID: PMC12723547

Air pollution in the form of PM2.5 is an environmental toxin I am very concerned about. Recent regulatory changes have reduced oversight of industry-generated PM2.5. Previous evidence has linked PM2.5 to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia (one of the Lancet's 14 modifiable risk factors), and depression. Recent studies have begun to identify which components of PM2.5 (sulfate, nitrate, ammonium, etc.) are more or less likely to be associated with adverse health outcomes. This cohort study of the US Medicare population examined the association between individual and composite PM2.5 components and incident depression.

Among participants, the mean 5-year exposure level was 10.19 µg/m3 (well above the 5 µg/m3 recommendation from the WHO). Sulfate, organic carbon, nitrate, and ammonium were the top annual components of PM2.5. Per IQR, the components associated with depression were increases in sulfate (5%), elemental carbon (3%), soil dust (3%), PM2.5 mass (2%), and ammonium (1%). As a mixture, the 6 PM2.5 components were associated with a 7% increased risk of depression per 1-quartile increase.

In the dose-response analysis, there was a near-linear increase in depression risk and the 6 PM 2.5 components, even at low levels of exposure. In a subgroup analysis, consistent excess risk was seen in those with comorbidities (hypertension, dementia, lung disease, stroke, heart failure), while no excess risk was seen in individuals without comorbidities.

While the individual risks were small in this study, the widespread exposure to air pollution could have significant implications at the population and public policy level. Mechanisms of association include mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation. Sulfate mostly comes from fossil fuel combustion, while elemental carbon comes from traffic emissions and biomass burning.

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